Gateway closing all its retail stores at DVinfo.net

Boyd Ostroff · April 5th, 2004, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Gateway to Close Retail Stores

Will Continue Direct Sales via Web, Phone Channels

POWAY, Calif., April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gateway, Inc. (NYSE: GTW)
said today that after reviewing strategic options for its network of 188
company-operated retail stores, it is planning to close the stores on April 9.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/mi...TE=Apr+1,+2004

Keith Loh · April 5th, 2004, 07:55 PM

Hmmm sad for all the employees but ...

any deals?

Frank Granovski · April 5th, 2004, 07:56 PM

We had at least one store here in Vancouver...now you see it, now you don't. I was going to order a Gateway awhile back. When I got the saleswomen, she said: "Ohhh, you're from Canada..., we don't like selling to Canada." Then I hung up.

Boyd Ostroff · April 5th, 2004, 08:21 PM

Quote:

In a speech last month at the Morgan Stanley Semiconductor & System Conference, Apple Chief Financial Officer, Fred Anderson told the crowd that Apple had a different strategy then Gateway in the retail space. "We do not have a Gateway strategy," said Anderson. "We're only interested in profitable stores" -- Apple's goal is not to saturate the market, he said. Anderson also indicated that Apple wants each retail location to be profitable within the first year of operation.

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/...wayapple/?pf=1

John Hudson · April 5th, 2004, 09:20 PM

I think Dell has it all figured out.

Nick Kerpchar · April 6th, 2004, 06:56 AM

John,
I would agree with you about Dell. They started with mail order (although they have or had at least one factory outlet in Austin, Texas, I believe) and stayed mail order. It appears that some of these companies that start out mail order and do well then think that they could translate that success into brick-and-mortar stores and continue to do as well. Two examples that come to mind are: Eddie Bauer, and The Company Store (goose down pillows, comforters, jackets, etc).

Retail sales appears to be a real jungle and it is amazing how anyone makes a profit. Perhaps one winning strategy is what B&H and some of the other sponsors of this site do; have a main store and also have an active mail-order business. That would seem the best of both worlds. With that said, it would appear that it is the market saturation strategy that sinks them in the end.

Just my two-cents worth.

Rob Belics · April 6th, 2004, 08:13 AM

I have an article, from Time I think, way back when Dell was just getting started. It was trying to add up prices to see how Dell was able to sell its computers so cheap.

The math didn't work out so they were wondering if he was selling them at cost or below. Kind of funny to read now.

Heath McKnight · April 6th, 2004, 09:25 AM

I see little Dell kiosks in malls, which are CHEAP to run and always have big muscle-bound computers, laptops and monitors. Great and cheap way to entice buyers.

The Gateway store, at least when I bought one six years ago, really sucked. They had NOTHING there to buy, other than little stuffed cows, mugs and pens. You couldn't ask about upgrades, repairs, etc., though I heard they did better about that stuff later on.

But, Apple has had ENORMOUS success with their Apple stores, probably because they don't really lose a lot of money a year (yeah, they DO only have less than 5% of market share)--actually they're always in the black. But, interesting that those stores do so well. The one in Wellington, Florida has a staff that knows me TOO well...

heath

Rob Easler · April 6th, 2004, 09:47 AM

Well there is only one apple store. There are PC stores on every corner?

Heath McKnight · April 6th, 2004, 10:23 AM

There are well over 70 Apple shops and many other small, indie Apple stores all over the nation.

But, yes, PC shops far outweigh Apple shops, but the indie PC shops sometimes carry Apple stuff, too.

heath

Michael Wisniewski · April 6th, 2004, 10:53 AM

Yeah Dell's got it right

But I think Apple got it right too. Their store here in NYC/SOHO is pretty cool. I don't own a Mac but I always end up wandering in there anyway.

It helps that they have Canon videocams to play with, plus they always have free product demonstration in the theatre ... wish I had a place like that for all the Sony/Vegas stuff.

I've never used the info/tech support desk, but it's always full!

Speaking of which, if you're ever in NYC, check out the basement of the Sony store on Madison Ave, cool place to check out. I'm hoping they start giving software! demos like the Apple store.

