Apple Shops

The Apple shop-in-shop concept, called Apple Shops [not to be confused with Apple Stores - Apple's own retail outlets], is growing strongly around much of Europe. Right now, the number seems to be about 75. Going by Apple's various country web sites, there are four Apple Shops in Austria, three in MSH group stores, and one in a Cosmos store; there are two Apple Shops in Denmark; there are eighteen Apple Shops in France, all in FNAC stores; there are twelve Apple Shops in Germany, all in MSH group stores; there are eight Apple Shops in Italy; there are four Apple Shops in The Netherlands; there are nine Apple shops in Spain, six in El Corte Inglés stores, and three in FNAC stores; there are two Apple Shops in Sweden; and there are sixteen Apple Shops in the UK, all in PC World stores.

Indian Dell

Infiniti Retail is a subsidiary of Tata Sons, part of The Tata Group, one of India's largest conglomerates. Croma is a national chain of consumer electronics retail outlets, launched by Inifiniti Retail some 18 months ago [in partnership with Australia's Woolworths]. About a week ago, Dell announced that it is planning to sell its laptops and desk tops through Croma. This is similar to the arrangement that Dell set up some six months ago in China with Gome, the country's biggest electronics retailer. This follows on from Dell's recent adventures in retail in the US and in Europe.

Apple Stores in Europe

Apple's largest retail store in the world is in London. This month, Apple opened two more stores in the UK - one in Milton Keynes, and another in Cambridge. But what about Continental Europe? About one year ago, Apple opened a store in Rome, but so far that's it. The UK's 15 stores, plus this one store in Italy are the sum total of Apple's retail store interests throughout Europe. There are, however, rumours of new store openings later in the year in Munich, Geneva and Zurich. But as the company only publicises new store openings a couple of weeks before they actually happen, we'll just have to wait and see.

SPLS bids for CXP #2

One month on from their initial offer, Staples has reiterated its desire to acquire Corporate Express. And Corporate Express has once again rejected their offer. This means that Staples is expected to follow Dutch law formalities and submit an 'offer memorandum' to the AFM [Autoriteit Financiele Markten] by mid-May, while completing whatever competition law regulatory filings are deemed necessary.

Office Depot Revolt

Back in 1996, Office Depot was the largest office superstore chain in the US with sales of around $6.1bn, while Staples was No.2 with sales of around $4bn. In 1997, Staples attempted to acquire Office Depot, but this was challenged by the FTC, and eventually Staples' bid was thwarted. Since then, Office Depot has been on something of a roller-coaster ride, which, for a while, seemed to be in safe hands when Steve Odland was appointed CEO some three years ago [arriving after some success running US auto parts retailer, AutoZone]. Now, it would seem, there are those who would like Mr Odland's head, suggesting that under his leadership, Office Depot had lost its vision and competitive standing...

FNAC in the UK?

PPR's FNAC chain is supposedly looking for any entry point into the UK market. More news and opinion on this soon...

Apple Stores

Apple Store: One Stockton Street, San Francisco

About one year ago, Fortune described Apple as the best retailer in America. Has anything changed since then? No...

SPLS bids for CXP #1

On 19th February 2008, Staples made an unsolicited bid for Corporate Express - a bid which was swiftly rejected by Corporate Express' management. Rumours have persisted about the possible hook-up between these two companies for several months, so it is no surprise that despite this initial rebuff, analysts are now merely talking about the price that Staples will eventually have to pay if it is to succeed.

Best Buy in Europe?

Best Buy is the world's largest retailer of consumer electronics, with projected revenues for fiscal 2008 expected to come just a little short of USD40bn. Best Buy generates most of its revenues in the US, but it also operates stores in Canada and China. Back in September 2006, Best Buy and Europe's The Carphone Warehouse announced two joint venture initiatives: a stand alone mobile retail business in the US, operating mostly as a shop-in-shop format under the Best Buy Mobile brand; and a home computing customer service business [initially in the UK] under the Geek Squad brand. Then, in September 2007, Best Buy announced that it had taken an almost 3 per cent stake in The Carphone Warehouse, prompting some observers to predict an eventual merger. Having signalled its intentions to look across the pond, and with DSGi floundering a little, now would seem a good time for Best Buy to make a bold move into Europe. But that doesn't quite tally with their recent SEC filing which says that their long-announced back-door entry into Europe via Turkey won't now happen until Fiscal 2010. Is some larger strategy playing out that will surprise us all in the coming months?

Dell's Retail Push

During the fourth quarter of 2007, Dell announced deals with five substantial retailers of desk tops and note books. On 22nd October it was Staples. On 27th November, it was Carrefour. On 6th December, it was Best Buy. On 13th December, it was DSGi. And on 21st December, Dell announced a deal with Tesco. Deals were announced earlier in 2007 with a number of other retailers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the years, Dell has blown hot and cold with the channel, and anyone who can reach back to the mid-1990s will know that commitment to the channel has not been one of Dell's fortes in the past. Now, though, with HP securing and retaining the No.1 slot globally for the past year or so, Dell realises that retail channels are a necessary route to market if it is to gain market share in the fast-growth consumer segment.