Apple building ‘visually stunning’ Palo Alto store next to Microsoft

By Ed Sutherland on Jun 17, 2013

While most Apple retail locations which grab headlines are in China or New York City, the iPhone maker is working hard to finish work on its flagship store in Palo Alto, California. Unlike other huge glass Apple flagship stores, this one is most known for overwhelming a nearby Microsoft store built just last year to out-do Apple.

Aside from the one-upsmanship between the two rivals, the 12,000-square feet store in the city’s Stanford shopping center expected to open in November may have been one of the last decisions made by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. According to a report Monday, Jobs approved the store’s design just six months before Tim Cook became CEO… Read More

 

Payleven teams up with Apple to sell its Chip & PIN card reader

By Cody Lee on May 29, 2013

Look out Square and Paypal, Payleven has inked a major deal with Apple to sell its mobile payment solution. The Rocket Internet-backed startup is now selling its Chip & PIN at a number of the company’s retail and online stores.

Payleven says it has been talking to Apple about a global distribution deal for several months now, and the two sides only recently reached an agreement. Apparently the company is as protective of its retail stores as it is its App Store… Read More

 

Apple to obsolete original iPhone on June 11

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 30, 2013

Apple’s iPhone, which celebrated its fifth birthday last June, will soon reach ‘obsolete’ status at Apple’s retail stores. This comes via an internal Apple communication which reveals that Apple Stores will downgrade the original 2007 iPhone model to ‘obsolete’ status come June 11, 2013.

Between its January 2007 introduction and the June 29, 2007 debut, the iPhone had enjoyed an unprecedented amount of media attention that fueled the media frenzy to unheard-of levels. But even the phone that changed the cell phones forever deserves retirement. By obsoleting the device, Apple will no longer be providing service parts… Read More

 

Chinese iPhone dealers scam Apple with fake parts

By Ed Sutherland on Apr 15, 2013

Five iPhone distributors in China are under arrest after Apple told local police it was the victim of an unusual scam. The plot involved sending fake iPhone 4S parts to Apple for replacement and receiving real components worth more than $64,000, according to Monday reports.

The alleged fraudsters went so far as to accompany the fake components with the serial numbers of more than a hundred real iPhone handsets, police said. Read More

 

Poll: should Apple offer Ron Johnson its still open Retail boss job?

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 8, 2013

Apple’s former SVP of Retail Ron Johnson just got booted as the CEO of JC Penney over dismal earnings and for failing to sprinkle a little bit of Apple’s magic dust to fix the retailer’s depressing mid-range brick-and-mortar department store biz.

And in a fitting twist of fate, it just so happens that Apple, where Johnson spent a decade refining the retail experience which is epitomized in the Genius Bar concept, has been struggling to find a suitable replacement to Johnson for nearly two years now.

We’re asking you to take a moment, asses the situation and make an educated guess as to whether Tim Cook should make an offer to Johnson or just ignore him in order not to send the wrong kind of message, that people can leave Apple on a whim resting assured the company would always take them back… Read More

 

Ron Johnson booted as JC Penney CEO, will Cook re-hire him to lead Apple Stores?

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 8, 2013

Ron Johnson, 54, Apple’s former SVP of Retail and the guy largely attributed with turning the beleaguered computer maker into America’s greatest retailer at the turn of the century, nearly two years ago left Cupertino to take the job as president of the mid-range department store chain J.C. Penney.

He was supposed to apply some of Apple’s secret magic sauce to JC Penney’s outdated retail stores. But alas, the company instead has continued to struggle under his leadership and has experienced its worst sales year in more than two decades. Johnson’s Apple experience obviously didn’t translate well to Penney’s customer base of bargain hunters. Hopefully, Tim Cook still has Johnson on speed dial… Read More

 

Apple to triple retail presence in India by 2015, own stores still improbable

By Ed Sutherland on Mar 26, 2013

After realizing India’s potential, Apple is now acting to catch up with rival Samsung. The latest sign of Apple’s new-found interest: a Tuesday report claiming the iPhone maker plans to open 200 exclusive stores in the country, tripling the number of locations now available to India’s mobile consumers.

The push into retailing for Apple reportedly includes importing suppliers to help local franchisers adopt the iconic sleek glass design of other locations selling iPhones, iPads and other devices from the Cupertino firm. Apple’s retail efforts follow a turn-around in iPhone sales marked by direct-to-consumer sales and other marketing adjustments… Read More

 

Apple Store app updated with new delivery and pickup options

By Cody Lee on Mar 12, 2013

Apple has updated its Apple Store app for the iPhone and iPod touch this afternoon. The update brings the app, which allows you to browse through and shop in the company’s massive web store, to version 2.5.

Unfortunately, there’s still no iPad version. But today’s release does include a few changes that will improve the app’s shopping experience, with new shipping and pickup options. Full change log after the fold… Read More

 

Google to open standalone retail stores this year

By Cody Lee on Feb 15, 2013

Once a highly valued partner, Google has spent the last few years moving in on Apple’s territory. It’s done it in the computer space, with its Chromebook OS, and in the smartphone space with Android. And now it looks like it’s preparing to do the same thing in retail.

A new report is out this afternoon claiming that the Mountain View company is in the process of building standalone retail stores in the United States, in an effort to get its products into more hands. And its flagship locations could be ready by the holidays…

Read More

 

BMW adopts Apple’s Genius model to educate car buyers

By Ed Sutherland on Feb 15, 2013

If there is one consumer experience needing updating, it is that trip to an auto sales floor. Too often, the salesperson can only provide potential buyers with the most basic information. Luxury automaker BMW hopes to change all that, using Apple’s Genius model to answer consumer queries.

