Googles $35 mill Barges

[rwatson]

Are retail shops going afloat ?

All sorts of speculation about these strange objects.

"Google has reiterated its earlier statement that the barges will be "an interactive space where people can learn about new technology."


"the structures will be stacked with 80 shipping containers with sails on either side."

http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/2/5...les-mystery-barges-are-floating-retail-stores

 

[Petros]

that is an interesting way to promote new products, a movable sales event. rather than having to rent a space and set up a retail shop and inventory at each location when they want to introduce new products, they set up one (or several) sales displays in a barge, and move it around the country. They can make a lot of point of purchases sales off the barge, until they sell out one area, and than move on to the next one. They might even have different business licensing requirements as long as it is floating on the water.

if they did this with the new products, they would also get the few people willing to pay the higher prices to get it first. Everyone else can get them at normal retail outlets months later, at the normal retail price.