Apple is Taking Over the World, One Retail Store at a Time

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is set to expand its retail distribution after reportedly being close to a deal with office supplies chain Staples (NASDAQ:SPLS). Several Staples executives sent out tweets on Friday saying the chain’s U.S. stores would start selling Apple products in the near future.

Regis Mulot, the vice president of international human resources at Staples, announced on his Twitter account that after Canada, Apple products were on their way to the company’s U.S. stores.

Although Mulot later deleted his tweet, Erin LaFlamme, a strategic accounts coordinator at the company also mentioned the development. Mike Goggin, a field services manager at Staples, added that the deal had been closed out, AppleInsider said.

It was not immediately clear which Apple products would be offered at the stores or when they might start arriving. Last month, the Staples web store was reported to have a page showing an Apple TV, but listed it as being out of stock, according to the 9To5Mac. The blog found several Apple products under a Mockup Pages section.

A few years ago, Staples chairman and chief executive Ron Sargent had expressed his distress at not being able to reach a deal with Apple for its U.S. stores. The iPhone maker’s products are sold at Staples stores internationally.

Apple’s retail channels also include several Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), Target (NYSE:TGT), and RadioShack (NYSE:RSH) stores.

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