• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechThe Mobile Executive

How Target Plans to Boost Apple Sales After Plunging Last Quarter

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 18, 2016, 12:33 PM ET
Inside An AT&T Inc. Store Ahead Of Earnings Figures
Retail sales consultant Ahmal Warner, right, helps customer Joel Nelson set up his new Apple Inc. iPhone 6 at an AT&T store in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. AT&T Inc., the second-largest U.S. wireless carrier, is expected to release earnings figures data on April 22. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAndrew Harrer — Bloomberg via Getty Images

Targethad a rough second quarter, and that didn’t stop the company from singling out Apple as part of the problem.

On his company’s earnings call on Wednesday, Target (TGT) CEO Brian Cornell said that his company faced “meaningful pressure” on its electronics sales, which declined by double digits in the second quarter. He explained that about a third of that trouble came as the result of slumping Apple sales—something he’s intent on fixing with Apple for the second half of the year.

“Notably, about a third of this pressure was driven by Apple products, which are down more than 20% in the quarter,” Cornell said during the call. “We are focused on reversing these trends and we are collaborating with Apple and other vendor partners to evolve our assortment and accelerate innovation to deliver stronger sales.”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

For those who have been watching Apple (AAPL) lately, the revelation might not come as a surprise. In the tech giant’s last two reported quarters, revenue has slipped across most of its divisions, including the iPhone, which has long led its charge. While the issues have prompted panic in the hearts of those who watched Apple’s financials soar over the last several years, Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that the issue is short-lived and he believes all of Apple’s product categories are strong and will be stronger in the future.

Target acknowledging how important Apple is to its electronics business, however, is notable. Apple’s own troubles aren’t just affecting its operation; they’re affecting those of its retail partners.

Looking ahead, Target’s top brass said there is a plan to work with Apple and put “the right plans together for the back half of the year.” Although Apple itself won’t confirm that new products are coming, Cornell hinted that his company is gearing up for all-new hardware from the iPhone maker.

“We are ready to capitalize on their new innovation that they will be bringing to market,” Cornell said. “Our guests come to us looking for those products. They are looking for the newness and the innovation, and we are putting together plans with Apple and our merchandising teams to make sure we are ready to take advantage of that in the back half of the year.”

Rumors abound that Apple is planning to launch new iPhones in the fall. The company will also reportedly launch a new MacBook Pro with an organic light-emitting diode touchbar above its keyboard. It would represent the biggest update Apple has made to its MacBook Pro in years.

Those innovations, along with some others Apple might be planning, could not only help the iPhone maker’s business, but also Target’s.

For more about Apple’s iPhone, watch:

Apple did not respond to a request for comment on Cornell’s statements.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Big TechSpotify
Spotify users lamented Wrapped in 2024. This year, the company brought back an old favorite and made it less about AI
By Dave Lozo and Morning BrewDecember 4, 2025
10 hours ago
InnovationVenture Capital
This Khosla Ventures–backed startup is using AI to personalize cancer care
By Allie GarfinkleDecember 4, 2025
14 hours ago
AIEye on AI
Companies are increasingly falling victim to AI impersonation scams. This startup just raised $28M to stop deepfakes in real time
By Sharon GoldmanDecember 4, 2025
14 hours ago
Jensen Huang
SuccessBillionaires
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he works 7 days a week, including holidays, in a constant ‘state of anxiety’ out of fear of going bankrupt
By Jessica CoacciDecember 4, 2025
14 hours ago
Ted Pick
BankingData centers
Morgan Stanley considers offloading some of its data-center exposure
By Esteban Duarte, Paula Seligson, Davide Scigliuzzo and BloombergDecember 4, 2025
14 hours ago
Zuckerberg
EnergyMeta
Meta’s Zuckerberg plans deep cuts for metaverse efforts
By Kurt Wagner and BloombergDecember 4, 2025
15 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Two months into the new fiscal year and the U.S. government is already spending more than $10 billion a week servicing national debt
By Eleanor PringleDecember 4, 2025
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
‘Godfather of AI’ says Bill Gates and Elon Musk are right about the future of work—but he predicts mass unemployment is on its way
By Preston ForeDecember 4, 2025
15 hours ago
placeholder alt text
North America
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos commit $102.5 million to organizations combating homelessness across the U.S.: ‘This is just the beginning’
By Sydney LakeDecember 2, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Nearly 4 million new manufacturing jobs are coming to America as boomers retire—but it's the one trade job Gen Z doesn't want
By Emma BurleighDecember 4, 2025
15 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he works 7 days a week, including holidays, in a constant 'state of anxiety' out of fear of going bankrupt
By Jessica CoacciDecember 4, 2025
14 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Health
Bill Gates decries ‘significant reversal in child deaths’ as nearly 5 million kids will die before they turn 5 this year
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 4, 2025
1 day ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.