Currys and PC World owner Dixons is to replace its 4 year old "TechGuys" support service with "Knowhow".

Knowhow will be unveiled later this week as a revamped and upgraded service to help customers with their digital purchases.

One of the triggers for this change must be competition from the likes of recent US arrival Best Buy and its "Geek Squad"-- even if Dixons insists otherwise.

The Knowhow launch will include a dedicated website and unified in-house call centre. Both Currys and PC World Continue reading...

Apple Stores see the developing Chinese market as one of its fast tracks to more billions in growth-- and will step up the pace for its store-building in 2011 in China as a result.

The California company already opened 4 stores in the world's most populous country (2 in Shanghai, 2 in Beijing) and plans to have 25 stores open by 2011's end.

Chinese customers can now also access Apple's iTunes and App Store in their language.

Morgan Stanley says Apple can triple its revenue from China to $9 billion Continue reading...

Best Buy remodels 27 of its US stores as part of its latest store concept.

A runway greets customers as they enter the remodeled stores. It leads to the store's centre and  houses 3 kiosks, each with employees explaining mobile phone apps, Google TV and wireless router options.

There are also 5 interactive stations to demonstrate different technologies on, each tailored according to the store's demographic (from mobile technology to home automation).

Employees have wireless POS devices  to s Continue reading...

Metro AG expands towards Chinese territories as it plans to opens more than 10 CE stores in Shangai by end 2012. The first Chinese Media Markt (or "Wan De Cheng") will open on Nov. 17.

It will also open more than 100 stores in China by 2015, benefiting from the populous country's demand for TV sets and laptops.

Media Markt/Saturn faces stagnating retail sales in its native Germany. The CE division's earnings (before interest and tax) are down by 1.3% in 2010-- due to costs to enter the Chinese Continue reading...

Fnac wants to generate half its sales outside of France by 2015, says CEO Christophe Cuvillier.

The French retailer is set to expand outside of its home territories-- in North Africa and South America. Its first Morocco outlet will open in 2011, together with more shops in Brazil.

Fnac gets two-thirds of all revenue in France.

By end 2010 Fnac will open its 20th Spanish shop and its 10th in Brazil. This year already saw Fnac store openings in Brussels, Florence and Leiria.

Fnac international Continue reading...

Fnac unveils its own eReader, the FnacBook.

The Sagem-manufactured eReader uses an E-Ink display and has wifi and 3G connectivity. It is slim (1cm thick)  weighs 240gm and has 2Gb memory, expandable via microSD.

It will go on sale in mid-Nov. for Fnac's Xmas season.  Books and stationary are Fnac's 3rd largest product category (2009).

Fnac Chairman and CEO Christophe Cuvilier says he is anxious to see fixed book prices applied to e-books (with book VAT of 5.5% instead of the current 19.6%) Continue reading...

Scandinavian retailer Komplett sees revenue growth, with Q3 increasing by 6% Y-o-Y. This totals NOK 970 million (EUR110 million).

Direct sales are up by 14% but reseller sales are down by 9%. Cash flow from operating activities totals NOK 38.9 million (EUR 4 million).

Company sales increase by up to 22% in Sweden and by 56% in Denmark. This follows the opening of its new pick-up point in Uppsala, Sweden.

Go Komplett Q3 Earnings Report

Nick Graves, MD of Aquilla Europe, comes from a background working in the Apple channel. The company now specialises in helping companies establish themselves in Europe, developing distribution and coverage across the European market.

Speaking to On CE at IFA 2010, Aquilla Europe's Nick Graves says the IFA's hottest products were in the handheld device and mobile space. He describes the market as a "replay of the 80's," with the Microsoft vs Apple battlefield giving a sense of déjà vu.

Graves Continue reading...