Apple among top 5 brick-and-mortar, online electronics stores
Apple ranked in the top five electronics retailers in all of 2009, with both its brick-and-mortar retail stores and commercial Web site among the top revenue earners.
According to new data released by the NPD Group Wednesday, Apple came in fifth place among both physical store locations and for its online presence in total revenue in the U.S. Apple's retail stores ranked behind major stores Best Buy, Walmart, Staples and Target, respectively.
Online, Apple was again only behind some of the biggest names in sales. The top overall Web seller was Dell, followed by Amazon, Best Buy and HP, with Apple coming in fifth.
NPD based the rankings on tracked consumer technology revenue in 2009. Those products include IT, imaging, audio, video, and consumables. They exclude video game hardware and software, PC software and mobile phones.
In 2008, NPD found that Apple was the No. 5 brick-and-mortar retailer, and the No. 4 online retailer.
At the end of 2009, Apple had 283 stores in 10 countries. Last quarter alone, the average revenue per store was $7.1 million, with a record 50.9 million total visitors in the three-month holiday period.
In addition to being a booming business for Apple, the Cupertino, Calif., company's retail stores play an important role in attracting new users to the Mac platform. Apple's retail locations accounted for 689,000 Mac sales in the last quarter, and about half of those were to customers who had never owned a Mac before.
While Apple's retail business has been solid, NPD said the overall U.S. market fell almost 5 percent in 2009 to $106 billion. The lower revenue has been attributed to lower prices, rather than fewer purchases.
Sales also improved as the year progressed, dropping just 1.5 percent year over year in the fourth quarter. That was a big improvement from 2008, when sales dropped 7 percent over a year prior, NPD said.
"The industry lost ground this year but in light of the overall economic conditions it was a performance that could have been much worse," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis with NPD. "By retailers and manufacturers being aggressive on consumer electronics pricing that kept the consumer engaged and shopping, an important success story to remember in such a dismal year."
"Categories like computers and flat-panel TVs, despite very high selling prices, were able to see significant increases in unit volume through this tactic. The up-tick in fourth quarter results, while partly the result of a weak year-over-year comparison was also due to strong results from these categories, results that point to increased momentum as we head into 2010."
Future Apple brick-and-mortar stores could sport a new look, as the company is currently planning a "prototype" store to be built in Palo Alto, Calif. The new design calls for a store covered mostly by glass that would employ natural lighting and allow trees to grow inside.
According to new data released by the NPD Group Wednesday, Apple came in fifth place among both physical store locations and for its online presence in total revenue in the U.S. Apple's retail stores ranked behind major stores Best Buy, Walmart, Staples and Target, respectively.
Online, Apple was again only behind some of the biggest names in sales. The top overall Web seller was Dell, followed by Amazon, Best Buy and HP, with Apple coming in fifth.
NPD based the rankings on tracked consumer technology revenue in 2009. Those products include IT, imaging, audio, video, and consumables. They exclude video game hardware and software, PC software and mobile phones.
In 2008, NPD found that Apple was the No. 5 brick-and-mortar retailer, and the No. 4 online retailer.
At the end of 2009, Apple had 283 stores in 10 countries. Last quarter alone, the average revenue per store was $7.1 million, with a record 50.9 million total visitors in the three-month holiday period.
In addition to being a booming business for Apple, the Cupertino, Calif., company's retail stores play an important role in attracting new users to the Mac platform. Apple's retail locations accounted for 689,000 Mac sales in the last quarter, and about half of those were to customers who had never owned a Mac before.
While Apple's retail business has been solid, NPD said the overall U.S. market fell almost 5 percent in 2009 to $106 billion. The lower revenue has been attributed to lower prices, rather than fewer purchases.
Sales also improved as the year progressed, dropping just 1.5 percent year over year in the fourth quarter. That was a big improvement from 2008, when sales dropped 7 percent over a year prior, NPD said.
"The industry lost ground this year but in light of the overall economic conditions it was a performance that could have been much worse," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis with NPD. "By retailers and manufacturers being aggressive on consumer electronics pricing that kept the consumer engaged and shopping, an important success story to remember in such a dismal year."
