EXCLUSIVE: Harvey Norman starts selling Apple computers

Many would argue it’s not exactly news that Harvey Norman is selling Apple computers, however when you consider the retail power of a national chain like Harvey Norman you might just see what a big deal it is.  Some may also not realise that until now you couldn’t get a Mac computer at Harvey Norman stores – all that is about to change.  EFTM has the details.

There are more than 180 Harvey Norman stores in Australia and with something like $6billion in revenue across the Harvey Norman business (including Domayne etc) you’re crazy if you think you can ignore the retail power of the Harvey Norman group. This is reason it’s interesting that until now you could only purchase a MacBook or iMac computer at a “Harvey Norman computer store” inside one of the few Domayne stores scattered around Australia.  With just 16 Domayne stores there isn’t a big footprint to the Apple computer sales potential within the Harvey Norman group.

Last week however all that changed – Harvey Norman Balgowlah installed a large Apple retail display stand as an expansion of the iPad display that almost all Harvey Norman stores already have.  On one side the iPad range which has been in stores for some time – on the other side of the display are iMacs, MacBook Air and MacBook pro computers.

EFTM understands the Balgowlah installation is the first of around 30 stores that will roll out this financial year before June 30.

In Australia the largest seller of Mac computers is JB Hi-Fi, so with the bricks and mortar retail war continuing at fever pitch it is no wonder Gerry Harvey has sent his buying team in to do a retail deal with Apple which will likely extend to a large number of those 180+ Harvey Norman stores.

The walk-in and walk-out with what you want convenience of traditional retail stores is hard to argue with, and while Apple may have their many retail stores in key metro areas, it’s in the Suburbs where stores like Harvey Norman are the go-to place for many big retail purchases.  This new deal to stock Apple computers in Harvey Norman stores will have a positive impact on Apple sales in Australia, and will likely fuel the retail war with JB Hi-Fi as Gerry Harvey looks to take the title of Australia’s biggest retailer of Apple computers in the years ahead.