Is this Apple Store No. 22?AFR reports Apple executivess are about to descend on Melbourne, with a view to opening a new store and examine various sites in the city CBD.
Executives are looking at new site options “on a pocket of Collins Street between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street” but have also looked at other options along Collins including: Emirates House at 257 Collins St, ANZ building on the corner of Elizabeth and Collins, American Express Building at 233 Collins “but have ruled them all out.”
Apple already has glass fronted retail stores littered throughout Melbourne and has 21 locations in Australia, in total, opening several new Stores including its first in Canberra, last year.
In January, Apple opened the 21st store at MacArthur Chamber in Queen Street, Brisbane CBD. It already has 5 stores in Victoria including: Chadstone, Cheltenham, Doncaster, Fountain Gate and Maribyrnong.
According to the report, property company Savills are helping Apple source new store locations, suggesting plans are afoot for more than just one new opening.
A report from Appleinsider shows Cupertino’s share of the retail electronics market has trebled to 15% in the US since 2009, gobbling up some well established speciality retailer’s share. Apple Stores is now second only to Best Buy despite having a far smaller number of stores.
The situation is becoming similar locally with several Apple Resellers shutting up shop after Apple Stores moved in nearby.
Locally, the iPhone maker is under attack, after reportedly shifting almost $9bn in profits from its Australian operation back to Ireland to avoid a hefty tax bill, according to estimates by AFR.