"Categories like computers and flat-panel TVs, despite very high selling prices, were able to see significant increases in unit volume through this tactic. The up-tick in fourth quarter results, while partly the result of a weak year-over-year comparison was also due to strong results from these categories, results that point to increased momentum as we head into 2010."
Future Apple brick-and-mortar stores could sport a new look, as the company is currently planning a "prototype" store to be built in Palo Alto, Calif. The new design calls for a store covered mostly by glass that would employ natural lighting and allow trees to grow inside.
Comments
Future Apple brick-and-mortar stores could sport a new look, as the company is currently planning a "prototype" store to be built in Palo Alto, Calif. The new design calls for a store covered mostly by glass that would employ natural lighting and allow trees to grow inside.
A lot of Apple Stores are located in malls and other places that wouldn't allow such changes.
For instance at one Apple Store mall location, Apple had to remove a glowing Apple logo off the side of their store as the other tenants complained.
I think Apple would be better off spending the (upgrade) money and getting better return on investment by opening locations near business centers and providing solutions to corporations and enterprise that are so desperately crying out for anything better than Microsoft solutions.
I think Apple would be better off spending the money and getting better return on investment by opening locations near business centers and providing solutions to corporations and enterprise that are so desperately crying out for anything better than Microsoft solutions.
Gotta love the "this is what is wrong with Apple and this is how they should do things" posts. If they were failing in their retail efforts you might have a point but they seem to the highest grossing of all retailers per square foot, so I think it's safe to say that they are getting an excellent return on their investment.
Just in case you haven't noticed, Apple is primary a consumer-focused company. A store full of iPods and Macs aren't "corporations and enterprise solutions". If they do by iPhones and iPads they are buying in bulk through corporate channels, not a consumer B&M store. For the off chance that they do need to grab something from an Apple Store (and only an Apple Store) right away doesn't make a good argument for a consumer outlet to be built next to a corporation for their convenience.
A lot of Apple Stores are located in malls and other places that wouldn't allow such changes.
For instance at one Apple Store mall location, Apple had to remove a glowing Apple logo off the side of their store as the other tenants complained.
I think Apple would be better off spending the money and getting better return on investment by opening locations near business centers and providing solutions to corporations and enterprise that are so desperately crying out for anything better than Microsoft solutions.
From what I can see they have retail locations near business centers. Should they be closed to the general public?
Gotta love the "this is what is wrong with Apple and this is how they should do things" posts. If they were failing in their retail efforts you might have a point but they seem to the highest grossing of all retailers per square foot, so I think it's safe to say that they are getting an excellent return on their investment.
Just in case you haven't noticed, Apple is primary a consumer-focused company. A store full of iPods and Macs aren't "corporations and enterprise solutions". If they do by iPhones and iPads they are buying in bulk through corporate channels, not a consumer B&M store. For the off chance that they do need to grab something from an Apple Store (and only an Apple Store) right away doesn't make a good argument for a consumer outlet to be built next to a corporation for their convenience.
Misquote and misrepresent what I said, suggest I said Apple is a failure to rally support, now all you need is add a "your ignorant" or "stupid" for my suggesting Apple provide their superior solutions to business markets in addition to the consumer market and that would seal the deal.
(reprieve)
A lot of Apple Stores are located in malls and other places that wouldn't allow such changes.
For instance at one Apple Store mall location, Apple had to remove a glowing Apple logo off the side of their store as the other tenants complained.
I think Apple would be better off spending the money and getting better return on investment by opening locations near business centers and providing solutions to corporations and enterprise that are so desperately crying out for anything better than Microsoft solutions.
Another WTF?? post by MacTripper.
Do you ever consider what you type before you hit "submit reply"?
If you have a problem with people misquoting you, then you need to write clearly.
Apple would be better off
Are you sure? Because it doesn't get much better than what they're doing now. Or are you onto something that Apple has somehow mysteriously missed? LOL
Back on the ignore list you go.
I'm sure he's quite devastated by this news.
From what I can see they have retail locations near business centers. Should they be closed to the general public?
In the U.S. they are located in high volume, trendy retail locations.
