Initial rollout likely to be small

Apple is aiming at opening new store-within-a-store outlets in Target later this year, an AppleInsider source claims. The company's initial plans are said to be limited to 25 larger Target stores, ones which are nevertheless in areas unable to support a separate Apple Store. Target has some 1,752 shops in the US; by contrast, there are only 245 Apple Stores in the country.

If the Target claims prove accurate, Apple's efforts will likely resemble the Apple Shops currently found within over 600 Best Buy stores. These assemble Apple products into single, specially-decorated spaces, in some cases manned by "Apple Solution Consultants." For Apple the main advantage is marketing, since Apple products might otherwise get lost among a sea of competing devices.

Taking the same strategy with Target could also see the chain pick up new Apple products. Currently it mostly sells iOS devices and iPods, as well as related accessories. In theory, the new store-within-a-store locations could sell products such as Macs, software, and networking gear.

by MacNN Staff