RICHMOND, British Columbia — London Drugs next month plans to begin carrying the HP TouchPad tablet computer, expanding the retailer’s strong electronics department.
The Canadian drug chain said Friday that the HP TouchPad will be available at 74 of its stores on July 15, and it will begin presale orders on LondonDrugs.com starting June 19.
London Drugs will offer the 16-gigabyte and 32-gigabyte models of the HP TouchPad, priced at $519.99 and $619.99, respectively. The mobile device features Hewlett-Packard’s new webOS tablet operating system, which intuitively figures out what users want to do — such as send an e-mail, updating their Facebook status or browse a website — once they start typing.
"This is the launch we have been waiting for," Wynne Powell, president and chief executive officer of London Drugs, said in a statement. "When we first saw the TouchPad in its early stages, we knew it was going to be an intense competitor in the tablet market." The chain also sells Apple’s iPad tablet computer.
London Drugs offers the full range of typical drug store merchandise, and pharmacy is at the center of its operations. Yet most of the stores have a footprint enabling them to offer a mix of products that’s among the most diverse in the industry — notably a large electronics department, which has been a key shopper destination.
Computers and computer supplies, software, televisions and home entertainment equipment, mobile phones and devices, household appliances, and a broad selection of cameras and photographic equipment are found in almost every London Drugs outlet.
The chain also puts out a high-tech flyer showcasing its electronics offerings. For example, the latest tech flyer, running through mid-June, promoted the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play smartphone on the front cover and had pages devoted to flat-screen TVs and home theater equipment; mini home audio systems, satellite radio, personal video recording and digital music devices (including the iPod Touch); smartphones, cordless phones and GPS devices; microwave ovens; digital cameras; and computer accessories and software. Also, the back cover highlighted Linksys wireless routers, Sony Vaio notebook computers, Norton 360 security software and Targus laptop accessories.
Overall, London Drugs has 75 locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
