Apple Takes Steps to Increase Sales

Two recent announcements show Apple taking steps to improve sales. Yesterday, an Apple press release noted that Apple has increased its emphasis on two of its U.S. distributors: Ingram Micro and Micro Age. (Detailed coverage
in the San Jose Mercury News notes that Apple has also significantly decreased commitments to three other U.S. distributors.) We can only speculate on the behind-the-scenes negotiations that went on, but the upshot may be better inventory management, a problem that has plagued Apple for years. The second announcement particularly interests us. CompUSA has agreed to set up special Apple areas in its superstores to showcase Apple’s new Think Different campaign. CompUSA plans to outfit forty stores in time for the holiday shopping rush and phase in remaining stores later. Given the negative coverage
we published in TidBITS 368
and TidBITS 369
about Mac sales in superstores, we’re pleased to see efforts to improve the situation and hope that CompUSA sales people are given attractive incentives to sell Apple products.