<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Since I posted last night about the new Apple Store opening in Ross Park Mall later this year, I have received several emails from people suggesting that this new store will kill or significantly hurt MacOutfitters in Cranberry. The argument is that simply because this Apple Store will be about a half hour from MacOutfitters it will drain business from MacOutfitters. I don't believe this to be necessarily true.<div><br></div><div>Apple currently has two Apple Stores in Pittsburgh ( Shadyside and South Hills Village ). Since the Apple Stores have opened about 8 yrs ago, MacOutfitters has only grown. This is primarily because during the last 8 yrs the number of people buying Macs has significantly increased. In 2002, Apple sold about 3 million Macs. Last year Apple sold 10 million Macs. With that amount of huge growth it's only natural and good to see a growth in the number of places selling Macs.</div><div><br></div><div>The Apple Stores only help sell more Macs to more people. In fact, MacOutfitters has opened a brand new location downtown in the past year. This store is closer to both the Shadyside and SHV Apple stores than Ross Park Mall is to Cranberry. It's only 10 mins from the Apple Store Shadyside. If just being close to an Apple Store was the kiss of death, then MacOutfitters opening a store downtown doesn't make sense. Also, BestBuy in Cranberry has had a "mini Apple Store" staffed by Apple Employees for at least year now and that is a stone's throw from MacOutfitters.</div><div><br></div><div>The fact is that the demand for Macs is growing and Apple is increasing their retail presence to meet that demand. I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. It also creates more competition. Just because a company was there first, doesn't mean it has the right to be there alone. I believe that the Apple Stores have made MacOutfitters better. Competition always makes business better. MacOutfitters has to find ways to "compete" or offer services that the Apple Store can't. Having worked at the Apple Stores, I know they are limited in what they can and can't do. They have very little flexibility as they have to listen to mandates coming down from corporate and change takes a long time to happen.</div><div><br></div><div>Apple Stores are very good at what they do - selling Macs, but I see no reason why MacOutfitters can't be just as good. The fact that they have been around for 15 yrs proves they know how to sell Macs as well. However, this is business and if the only reason they have survived selling Macs is because they were the only game in town then they will fail as Apple expands it's retail operations. It's the consumer ( us ) not Apple that will determine the success of MacOutfitters. </div><div><br></div><div>Apple doesn't sell for less than retail, they don't even advertise their store locations in their multitude of print, internet and TV advertising. The playing field is actually quite level for MacOutfitters. They have to compete on service and their ability to offer 3rd party products that Apple doesn't carry. If they can't provide a better or equal service product than Apple then they will fail because consumers will choose to go to the Apple Store.</div><div><br></div><div>I believe MacOutfitters will do just fine as long as they maintain or increase their service quality and offer 3rd party hardware that Apple doesn't carry. Their ownership is in the stores and can very easily make changes that will make MacOutfitters unique and in some ways better than an Apple Store. Gone are they days when most people had to drive 45 mins or an hour just to see the latest Mac hardware. That is a a good thing for Apple, MacOutfitters and most importantly the customer.</div><div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Patrick Cranston</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Cranston Consulting, Inc.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">888-813-5558</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.CranstonIT.com">www.CranstonIT.com</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="mailto:patrick@cranstonit.com">patrick@cranstonit.com</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Twitter: @cranstonIT</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><i><b>Unlimited Support for your Macs, Data Backup and Training Classes for one low price. <a href="http://www.cranstonit.com/home">http://www.cranstonit.com/home</a></b></i></div></div></div></div></span></span>
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