Jeff Donald · April 8th, 2004, 10:37 PM

Apple has stated their goal is about 100 retail stores. When that goal is achieved they will have a retail outlet within 1 hour of about 270 million people (I’m doing this from memory, I may be off on the numbers). I’ve had several discussions with the retail end of Apple and most of their stores do well into the 8 figures in gross sales (annually). Multiply that by 100 stores and that’s a nice chunk of change.

The percentage of Mac users really isn’t important. Mercedes and BMW both have smaller market shares than Apple, yet consumer and other vendors continue to support their product lines. The bottom line is profitability, and Apple continues to be a very well run company.

April 5th, 2004, 07:55 PM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Hmmm sad for all the employees but ... any deals? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

April 6th, 2004, 09:25 AM	#8
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I see little Dell kiosks in malls, which are CHEAP to run and always have big muscle-bound computers, laptops and monitors. Great and cheap way to entice buyers. The Gateway store, at least when I bought one six years ago, really sucked. They had NOTHING there to buy, other than little stuffed cows, mugs and pens. You couldn't ask about upgrades, repairs, etc., though I heard they did better about that stuff later on. But, Apple has had ENORMOUS success with their Apple stores, probably because they don't really lose a lot of money a year (yeah, they DO only have less than 5% of market share)--actually they're always in the black. But, interesting that those stores do so well. The one in Wellington, Florida has a staff that knows me TOO well... heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

April 6th, 2004, 10:23 AM	#10
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	There are well over 70 Apple shops and many other small, indie Apple stores all over the nation. But, yes, PC shops far outweigh Apple shops, but the indie PC shops sometimes carry Apple stuff, too. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

April 8th, 2004, 10:37 PM	#12
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Apple has stated their goal is about 100 retail stores. When that goal is achieved they will have a retail outlet within 1 hour of about 270 million people (I’m doing this from memory, I may be off on the numbers). I’ve had several discussions with the retail end of Apple and most of their stores do well into the 8 figures in gross sales (annually). Multiply that by 100 stores and that’s a nice chunk of change. The percentage of Mac users really isn’t important. Mercedes and BMW both have smaller market shares than Apple, yet consumer and other vendors continue to support their product lines. The bottom line is profitability, and Apple continues to be a very well run company. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

April 5th, 2004, 07:56 PM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	We had at least one store here in Vancouver...now you see it, now you don't. I was going to order a Gateway awhile back. When I got the saleswomen, she said: "Ohhh, you're from Canada..., we don't like selling to Canada." Then I hung up.

April 5th, 2004, 09:20 PM	#5
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	I think Dell has it all figured out.

April 6th, 2004, 06:56 AM	#6
Nick Kerpchar Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 211	John, I would agree with you about Dell. They started with mail order (although they have or had at least one factory outlet in Austin, Texas, I believe) and stayed mail order. It appears that some of these companies that start out mail order and do well then think that they could translate that success into brick-and-mortar stores and continue to do as well. Two examples that come to mind are: Eddie Bauer, and The Company Store (goose down pillows, comforters, jackets, etc). Retail sales appears to be a real jungle and it is amazing how anyone makes a profit. Perhaps one winning strategy is what B&H and some of the other sponsors of this site do; have a main store and also have an active mail-order business. That would seem the best of both worlds. With that said, it would appear that it is the market saturation strategy that sinks them in the end. Just my two-cents worth.

April 6th, 2004, 08:13 AM	#7
Rob Belics Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 581	I have an article, from Time I think, way back when Dell was just getting started. It was trying to add up prices to see how Dell was able to sell its computers so cheap. The math didn't work out so they were wondering if he was selling them at cost or below. Kind of funny to read now.

April 6th, 2004, 09:47 AM	#9
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	Well there is only one apple store. There are PC stores on every corner?

April 6th, 2004, 10:53 AM	#11
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Yeah Dell's got it right But I think Apple got it right too. Their store here in NYC/SOHO is pretty cool. I don't own a Mac but I always end up wandering in there anyway. It helps that they have Canon videocams to play with, plus they always have free product demonstration in the theatre ... wish I had a place like that for all the Sony/Vegas stuff. I've never used the info/tech support desk, but it's always full! Speaking of which, if you're ever in NYC, check out the basement of the Sony store on Madison Ave, cool place to check out. I'm hoping they start giving software! demos like the Apple store.