Perhaps its different in other parts of the world.
I think Apple would be better off spending the money and getting better return on investment by opening locations near business centers and providing solutions to corporations and enterprise that are so desperately crying out for anything better than Microsoft solutions.
[CENTER]Apple is seldom at the forefront when it comes to technology implementation, thereby making their products far less capable than the competition.
Introducing products intentionally 'crippled' by excluding industry standard features (media card readers, numeric keypads, USB ports, HDMI out, BluRay drives, latest/fastest CPUs, eta al) often makes them rather unappealing to the serious electronics/business consumer.
Apple's doing very well catering to the least intellectually adept consumer by offering limited, so simple even a 2 year old can use, electronic appliances with as few options as possible, so I don't see them changing anytime soon.
[/CENTER]
...my suggesting Apple provide their superior solutions to business markets...
Perhaps "you would be better off" If you would have made an argument for Apple by focusing on the Enterprise instead of a comment stating "opening locations near business centers" and doing in a thread about B&M retail stores.
The simple fact is that WIndows will never EVER be threatened by Mac OS X as long as buying a Mac is the only way to get the OS. If Apple won't do this for their server version of Snow Leopard then you can be assured they aren't going to do this for their Mac version, hence Apple's foray into the Enterprise will be limited to a few Macs and a bunch of iPhones, but nothing major.
Perhaps "you would be better off" If you would have made an argument for Apple by focusing on the Enterprise instead of a comment stating "opening locations near business centers" and doing in a thread about B&M retail stores.
It's relevant, B&M stores include locations near business centers and other high traffic business areas.
The simple fact is that WIndows will never EVER be threatened by Mac OS X as long as buying a Mac is the only way to get the OS. If Apple won't do this for their server version of Snow Leopard then you can be assured they aren't going to do this for their Mac version, hence Apple's foray into the Enterprise will be limited to a few Macs and a bunch of iPhones, but nothing major.
Not really, businesses buy solutions and their Windows crap is buggy, inferior and costs plenty to keep up and contributes to losses.
If Apple had a better business solutions segment augmenting their successful retail operations, I think they would do very well.
And they won't need retail locations near business areas neither, just a office or small warehouses.
[CENTER]
Apple's doing very well catering to the least intellectually adept consumer
[/CENTER]
Apple consumers tend to be in the highest income-earning brackets. That often means professionals with degrees or advanced degrees.
Here are some fun things to consider
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl.../07/16/1426250
http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/35130.html
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-943519.html
Those who surf the Web using a Mac tend to be better educated and make more money than their PC-using counterparts, according to a report from Nielsen/NetRatings.
And of course, my lovely sig, courtesy of Paul Thurrott, "Mr. Windows" himself:
Mac OS users have made a conscious technology choice and are therefore typically better informed than their peers. -- Paul Thurrott, winsupersite.com, December 06, 2004
http://mytechnews.info/b/2009/06/app...-affluent.html
The appleinsider website reports on a study published by Forrester Research which examines the user demographics of smartphone users, with a focus on Apple’s iPhones. Before proceeding, it has to be mentioned that the iPhones in the research were first generation iPhones and not the current crop of the iPhone3G. It was a time when the original iPhone was more expensive compared to today’s pricing, so as we see the price of iPhones falling, the penetration of the iPhone should be even greater.
Basically, the conclusions of the research were that iPhone users were:
wealthier
more educated
accessing the internet more frequently using their phones compared to other smartphone users
bigger spenders on mobile services
younger
Do you think it's "intellectually adept" to centre-align all of your posts?
Typography, typography.
Taste and service. Apple has both in spades.
So does Starbucks.
To me the best thing about the Apple stores is that you yourself can try out the equipment unlike anywhere else.
So does Starbucks.
Sure. What's your point?
Introducing products intentionally 'crippled' by excluding industry standard features (media card readers, numeric keypads, USB ports, HDMI out, BluRay drives, latest/fastest CPUs, eta al) often makes them rather unappealing to the serious electronics/business consumer.
What are most business owners going to do with HDMI out and BlueRay? External BlueRay drives (and all the other things you mentioned) are available for the Mac BTW through third party offerings.
