This Story Posted:
March 9th

 
 

[3:48 PM]
Apple Jumps To 6th Place With 176% Sales Increase In January
In more good news for Apple and Mac users everywhere, Apple saw a massive 176% sales increase for the month of January in the retail sales channel, traditionally one of Apple's weakest sectors. In a story by TechWeb, Apple grew to be the number 6 computer manufacturer in the US retail market. According to TechWeb:

"Retail sales of Apple Computer systems increased 176 percent . Overall, unit sales of PCs in retail stores increased 24 percent in January, compared with January 1998, Intelect ASW reported in its U.S. Channel Tracking Program. Unit sales at value-added resellers rose 6 percent on a year-over-year basis. Combined sales in the retail and dealer channels increased 15 percent. The market-research company, based here, audited PC sales at 4,900 locations for the monthly survey.

Apple posted the largest sales increase on a year-over-year basis, which made it the sixth-largest computer vendor in ASW's "retail and computer superstore" channel in January."

This story is in addition to our report ttitled " iMac Cited In Japan Computer Growth/Apple To Benefit In US Gorowth" that says Apple is cited in a report by IDC on projected computer growth for 1999.

The Mac Observer Spin: A good news day all around for Apple. Apple is helping the Japanese computer industry see growth, Apple may see big consumer growth in the US, and Apple catapults to the number 6 spot for manufacturers in the retail channel.

The retail market is one of the two most important sectors for Apple (the other being the business market). New consumer level customers will bring the consumer level apps and entertainment titles (read: games) to the Mac which will gain Apple new market share. It's the vicious circle in reverse and Steve Jobs and his Executive Team seem to be following it nicely.

One more thing. Although there is still a LOT of improvement that needs to be made at Best Buy, CompUSA, and some of the other retail Mac outlets, it is obvious that the situation has come a long way.

Apple