Retail

Significant layoffs reported in Apple stores in US, UK and Canada

Apple is laying off new retail staff in its various brick-and-mortar retail outlets in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, a new report has it. New hires and employees on their probation period have been let go in the United Kingdom, where Apple operates 33 retail stores.

Back in the United States and Canada, we're hearing whispers of part-time staffers seeing their hours reduced, some even to zero. All of this is happening just as the next iPhone is coming to full view. What exactly is going on here?

Apple now matching iPhone discounts from other retailers

Last weekend we reported that Sprint, a large wireless carrier here in the US, had started discounting the iPhone 4S by $50. The move wasn't surprising, as we've seen similar discounts from other carriers and retailers.

But word is getting around today that Apple has finally joined the party, and has given its retail stores the authorization to match the discounted prices from approved major retailers and carriers up to $50 dollars...

Apple granted iWallet shopping app patent

Apple has been granted an interesting new patent today that covers a personal shopping application. The app provides retail and pricing information based on user location and scanned barcodes.

The patent was published this morning by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. And if it's any indication of what Apple's working on, it could mean we're in for some nice surprises  on the iWallet front...

AT&T to start rolling out new iPad-based POS systems in stores

For the past decade, Apple has been setting the bar for retail chains. Its well-placed, well-designed stores have been the envy of all other outlets, with their iOS device-toting salesmen and shopper-friendly layouts.

Several retailers are starting to catch on, though, and have begun remodeling their stores in Apple's image. And it looks like AT&T is next. It seems the carrier is going to start replacing its POS computers with iPads...

Apple’s former retail boss Ron Johnson knew Apple had a great future back in 2000

Ron Johnson just can't escape his past as Apple's widely successful head of retail. He left Apple last November to join the struggling retailer J.C. Penney and apply some Apple magic to its mid-range department stores. Johnson was interviewed by Fortune's Jennifer Reingold and of course the inevitable questions of his work at Apple popped up, among the many other topics of conversations. Here's what came out of him...

Apple is inspiring other brands to change their retail experience

There was a graphic that started circulating the internet several months back, demonstrating how Apple has affected the smartphone industry. It showed what handsets looked like before and after the original iPhone was released. And the differences were tremendous.

There was a similar image that showed how Apple has impacted the tablet market. Before the iPad, tablets were 2-3-inches thick, had styluses, and ran desktop operating systems. And then after it, they all became thin, multi-touch tablets running mobile software.

Now it looks like it's time for someone to make another graphic showing how Apple has affected retail stores...

Apple aggressively demands that retailers cease stocking banned Galaxy gear

Apple is reportedly going after several United States-based resellers and wireless carriers who have Samsung's Galaxy gadgets on offer, choosing to send takedown notices stemming from a recent sales ban rulings.

In a report over at his blog FOSS Patents, patent expert Florian Müeller notes that Apple's legal sharks contacted U.S. telcos and retailers, demanding they remove the banned Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet and Galaxy Nexus smartphone...

Apple’s risky retail gamble in China: one store per 216 million customers

In China, each of Apple's retail stores serves on average 216 million customers. Therein lies the catch to its expansion in the 1.33 billion people market - Apple needs way more stores in this huge country than it can possibly build, and it needs them yesterday.

China is important not just because it has recently displaced the United States as the world's leading smartphone market, but also because it now contributes to one-fifth of Apple's total revenue. Also, Apple says China stores have become its highest trafficked and among the highest revenue stores.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently toured China, talking greater investments with local officials and paying a visit to Foxconn's new manufacturing plant in Zhengzhou. It was a telling acknowledgment of the importance of China at the highest level, but barely enough to change the fact that the iPhone maker is in serious danger of becoming a victim of its own success in China...

Joy of Tech uncovers secrets from the Apple Store Employee Rule Book

You're no doubt aware of The New York Times' coverage of Apple's retailing woes and Cupertino's response: it raised wages and is mulling a career path for employees. The story is making the headlines and becoming a meme, so it goes without saying that Joy of Tech has a take on it.

Joy of Tech is a webcomic created by Canada-born Liza Schmalcel and Bruce Evans and iDB loves their funny takes on the various topics that have been occupying the greatest minds in tech (yeah, I meant that as an irony).

My favorite from their Apple Store comic: before putting on an Apple Genius shirt, please apply "New Apple Smell" scented deodorant, as instructed by your Hygiene Manager. What, didn't you know? that there's a fragrance which recreates the Apple unboxing scent?

Apple mulling Pathways, a career path program for new retail hires

This past Saturday, The New York Times ran an eyebrow-raising profile of Apple's retail business. A part of the paper's ongoing iEconomy series, the controversial story deals with the 30,000 of the 43,000 Apple employees in the United States who work in Apple Stores, as members of the service economy, many of them making just $25,000 a year.

And while Apple Stores almost double per-square-foot revenue compared to second-ranked Tiffany, Apple’s retail army remains long on loyalty but short on pay, the piece concludes. Those youthful faces that greet and service you at Apple's 327 global stores aren't in it for the money: a retail employee makes an average of $25,000 a year, but nets Apple approximately $473,000 annually.

That's why the company can get away with paying a modest hourly wage and no commission, offering no career path whatsoever. In fact, many former and current employees describe working for the man as a dead end. According to a new report, Apple is about to change this and has outlined a new career path initiative to employees in yesterday's Apple Retail quarterly meetings across the United States...

Apple opening retail outlets in Chengdu and Shenzhen where iPads are made

Reuters reports that Apple is planning to open two new stores in Chinese cities Chengdu and Shenzhen, regardless of its ongoing legal spat with China's bankrupt display maker Proview over the rights to use the iPad moniker in the 1.33 billion people market.

Chengdu and Shenzhen are also homes to the world's largest manufacturing sites. It's also where contract manufacturer Foxconn runs production facilities where iOS devices are being made...