If the rumors and reports that we have been hearing are "true," then those CompUSA "Stores Within a Store" might have some "National Competition" sooner rather than later. Maybe it's because the Best Buy chain sells a lot of Mac software and they want to complement it with Apple and Third Party hardware. Maybe it's because Best Buy wants to have "Salon Stores" too. Maybe it's because it's not only RFI who's noticed that CompUSA's execution has been found wanting. Maybe it's because Apple has decided that Best Buy's demographics serve different market segments that are not attracted to CompUSA. Maybe it's just a potential way for Apple to force CompUSA to keep on its toes. If proven true, who cares what the reasons are? RFI loves the potential!
Keep an eye on Best Buy and Apple to see whether Best Buy gets the go ahead to not only carry Apple hardware, but also to execute their own version of an Apple Salon Store concept; rather than just being an outlet for Mac software. Mind you, something that they sell a lot of. Remember: "When You're Hungry, You Work Harder." CompUSA isn't "hungry." CompUSA is "fat, happy, complacent and those 'fat Apple margins' are dessert." What would happen if "dessert" wasn't guaranteed? Aha! You might "go hungry!"
Apple doesn't "need" just "Big, Fat and Happy." Apple needs "Big and Hungry." For when you're hungry, you hustle like all get out to put food on the table. What catalogers competing do for consumers, "Son of Salon Store" would do the same but on the retail level.
RFI hopes that the Best Buy "Son of Salon Store" rumors are true. Why? Because we not only prefer "Hungry" over "Complacent," but if "Big, Fat and Happy" misses more than a few meals, they'll get hungry too. See? It'll be like Martha Stewart says: "A Good Thing." Not just for Apple and its customers, but for CompUSA and Best Buy too.
Enough said.
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