On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

According to The Telegraph, Kesa might be saying "addio" to the Italian market-- at least if it follows advice from financial services provider UBS.

“Sadly Kesa has been in the eye of the European storm,” UBS says. “The tough macro conditions in Spain are well documented and the austerity measures to be undertaken in both Spain and Italy are likely to constrain consumer demand over the next few years.”

Kesa has 24 stores in Italy-- and has already shut down "some" stores, The Telegraph says. Analysts estimate Kesa losses in Italy can total up to €45m unless it manages to find "a route to profitability."

Meanwhile the retailer's Spanish business is looking "more sustainable," with analysts predicting losses reaching €10m by 2013.

Kesa already left the UK market, following the 2011 sale of the struggling Comet sale to OpCapita for all of £2 (plus £50m "dowry"). With the French Darty chain currently providing Kesa with "solid cash generation," will Kesa manage to turn the rest of its European business around?

Go Talk of Italian Retreat Fuels Kesa Electricals

Casio is moving towards the retail game-- opening a concept store at the Convent Garden Piazza, London selling cameras, synthesizer products and premium watches.

The store occupies 87 square metres over 2 floors, and bears industrial-style design from London-based creative agency HarrimanSteel.

The shop makes emphasis on Casio's Japanese origins-- the entrance welcomes customers in Japanese, and key store information (such as opening times) appears in both English and Japanese languages.

Casio projectors power a series of light shows forming a large interactive Casio watch face on top of a large watch model, while modular display canvases hold products in various materials associated with the particular brand.

Go Casio Debuts First Concept Store in London

IKEA's launch into CE received so much interest that we should probably also report despite IKEA's new-found interest, one major mass market store will close its entertainment electronics department. Karstadt says it will abandon the CE department in its stores, promising to close all within the next 16 months.

Financial Times Deutschland reports Andrew Jennings, the new president at Karstadt is looking to reduce its product range.  That "look" started with the closure of their obvious choice, the multimedia department, while management apparently needs more time to review other less obvious choices. (The Book Dept. may be facing its final chapter and Fashion Dept. is reported to be slimming down under the Jennings review. But both have already survived longer than the decision to unplug the electronics department.)

We've been hearing rumours on how Apple will soon release a TV set for quite a while now-- but would customers actually buy one? According to a survey from KAE, the answer appears to be... yes.

The survey says 30% of consumers in the UK (and 25% in the US) would buy an Apple TV set once it hits the market. Perhaps unsurprisingly the percentage gets higher amongst iDevice owners, jumping to 43% in the UK (38% US).

Commenting about Apple possibly moving into the TV business, KAE remarks "such a move would be an incredibly powerful extension of the iOS platform, accessed via a more compelling device option than Apple’s current offering (Apple TV)."

An Apple TV set would also bring further profits for app developers and accessory makers.

Customers-to-be also also trust Apple to make a high quality product (62% UK, 59% US), if not one bearing ground-breaking design (58% UK, 52% US), with features including internet connectivity, apps, and automatic synchronisation with other iDevices.

KAE also says Sony and Samsung are the TV makers "most likely to suffer" with the launch of an Apple TV set-- 38% of Sony and 36% of Samsung TV owners in the UK claim they would convert to Apple once such a TV becomes available.

Go Demand for an Apple TV Set (KAE)