Michael Meunch, New VP, North American Sales, Apple Computer, Goes on the Record With Computer Retail Week Online

Apple Computer Corp.'s news that it would lay off more than 4,000 employees and undergo restructuring changes in the second fiscal quarter cause many a rumble in the channel industry, especially among retailers who want to know how the company's reorganization will affect partnerships and marketing plans. Computer Retail Week Senior Editor Gregory Quick, recently sat down for an interview with Michael Meunch, Apple's new Vice President of North American Sales to get answers to some of these questions. The interview is available online at CRWi -- Computer Retail Week's interactive, electronic edition -- at http://techweb.cmp.com/crw/crwtv/default.html.

During his interview with Computer Retail Week, Meunch unveiled Apple's overview of its news charter, which he said is to provide products to consumers and to the small business space in North America. Meunch also identified Apple's biggest challenges as two-fold: first, to build relationships with retail channel partners and make sure salespeople are provided without the information they need to articulate effectively the benefits of Apple products; and next, to move Apple's focus from generating enthusiasm at the headquarter level to generating enthusiasm at the retail level.

"Many retailers have become somewhat wary of dealing with Apple. Meunch, speaking after only seven days in the new post, has his work cut out for him," said Computer Retail Week editor Kevin Ferguson. "But we're happy to serve as a conduit through which Meunch can begin building the kinds of relationships to which he refers."

Additional interviews posted to the CRWi Web site include: Charlotte Woodland, Director of Sales, Micro Central; Lynne Harris, Manager of Sales and Marketing, SouthPeak Interactive; Joseph Morici, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Fujitsu Interactive; Jeff Matthews, General Partner, Ram Partners; Jay Kerutis, U.S. Vice President of the Retail Group at Merisel; Bill Beck, Head of Mitel's Personal Assistant Program; Tim Costello, National Manager, Retail Programs, Mindshare Associates; Michael Da Re, General Manager, T- Zone, Inc.; Pete Boehm, Vice President Sales at HotOffice Technologies; Joan Ziegler, President and CEO, Jazz Interactive; Anne Beitel, Director of Marketing at Dr. Solomon's Software; Brenda Metzger, Senior Director of Channel Sales, Cybermedia.

CRWi's interview with Meunch and all other channel executives took place in Miami, Florida, during CMP Media Inc.'s Retail XChange, a series of conferences sponsored by the CMP Channel Group. At Retail XChange, senior executives from channel organizations, vendors and distributors can exchange views and visions for the industry and their own businesses. Another XChange event -- Breakaway XChange -- is scheduled for San Diego, Calif., September 18 through September 21. Retailers interested in receiving more information should contact Charlie Humphrey, CMP's Senior Director of Channel Programs, at 516-562-6864.

Computer Retail Week is the leading newspaper for technology retailers. It provides critical information about new alliances, technologies and products for a wide audience of computer hardware and software retailers, mass merchants, software specialty stores and other Channel members. For the past six years, Computer Retail Week has delivered breaking news weekly throughout the year. Breaking news stories can be viewed by visiting Computer Retail Week's home page -- CRWi -- at http://www.crw.com/.

CMP Media Inc. provides publishing, marketing and information services to the entire high-technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology -- through print and electronic media. All of CMP's publications and online products can be accessed through the company's TechWeb-site on the World Wide Web (http://www.techweb.com/). Along with Computer Retail Week, print titles include EE Times, Computer Reseller News, InformationWeek, NetGuide Magazine and WINDOWS MAGAZINE.

-0- 3/28/97

SOURCE: CMP Media Inc.

CONTACT: Kevin Ferguson of Computer Retail Week, 516-733-8505, or Leslie
Dunbar of CMP Media, 516-562-7040