Electronics retailer Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY), has announced it will retail Apple Watch in its store from next month, making it the first retailer besides Apple Stores to offer the smartwatch that was launched three months ago.
Initially, Best Buy will start selling the smartwatch in over 100 stores from August 7 and will later expand it to an additional 200 stores by the time for holiday shopping season.
"The Apple Watch is a big addition to our stores and website, and we know our customers want it," said Jason Bonfig, senior category officer at Best Buy. "We are excited to bring the Apple Watch to more consumers, especially with the holidays coming up."
Customers can buy 16 Apple Watch models and nearly 50 accessories from Best Buy stores, including Sport and Watch models in both 38mm and 42mm sizes. However, the retailer will not be selling the Watch Edition, which retails upwards of $10,000.
This marks a new marketing strategy from the Cupertino, California-based tech company to improve the availability of its smartwatch, which has not been a run away hit as its other products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook had been mum about the Apple Watch sales figure during the company's quarterly earnings report. The company had clubbed the revenues from the watch within Apple's "other product" category, which includes iPods, Apple TV and other accessories.
By keeping the sales number secret, Apple has further infuriated investors as they can not measure the success of the new product category. According to reports, Apple must probably have sold about 2 million to 2.5 million Apple Watches in the quarter.
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