Apple has reportedly declined to supply its debut wearable device ‘Apple Watch’ to U.K.’s largest mobile phone retailer, Carphone Warehouse meaning that one of the biggest retailers of gadgets in the UK won’t be stocking Apple’s smartwatch when it launches on April 24.
Graham Stapleton, Carphone Warehouse UK chief executive, confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.
“We would love to be able to stock the Apple Watch. I’ve got to be careful what I say but I think they are just going another way with it. We have not been given the opportunity,” Stapleton said.
It seems Apple is keen in going for selective points of sale for selling its much-anticipated Apple Watch and will instead focus on pushing the product through its own channels and high-end fashionable retailers such as Selfridges.
The move by the Cupertino comes as a major blow for Carphone Warehouse which has been a major player in the mobile phone market for years with around 800 outlets across the country. Last year, the mobile retailer boosted its domination with a £3.8bn merger with Dixons.
“Apple is focusing on its own outlets for the launch of the Apple Watch. This is a global approach while Apple gauges the reaction to the range and finds out which models are most popular with customers,” a Dixons Carphone spokesman said.
“Dixons Carphone looks forward to stocking it in due course and we will continue to stay in touch with Apple during the launch of this exciting new technology.”
