Across Russia, the final private outlets for LG, Bosch, and Sony began to shut down in several regions, according to a report cited by Kommersant. The paper notes that industry insiders confirmed the trend, with closures tied to broader market reconfigurations and corporate strategy shifts rather than isolated incidents.
Tech support representatives indicated that a number of these stores would stay open through the summer to clear remaining inventories. Market participants suggest that foreign brand partnerships have not fallen prey to punitive landlord penalties; instead, many brands have opted to pause company-owned storefronts while continuing to reach customers through alternative channels. Retail points operated by suppliers from Turkey and China have started to appear as replacements for some traditional brand stores, signaling a pivot to different distribution models rather than a complete withdrawal from the market.
According to Kommersant, early February 2024 saw LG and Sony stores close at Afimall City, a major Moscow shopping center. In the near future, a Grundig store, owned by the Turkish company Arçelik, is planned to replace the former LG storefront. LG representatives explained that the closures were driven by supply issues and not by a strategic pullout from the region. LG’s official site previously listed four Moscow stores, underscoring a contraction in brick-and-mortar presence rather than a wholesale retreat. Sony support operators also confirmed the closure of the Afimall City location due to supply constraints, with three additional Sony outlets in Moscow remaining open through the summer to liquidate remaining stock.
Beyond Asian brands, German retailer Bosch also began winding down its physical stores, signaling a broader recalibration of consumer electronics retail in the area. The contraction is part of a wider, ongoing shift toward different formats and partner networks that can sustain product access without relying on traditional flagship locations.
In related industry news, the restoration chain had plans to broaden the footprint of Apple Vision Pro augmented reality glasses testing. New demo sites were scheduled to launch on February 26 at select stores across Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk, offering hands-on experiences for potential buyers and enthusiasts alike while highlighting ongoing innovations in immersive tech.
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