Joint Release
Sears To Sell iMacs
CUPERTINO, California-May 10, 1999-Apple Computer, Inc. today
announced that it will add Sears, Roebuck and Co. to its list of
iMac distributors. Sears will begin offering iMac to its customers
by Memorial Day weekend through approximately 825 locations
nationally. Sears will also carry a wide range of iMac peripherals
that plug into iMac's Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, including
printers and disk drives.
"One in three iMacs is being purchased by a first-time computer
buyer, and we believe Sears broad geographic coverage and a loyal
customer base can help us reach even more of these new customers,"
said Mitch Mandich, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Sales.
"More than 50 percent of computer buyers at Sears are buying their
first computer," said Chuck Cebuhar, Sears vice president and general
manager. "iMac is a perfect choice for our customers who want an
Internet-ready computer that's easy to buy, easy to set up, and easy
to use."
Market research indicates that 32 percent of iMac buyers are
first-time computer buyers and an additional 11 percent are Wintel
converts. According to ZD Storeboard, Apple's share of U.S. retail
and mail order desktop sales expanded to 12.5 percent in February-the
highest since iMac was introduced. iMac is currently offered through
a wide range of retail chains, computer dealers and catalog resellers
at more than 3,500 locations throughout the United States, and online
through The Apple Store(www.apple.com).
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the
1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the
1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original
mission-to bring the best personal computing products and support to
students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers,
businesspersons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home
and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more
than $41 billion. More information is available on Sears Web site,
http://www.Sears.com
Press Contacts:
Greg Jones
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-3034
gjones@apple.com
Peggy Palter
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
(847) 286-8309
