Apple iPhone accessories maker PopSockets plans expansion in India, battles counterfeit crisis

David Barnett, Popsockets

PopSockets LLC, America’s leading maker of accessories for Apple devices, sees India as the key market for its next phase of growth, thanks to a surging popularity of iPhones in the country. The company plans to invest in an expansive offline retail network and a global operations support hub, underscoring its commitment to the Indian market.

David Barnett, a philosophy professor-turned-entrepreneur and founder of PopSockets, told Moneycontrol that the company sees significant opportunities for visibility and growth as Indian consumers increasingly embrace premium Apple products.

“India represents a significant commercial opportunity for us in market growth and brand building. We are committed to continuing our investment here in our team and the brand itself, including marketing and creating custom products tailored to the Indian market,” he said.

The US, UK, Germany, China, Japan, and Australia are PopSocket’s key markets globally. “In terms of growth, India stands out.”

On Apple’s rise in India, the founder said there is a connection between its growth and Popsockets’ visibility. He also revealed that Popsocket’s product availability at Apple Retail stores has been delayed due to certain challenges, but the company is working on the rollout.

“We are actively working to address these challenges, as India is a key market with tremendous growth potential. Being present in Apple stores is a significant opportunity to showcase our products to an audience that values premium quality and innovation, aligning perfectly with what PopSockets stands for,” he added.

A major challenge for the brand in India is the widespread availability of counterfeit PopSockets products which, Barnett estimates, have caused “millions in lost sales”. To tackle this, the company has ramped up legal enforcement and utilised its robust intellectual property portfolio, including its 3D trademark, to remove counterfeit items from major platforms like Amazon.

“We’re actively addressing the issue of counterfeits and taking strong action. In India, we have been engaged in legal efforts for several years. Globally, we hold one of the strongest intellectual property portfolios in our category, and we invest heavily in developing patents, trademarks, and copyrights and enforcing them. In the past, our enforcement efforts in India were minimal, which led to an explosion of fakes in the market,” he said.

With rigorous enforcement in India, the founder is confident that his company will progress in eliminating counterfeit products. “We’ve lost millions—possibly over $10 million—in sales in India due to counterfeits.”

While these fakes have familiarised consumers with the category, the company will focus on educating customers about the clear differences between authentic PopSockets and imitations, Barnett said.

While efforts to launch at Apple retail stores are on, PopSockets is actively expanding its presence in premium reseller stores like Imagine. “We’re running a test phase in 10 stores across cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kochi. The feedback has been encouraging, and we’re optimistic about scaling further,” he added.

PopSockets is also exploring local manufacturing in India, with advanced discussions underway. “We’re at a stage where we could move forward immediately if we chose to. The opportunity is highly attractive,” Barnett noted, signalling a potential move that could lower costs and boost accessibility for Indian consumers.