Apple's Watch may not be such a flop after all: Best Buy TRIPLES the number of stores the device is in due to 'strong demand'

Best Buy had planned to have the watch in 300 stores by Christmas
It has increased this to include all of its 1,050 big-box stores by October
Announcement was made during conference call with Wall Street analysts
Watch sales helped Best Buy post higher than expected earnings

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Until now, reports have suggested sales of Apple's Watch have been floundering after an initial surge in April, while the tech firm has remained tight-lipped about official figures.

But it appears not all is lost after Best Buy in the US announced it is selling the device in more stores in order to cope with demand.

The retailer had planned to have the watch in 300 stores by the holiday season, but this has been increased to all of its 1,050 big-box stores by the end of next month.

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During a conference call to Wall Street analysts, Best Buy chief executive Hubert Joly said: 'Demand for Apple Watch has been so strong in the stores and online' and announced it was expanding into more stores. Best Buy had planned to have the watch in 300 stores by Christmas, but this has increased to 1,050 by October

During a conference call to Wall Street analysts, Best Buy chief executive Hubert Joly said: 'Demand for Apple Watch has been so strong in the stores and online', reports Fortune.

The sale of the Watch and other Apple products are also being linked to higher than expected sales figures from the retailer posted during the second quarter of the year.

Following the Watch's launch in April, when many versions sold out within hours, sales were said to have dropped by a staggering 90 per cent.

Research from Slice Intelligence claimed the drop was so dramatic that at one point Apple was selling just 5,000 watches a day in the US.

This is in contrast to the 200,000 units it sold a day during the week of April 10, when consumers purchased around 1.5 million watches.

Following the Watch's launch in April, when many versions sold out within hours, sales were said to have dropped by a staggering 90 per cent. Research from Slice Intelligence claimed that the drop was so dramatic that at one point Apple was selling just 5,000 watches a day in the US

Slice's figures are unofficial, however, and are based on electronic receipts sent to email addresses following a purchase.

According to MacRumors, Apple will likely be grouping the device under its 'Other Products' category - which combines sales of Apple Watch, iPod, Apple TV, Beats Electronics and accessories - in its quarterly fiscal reports.

IPHONES CONTINUE TO SOAR

Pacific Crest Securities recently predicted Apple would sell 236 million iPhones this year and 218 million next year.

This is an increase of 3.1 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively on previous estimates.

Apple sold 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus handsets the first weekend they went on sale and this rose to a staggering 74.5 million iPhones by the end of last year.

Last month, an analyst who previously predicted Apple would sell 24 million devices during 2016 has significantly reduced this figure - to 21 million - following the lukewarm reaction to the wearable.

Pacific Crest Securities analyst Andy Hargreaves made the predictions in a research note to clients.

He said: 'Anecdotal evidence suggests Apple Watch demand is slowing quickly' and predicted sales for 2015 will reach 10.5 million - 500,000 less than his initial estimates.

Meanwhile, mixed reviews of the device combined with interest from the general public, measured by how many people are searching for the Watch online, suggest sales next year will also slow - to the difference of 3 million.

And as sales and popularity of the iPhone continue to soar, Google Trends revealed people are searching for the Watch as often as they are the iPod.

By comparison, Apple sold 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus handsets the first weekend they went on sale. And this rose to a staggering 74.5 million iPhones by the end of last year.

Slice Intelligence recently said around two-thirds of the watches sold so far have been the 'Sport' version, which is the cheaper option, with a price tag of $349 (£299)

This is in stark contrast to the soaring popularity of the iPhone. Google Trends data reveals people are searching for the Watch as often as they are the iPod (pictured)