ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Apple blows its horn while revealing its post-Steve Jobs fiscal Q1 2012 results, with big numbers showing "record" iPhone, iPad and Mac sales.

iPhone sales for the quarter total 37.04M units-- a 128% Y-o-Y increase, making CEO Tim Cook boast Apple could have sold even more units if it had more supply during the company earnings call. In comparison, Samsung sold 35M units during Q4 2011.

Meanwhile iPad totals cement claims of 2011 being the year of the Apple tablet-- sales for the period reach 15.43M units, with 111% Y-o-Y growth.

Mac sales also show growth and reach 5.2M units (consisting of 1.48M desktops and 3.7M laptops) with 26% Y-o-Y growth, as does the Apple TV "hobby" (with Q1 2012 reaching 1.4M units).

The company also shows a record in earnings-- $13.06 billion, nearly twice of what the company earned at the same period last year ($6BN). International sales account for 58% of total revenues.

Apple predicts an equally strong Q2, with "some amazing new products in the pipeline." But even if the competition manages to beat it, the company should remain fine thanks to $97 billion in cash on hand.

Go Apple Reports Q1 Results

The EMEA PC market continues declining in Q4 2011 according to IDC as PC shipments are down by -6.5% Y-o-Y, the 5th consecutive quarter of decline. As a result total EMEA PC shipments for 2011 are also down, reaching 103M units with a -7% Y-o-Y decline.

"Western Europe remained the most impacted as PC shipments contracted for the fifth consecutive quarter, recording a decline of 11.5%," IDC reports. The region is going through weakness in consumer demand and a slowdown within the commercial segment, as pressure due to the eurozone debt crisis escalates.

According to the analyst, consumer demand is down by -16.1% while the commercial market "returned to negative" (following growth in Q3) by -5.2%.

The SMB segment is hit particularly hard, due to weak local demand and lack of access to credit. The public sector is also under budget cut and austerity measure pressure, while enterprise fares somewhat better through ongoing hardware renewals.

PCs are also under increasing competition from other devices-- tablets continue enjoying strong demand during Q4 2011, while portable shipments drop by -15.4% Y-o-Y. Mini-notebooks see a particularly sharp drop of -48.4% in sales, while mainstream notebooks decline by -3.1%.

"Fearing weak consumer sales at Christmas and slowing commercial demand, retailers and distributors across the region remained cautious when taking new orders," IDC says.

HDD shortages have "limited impact" on Q4 2011 totals, as volumes on sale in the pre-Christmas period (using HDD inventory manufactured before the Thailand floodings) ship by sea by mid-November.

The CEMA PC market fares better in Q4-- growing by 1.3% Y-o-Y, in spite of political instability in some Middle East and African countries, the financial crisis in Europe and HDD shortages, the analyst says.

When it comes to vendors, HP remains on top even if it sees declines of -8.8% Y-o-Y as Q4 shipments total 6.03M units. Acer comes 2nd, with shipments reaching 3.6M units and a decline of -24.4% Y-o-Y. IDC says Acer managed to return inventory levels to "manageable levels" across most countries, but continues to alienate its channel partners.

Dell takes 3rd place, growing by 4.9% Y-o-Y with shipments reaching 3.15M units through strong growth thanks to MEA public sector deals. Asus drops to 4th place, even if it shows 14.7% Y-o-Y growth.

Lenovo reports strong 35.5% Y-o-Y growth in Q4 2011, benefitting from its Medion acquisition in consumer space.

Go IDC Quarterly PC Shipment Tracker

Under the latest update of the Waste Electrical and Electric Equipment Directive (WEEE), large CE retailers will have to take back old devices for free, without need for customers making a new purchase.

The take-back directive covers retailers with shop space of 400 square metres or larger, and will come into force over the next 7 years.

The EU plans to improve electrical and electronic waste collection within the region from the current 4kg per capita to around 20kg by 2020. Authorities estimate the volume of waste electronics will total 12M tons by 2020-- and hopes 85% of such waste will be separately collected.

EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik says: "Proper treatment of WEEE is important to prevent harm to human health and the environment, and its systematic collection is the precondition for professional recycling of the valuable raw materials like gold, silver, copper and rare metals, contained in our used TVs, laptops and mobile phones."

Go Statement by Commissioner Potocnik on the new directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

Comparison website Kelkoo confirms the declining high street shopping trend, reporting online sales across Europe grow by 18% Y-o-Y in 2011 to total €200.52 billion, before reaching growing by 16% to reach €232.76BN in 2012.

In comparison the analyst says total European retail for 2011 is up by just 1.8% Y-o-Y. E-commerce represents 7.8% of total 2011 retail sales across Europe, and could grow to 8.8% by 2012.

"Inevitably, this will have an ongoing negative impact on the high street, an issue which is forcing retailers to bring the two channels much closer together," Kelkoo adds.

The study covers 13 countries across Europe.

As we know, 2011 was tough on retail, with Dixons, Kesa and HMV all reporting falling sales and declines. Meanwhile, customers appear to be spending (and buying) more through online retail, despite the current economic situation.

Go EU Online Spending to Grow by 16% in 2012 (Kelkoo)