Retail

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

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 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...

John Browett tells why he sucked as Apple’s short-lived retail boss

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

John Browett became Apple's head of retail in January 2012, two months after the Apple Store father Ron Johnson had left the company for a CEO position at JC Penney. His stint at Apple was a brief one: Browett would last on the job a little over six months.

Partly responsible for the silly Apple Store campaign, Browett single-handily alienated retail staff after proposing layoffs in a bid to prove his worth to the bosses. "We messed up," he admitted, but it was already too late for apologies.

Having tarnished the Apple brand, the former Dixons boss quickly fell out of favor with CEO Tim Cook, who fired Browett alongside iOS boss Scott Forstall in a major August management shakeup.

Finding a new role as CEO of Monsoon Accessorize, UK's low-cost women fashion and accessory retailer, Browett now reflects on his experience as Apple's short-lived retail boss. He told attendees of the Retail Week Live conference that he is a “kinder person” now and admitted he just couldn't fit within the iPhone maker's demanding corporate culture and work ethos...

Apple accessories coming to Staples U.S. retail stores by end of March

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Staple, a U.S.-based office supply chain store, has been selling Apple products in Canada and internationally for quite some time now. Last week, their web store began offering a bunch of Apple accessories, including Apple's own stuff as well as third-party products for the iPad, iPod, iPhone and Mac. It was their first such U.S. deal with Apple.

Today, we learn the Framingham, Massachusetts retailer will also start carrying Apple accessories in its brick-and-mortar stores later this month. The retailer has over 2,000 stores worldwide in 26 countries, with 1,886 outlets in North America and Canada so this partnership effectively widens Apple's distribution footprint nationwide...

Staples US web store starts selling Apple accessories

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

After test page ads for an Apple TV and other Apple gear appeared on Staples’ United States web store, and following hints Staples execs dropped which pointed to the retailer partnering with Apple on carrying various products in its Stateside locations, the new Apple-focused mini-store has gone live over at the Staples web store.

The company is offering a range of iPad, iPod, iPhone and Mac accessories and peripherals, including mice, keyboards, Apple's Smart Covers, the $99 Apple TV set-top box, as well as Airport Express, Airport Extreme and Time Capsule wireless appliances...

NPD: Apple now one-fifth of U.S. consumer tech sales

Ed Sutherland ∙ February 19, 2013

Apple was responsible for one out over every five dollars spent on consumer electronics in the U.S. during 2012, a market research firm announced Tuesday. This while overall consumer electronics sales fell for the second year in a row.

The iPhone and iPad maker also ranked as the third largest U.S. consumer electronics retailer, just behind Best Buy and Walmart. Amazon and Staples rounded out and industry where only smartphones and tablets saw revenue gains last year...

Google to open standalone retail stores this year

Cody Lee ∙ February 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...

Staples executives confirm US locations will soon carry Apple products

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Last month, test page ads for an Apple TV and other Apple gear popped up on Staples' US website, leading many to believe that the office supply chain was finally going to start offering the Cupertino company's products in its Stateside locations.

Well it was confirmed last night. After Staples reportedly held a meeting with employees announcing the news, executives and other staffers took to Twitter to share their excitement that Apple products would soon be available in their US stores...

BMW adopts Apple’s Genius model to educate car buyers

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

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...

Ousted Apple retail boss John Browett lands CEO job at fashion retailer

Cody Lee ∙ February 15, 2013

In today's episode of 'Where are they now?' we take a look at Apple's former SVP of retail John Browett. He began his career at Apple in January of last year, replacing the highly-regarded Ron Johnson, but only lasted about 9 months at the company.

Browett has been fairly quiet since he left Cupertino in October. But his name surfaced in headlines again last night when word got out that he has accepted the position of chief executive, or CEO, of U.K.-based retail chain Monsoon Accessorize...

Apple relaxes 3-device limit on friends and family purchases

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

In another sign of Apple's inventory levels perhaps finally catching up to demand, it has been discovered that the company has relaxed its annual 3-device limit on products bought by employees, their friends, family members and other participating entities. Previously, Apple employees were allowed to purchase up to three devices each year.

Rather than set a new specific number limit, Apple says it's now "a judgment call". And as part of the Employee Purchase Program (EPP), a 15 percent discount applies to select products. True to its form, Apple half-jokingly advises employees against "advertising a 15 percent discount on Apple products for all of your Facebook friends"...

It looks like Staples might soon begin selling Apple products

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 20, 2017

Apple has been significantly expanding its retail presence over the past several years. I can remember when you could only find Apple products at CompUSA, and now they are everywhere: Best Buy, RadioShack, Walmart, Target, you name it.

And it looks like it's set to add another store to that list. According to a new report this weekend, Staples has begun advertising the Apple TV on its website. It would seem that the office retail giant is gearing up to begin offering Apple products...

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 31, 2017

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...