Apple’s biggest customer, JB Hi Fi has said that there is only one Company in the world that has got the delivery of content right and that is Apple. The Company also predicts that they see a big future working with brands like Apple and Telstra to deliver content to a multitude of devices as content moves from a shop floor purchase to online.
Richard Uechtritz the CEO of JB Hi Fi claims that does not see online content as a threat, in fact it’s quite the opposite with the company selling millions of dollars worth of online vouchers that let users download content online.
He also claims that going forward he sees the Company working closer with Apple. “We embraced online downloads instead of fighting it and that is paying off for us and as Apple launch new products built around content delivery we see ourselves benefiting from the new technology”
Uechtritz comments come as analysts speculate that Apple is close to launching a new iTouch tablet that will allow consumers to easily read content on a touch screen while also playing games and listening to music.
JB Hi Fi who last week reported a 45% increase in profits is the biggest seller of content in Australia. This claims Uechtritz helps them to achieve record hardware sales including TV’s, iPods, notebooks and a multitude of Hi Fi devices and content players.
The company that expects sales in the next year to increase a further 20% to approximately $2.8 billion in the next financial year after a 27% jump to $2.33 billion in FY09.
“I see no point in taking content providers on as they move online. One has to think outside the square and work with them. We have an audience that they want and I believe that we can both benefit from a relationship. We have already spoken to several vendors who are moving online. While online content is growing bricks and mortar purchases of content are not going to disappear overnight”. Said Uechtritz.
He also said that the launch by Samsung and Acer of $0 deal notebook and netbooks via telecommunication carriers was an opportunity for JB Hi Fi. “Rather than see this as a negative I see it as a positive for us.
“Consumers don’t want to see just one or two notebooks. They want to see a range and this is what we can offer. We can also offer the sale deals via Flexirent. It will be interesting to see what a pan out with the Telco’s as we are currently working with these carriers, so we could well end up selling the same deal to consumers.”