Part of the BMW Genius Everywhere program to launch in the U.S. in 2014, young people armed with iPads will roam the automaker’s showrooms even before the sales staff get down to clinching the deal. The company becomes just the latest hoping to ignite more sales by taking a page from Apple’s wildly successful Geniuses who provide unassuming assistance and educate consumers on Apple gear… Read More

 

Apple wins trademarks for Apple Store design and layout

By Cody Lee on Jan 30, 2013

Apple Stores provide an unmistakable, unique shopping environment. The company has spent years perfecting the look and feel of its retail shops, with their large glass windows, clutter-free product tables and walls of accessories.

And it looks like Apple will now be able to protect all of that hard work with a few newly acquired trademarks. This past week, the US Patent and Trademark office granted the company trademarks on its retail design and layout… Read More

 

Apple to open first retail store in Indonesia, resume direct online sales

By Christian Zibreg on Jan 22, 2013

Apple is finally opening its first retail outlet in Indonesia, a new report out Tuesday confirmed. The brick-and-mortar store will be located in the capital city, Jakarta. Additionally, the Cupertino firm will boost its retail presence in the 250 million people country by enabling direct online seals via the Indonesia online web store. Apple on December 3, 2012 started selling the iPhone 5 in Indonesia and more than fifty other markets. The following day, the company also launched its iTunes movies and music store in 56 new countries, including Indonesia… Read More

 

Apple reportedly loses VP of Retail Jerry McDougal

By Cody Lee on Jan 15, 2013

A new report is out this afternoon claiming that Apple’s vice president of retail Jerry McDougal has left the company to spend more time with his family. It’s a significant blow, as he’s considered to be a big part of Apple’s retail success.

McDougal was Ron Johnson’s right hand man before he left the company to head up JC Penney in late 2011, and was even said to have been considered for his replacement before Apple decided on the infamous John Browett… Read More

 

Macworld takes a look at Apple’s pricing strategy

By Cody Lee on Jan 14, 2013

Marco Tabini of Macworld takes an interesting look today at how Apple manages to keep the prices on its products, and subsequently its profits, so much higher than other manufacturers. It turns out, the company uses a unique, two-pronged pricing strategy.

The first part of it has to do with wholesale pricing. Apple, unlike most hardware-makers, doesn’t offer resellers much of a discount on products like the iPad or iMac, even if they’re buying in bulk. This doesn’t give retailers much incentive to carry the products, but with the kind of foot traffic they produce, it doesn’t really have to… Read More

 

Apple ranked top retailer in cellphone buyer survey

By Cody Lee on Nov 29, 2012

In addition to its carrier satisfaction survey, Consumer Reports also released the results of its cellphone buying experience survey this morning. The firm’s National Research center asked 10,000 subscribers who had purchased a cellphone in the last two years to rate their buying experience. And surprise, surprise, Apple came out on top… Read More

 

iPhone 5 supply now stabilized in US Apple Stores

By Cody Lee on Nov 29, 2012

Since its initial launch in late September, iPhone 5 supply has been extremely limited. But Apple must have gotten past whatever production issue it was having, because shipping times for the handset recently started showing just one week out.

And apparently, availability is looking even better at Apple’s brick and mortar locations. According to a new poll conducted by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, a number of Apple Stores now have nearly every model of the iPhone 5 on hand… Read More

 

Internal Apple video gives insight into its retail prowess

By Cody Lee on Nov 26, 2012

Apple launched its first retail store(s) on May 19, 2001. It was the fruition of Steve Jobs’ vision to improve Mac sales by giving consumers a top-notch shopping experience. Several analysts, of course, predicted the failure of the chain.

But as we all know, Jobs proved everyone wrong. Apple Stores have since exploded, and there are now close to 400 of them around the world, making more money per square foot than high-end jewelry stores. And here’s how they did it… Read More

 

Claimed unlocked iPhone 5 prices show up on Apple’s website

By Cody Lee on Nov 5, 2012

While Apple offers unlocked iPhone 5s in Canada and other countries, it has yet to give buyers inside the US that option. So unless you go through a third party vendor, you can’t get an unlocked iPhone 5 here in the States.

That could be changing in the near future though. Purported prices for unlocked versions of the new handset have been discovered hidden on Apple’s US website, which could mean that they’re preparing to roll them out… Read More

 

You can now reserve your iPad mini for in-store pick up

By Cody Lee on Nov 4, 2012

The iPad mini officially launched on Friday, and much like the online pre-order sale, it looks like initial stock has gone rather quickly. We’ve heard several reports now that many retailers are sold out of the 8-inch tablet.

But don’t worry, if you haven’t gotten your hands on a mini yet, Apple just opened up a new option that could allow you to get the slate next-day. That’s right, you can now reserve the iPad mini for in-store personal pickup… Read More

 

iPad mini sells out in 2 hours at 5th Avenue store

By Christian Zibreg on Nov 2, 2012

The iPad mini went on sale this morning in 34 countries and it looks to be off to a pretty solid start. Now, much ado is being made about lines not being as long as during past product launches. This is understandable: after all, the iPad mini launch is somewhat subdued because of the fallout from Hurricane Sandy. Still, eager fans reportedly visit flagship Apple stores in considerable numbers to pick up the new device which most reviewers deemed an attractive buy.

In New york, in about two hours the iPad mini sold out at Apple’s flagship Manhattan store on the Fifth Avenue. In case you’be been wondering about the headcount, Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports of more than 800 customers standing in the line by the time the 10am countdown began. So much about “disappointing crowds”… Read More

 
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