Wal-Mart Revamps - Will It Sell Apples?
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Wal-Mart is doing a complete make over of some of their
electronic sections in their stores across the country. It seems that there may
also be a section for Apple’s. According to some sources, such as the AppleInsider
the rumors could be true since Apple may be wanting to expand their sales with
a store that is actually do well during these economic tough times.
According to a piece at the AppleInsider it states that:
Wal-Mart’s move to overhaul the electronics departments in many of
its retail stores with Apple-designated shopping areas is being seen as a sign
that the mega-retailer is making a pitch to eventually carry Apple’s line of
Mac personal computers.The
Bentonville, Arkansas-based discounter began revamping the electronics
departments in approximately 3,500 of its stores this week — including 2,600
Supercenter locations — in a bid to capitalize on a large slice of the
big-screen TV market vacated by Circuit
City, which shut down its operations after filing for
bankruptcy in November.As part of the renovations, which should provide
for a more spacious and interactive shopping experience, Wal-Mart will also be
rolling out specialized in-store boutiques for popular brands such and Nintendo
and Apple, similar to the Apple store-within-a-store
layouts found in Best Buy retail stores.Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays Capital,
sees the move as a precursor to Wal-Mart extending its reach beyond iPods,
iPhones, and accessories to Apple’s Mac line of computers.“We believe Wal-Mart is actively pitching
Apple to carry more products,” he said. “With Wal-Mart improving its
retail displays, we believe that the mega-retailer could eventually earn the
right to sell select Mac products without diluting Apple’s brand.”
Personally I can see a benefit for Apple going with Wal-Mart. From what I have
read Best Buy is not picking up the Circuit
City business. Also
Wal-Mart is one of the few companies that is making a fairly decent profit.
This could be a win-win for both companies.
Putting
your opinion aside about Wal-Mart and the way they treat their employees, will
this be good for Apple, if it actually happens?
Share
your thoughts. Comments welcome.
8 Comments
Ryan Farmer
May 21st, 2009
at 9:00am
It will be interesting to see which company would hav the upper hand in deals like that.
Microsoft, Walmart, and Apple are both known for abusing customers, other companies, and their suppliers.
That’s kind of funny if they all end up as business partners.
Ron Knights
May 21st, 2009
at 10:46am
I live in a small city in Maine.
The nearest Apple store is at the Maine Mall, in Portland ME… that’s 35 miles away.
We have a very small Best Buy in my city… I haven’t been there in over a year. They don’t carry Apple products.
There is a Wal-Mart Super center here.. I like shopping there.
It would be great if my local Wal-Mart carried a wide variety of Apple stuff.
I’d probably buy my next Macintosh there.
Kulong
May 21st, 2009
at 11:10am
Selling Macs at Walmarts? That’s like selling Bentleys at flea markets.
Ron Schenone
May 21st, 2009
at 11:31am
Thanks for the comments.
Ron - I hear you. I lived in a small town for some 20 years and needed to go 50 miles to reach civilization. LOL But the town where I lived did have a Wal-Mart. I guess every town in America has a Wal-Mart these days.
Bob
May 21st, 2009
at 3:51pm
Just a grammatical note: “Will it sell Apple’s?” should not include the apostrophe. Plurals never use apostrophes, only possessives.
Ron Schenone
May 21st, 2009
at 4:33pm
Thanks Bob
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