Apple's doing very well catering to the least intellectually adept consumer by offering limited, so simple even a 2 year old can use, electronic appliances with as few options as possible, so I don't see them changing anytime soon.
Apple does tend to cater to the consumer market better which includes family and children who need a little extra security and hand holding.
Mac's are not exactly child's toys, I run several other operating systems on my Mac too.
I see the business market being a great opportunity for Apple to expand into with their superior solutions.
It would require a different product line, even making POS devices perhaps, and the opening of offices and non-retail type locations within high business market locations.
Shouldn't interfere with their retail operations or product lines at all.
so simple even a 2 year old can use,
[/CENTER]
Which is actually the ideal.
Sure. What's your point?
My next line Quad, in that there's more than that that's appealing- IMHO!
Which is actually the ideal.
[CENTER]Sometimes reading posts on the internet makes me cringe for the future...
[CENTER]Idiocracy[/CENTER] (2006)
(Sadly... proof that life does appear to imitate (even questionable) art).[/CENTER]
[CENTER]Apple is seldom at the forefront when it comes to technology implementation, thereby making their products far less capable than the competition.
Introducing products intentionally 'crippled' by excluding industry standard features (media card readers, numeric keypads, USB ports, HDMI out, BluRay drives, latest/fastest CPUs, eta al) often makes them rather unappealing to the serious electronics/business consumer.
Apple's doing very well catering to the least intellectually adept consumer by offering limited, so simple even a 2 year old can use, electronic appliances with as few options as possible, so I don't see them changing anytime soon.
[/CENTER]
Seriously, here I was all set to launch the proverbial - "let's get this out of the way: Apple suxxors: hardwarez r unl33t n stoopid n peeps who use them r cloolezz tools with tiny brainz cuz we r the l33test with the l33test hardwarez We r all open softwarez n building hardwarez wit bray n megaportz n 4 keyboardz with numberz, n ovrclocked AMDz cuz Intel suxxors n HDMI n buzzwerds I ain't even thgouht of yetz!." And DaHarder stole my commentary - almost to the letter. That just sucks. On the other hand we haven't really heard any commentary from the the Studly Techness, so one waits with bated breath.
Seriously DaHarder, wtf does intellectuality have to do with any of your previous points other than a higher point score in Scrabble? Your posting demonstrates clearly the opposite of intellectualism, and screams neo-Luddite who cannot fathom using a machine that doesn't require the pulling of at least seven levers, twisting of countless knobs and decyphering binary off the blinky lights. Give. It. Up. My seven year old read your post giggled, shook his head and walked away chanting DIN-O-SAUR!
Seriously, here I was all set to launch the proverbial - "let's get this out of the way: Apple suxxors: hardwarez r unl33t n stoopid n peeps who use them r cloolezz tools with tiny brainz cuz we r the l33test with the l33test hardwarez We r all open softwarez n building hardwarez wit bray n megaportz n 4 keyboardz with numberz, n ovrclocked AMDz cuz Intel suxxors n HDMI n buzzwerds I ain't even thgouht of yetz!." And DaHarder stole my commentary - almost to the letter. That just sucks. On the other hand we haven't really heard any commentary from the the Studly Techness, so one waits with bated breath.
Seriously DaHarder, wtf does intellectuality have to do with any of your previous points other than a higher point score in Scrabble? Your posting demonstrates clearly the opposite of intellectualism, and screams neo-Luddite who cannot fathom using a machine that doesn't require the pulling of at least seven levers, twisting of countless knobs and decyphering binary off the blinky lights.
Give. It. Up. My seven year old read your post giggled, shook his head and walked away chanting DIN-O-SAUR!
[CENTER]There's a fine line that separates exaggeration and flat out lying, and you clearly stand on the wrong side of said line.
Have A Nice Day[/CENTER]
Perceptions on this can turn on a dime. And, although leases keep 'hard' assets off the balance sheet (making the financial ratios look good), at the end of the day, these are de facto long-term liabilities for Apple -- i.e., they represent contractual obligation to pay fixed sums of money, just like debt.