Apple Rumored to be Eyeing Store-Within-a-Store at Target

Apple could be opening stores-within-stores at 25 Target locations this year, giving the company a push into smaller metropolitan areas, according to a source who spoke with AppleInsider. Target operates 1,752 stores in the United States; Apple has 245 retail outlets in the country.

Apple’s relationship with Target began in 2002, when the retailer began selling the iPod. In October of 2010, Target became the third retailer, after Apple and Best Buy, to sell the iPad, and it later added the iPhone 4 and 3GS to its locations that have Target Mobile sales centers.

The store-within-a-store concept would let Target sell Macs and other Apple hardware and software, much like the “Apple Shops” it has at more than 600 Best Buy locations, some of which are staffed by Apple employees.