A week after several CompUSA executive assignments were shuffled and four store closures were announced, the electronics retailer made a stunning move: they will close 126 of their remaining 229 stores, or over one-half the chain. The privately-held company said the closures were “aimed at improving the company’s structure, streamlining operations and reducing expenses.” A press release said CompUSA now intends to “focus on maximizing margins in its top performing stores.”
The 126 stores were selected for closure based on, “the need to close and sell stores with low performance or non strategic, old store layouts and locations faced with market saturation.” The company said the closures will occur over the next 60 to 90 days.
CompUSA was the first Apple reseller to feature the store-within-a-store concept, staffed by an Apple-trained expert called an Apple Solution Consultant. The ASCs provided sales support, but left the actual sales transactions to CompUSA employees. Of the stores closing, 58 have ASCs on-staff.
Neither company discloses figures for sales of Apple products at CompUSA stores, so it’s not clear how the closings might affect Apple’s revenues. However, by all accounts CompUSA was never an enthusastic seller of Apple gear, despite the stores having their own Apple section. And CompUSA isn’t Apple’s only product outlet–there are 7,500 points of sale for Macintosh computers, and 40,000 for sales of iPods.
Earlier this month retailer Circuit City announced it would close seven U.S. stores, 62 international stores and one distribution center, drop some product lines, and shuffle some executive assignments.
[List of stores to be closed.]
