It’s hard to imagine there’s a retail gap to fill in the electronics market, yet the team at Mac Addict seem to have found it and filled it perfectly with a stunning new Melbourne CBD retail store in the QV.
So you’re looking for a new case for your phone? A bag for your laptop? Perhaps a new gadget like Sphero’s BB-9E and R2-D2?
That’s nothing, the team at Mac Addict have taken a huge chunk of their successful online business and put it into a bricks and mortar store – located at 26 Albert Coates Lane within the QV Melbourne the store is small, but packs a huge range inside.
They call it “Lifestyle Electronics” and we’re all down for that. They look for the best products in a range of categories and make them available right there, right now.
Sure, online shopping is fast, but if you don’t like what you get you’ve gotta send it back, wait and get something new – all a hassle.
Picture your local Westfield – that iPhone accessories shop – you know the one, in the middle of the isle, or in a narrow little shop. Shelves and Shelves of cases, hard to see, and just every colour imaginable.
Now picture an Apple Store. Open Space, everything has it’s place, lots of products, yet not so crowded.
The latter is closer to the Mac Addict store than the former. This store breaks the model of accessory stores, in fact it smashes it.
Brands like Incase, Mophie, Twleve South, Moshi, Native Union are there, along with Olloclip, Element Case and Bellroy. Plus, if you’re after audio – Marshall, B&O Play and Urbanears.
You’ve gotta say, it’s a huge risk. The overheads for bricks and mortar are big. Space, Fit-out, product, staff, it all costs money. But give them credit, they are giving it a bloody good crack.
Oh, and full respect to the Mac Addict team – the store is 100% cashless. Using Square, the store uses Studio Proper accessories to create a seamless cash-free point of sale experience. 0% surcharge too!
Check them out, if you work in Melbourne CBD, put them on your lunchtime browse list.
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts several popular podcasts, EFTM, Two Blokes Talking Tech, Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars, The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, and the Private Feed. He is the resident tech expert for Triple M on radio across Australia, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show and appears regularly on 9 News, A Current Affair and Sky News Early Edition.
Father of three, he is often found in his Man Cave.
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