Apple Store (retail)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc., dealing in computers and consumer electronics. As of October 2007, Apple has opened 200[1] stores, including 172 in 36 US states, ten in the United Kingdom, seven in Japan, and four in Canada. Recently, Apple opened its first store in continental Europe, in Rome.
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[edit] Design and history
The stores carry Apple computers, software, iPod music players, iPhone cell phones, third-party accessories, and other consumer electronics such as the Apple TV. Many stores feature a theater for presentations and workshops, the Studio for training with Apple products, and all stores offer a Genius Bar for technical support and repairs, as well as free workshops available to the public.
The first two Apple Stores opened on May 19, 2001 in Tysons Corner, Virginia and Glendale, California. [2] Apple opened its 200th store on October 26, 2007 in Gilbert, Arizona, 2,251 days after opening its Tysons Corner store.[3] Many stores are located inside shopping malls, but Apple has since built several stand-alone "flagship" stores in high-profile locations. Flagship stores have opened in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Tokyo, Osaka, London, and soon Montreal[4]. Each flagship store was designed to suit the needs of the location and have a unique style. Apple has received numerous architectural awards for its store designs, particularly its SoHo location.[5][6]
Recently, Apple has introduced a new store layout and design with metallic walls and backlit signage. The new store design lacks a dedicated point of sale station due to increased emphasis on the handheld EasyPay system.[7][8]
The retail store is notoriously "tougher to be hired [at], than [to be] accepted by Stanford University," says Senior Vice President Ron Johnson. During one talk he said Apple hired 978 store employees during 2002 from an applicant pool of 16,438, an 'acceptance rate' of 5.95%.[9]
[edit] Genius Bar
All Apple Stores feature a Genius Bar, where customers can receive technical advice or set up service and repair for their products. The Genius Bar provides software support for Mac OS 9 or later, and hardware service on products that are not classified vintage or obsolete. However, in many cases the Geniuses will at least attempt to assist customers with older hardware.[10] Originally, visitors to the Genius Bar were offered free Evian water. Apple dropped this amenity in February 2002.
To address increasing numbers of iPod customers at the Genius Bar, some new stores also feature an iPod Bar. First seen at the Ginza store in Tokyo, then at the New York locations, the iPod Bar has become a common feature at newly built stores.[11]
Most new stores feature a station called The Studio, a Genius Bar-like setting where customers can meet with a "Creative" and receive help with projects ranging from organizing a photo album to music composition to film editing. Some of the older stores are being considered to carry a Studio in a future remodel, in some cases replacing the older theaters.
[edit] Store openings
Store openings have become special events among avid Mac users. Opening day attracts thousands of customers who line up early in the morning or even the night before. The first one-thousand customers receive a free T-shirt bearing the store's name. Most high-profile stores have more shirts and additional prizes, 1500 t-shirts were given away at the Buchanan Street opening in Glasgow, and 2000 at the West 14th Street store in New York City. Other attractions include discounts and the so-called "lucky bags" at flagship store openings.[13]
[edit] Locations
The first two Apple Stores opened in the United States in 2001 (see history above). In 2005, Apple expanded its operations into Japan, opening the first store outside of the United States. This was followed by the opening of stores in the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and soon a store in Australia[14]. Apple is expected to open new stores in many more countries across the world, including France and Germany. There is also a plan to open an Apple Store in Mexico City. Plans for the store opening depend on the construction of an eight story annex for Torre Mayor. If so, it would become the first Apple Store in Ibero-America.[15] Reliance Retail is in talks with Apple to open an Apple Store in India.[16]
| Country | First store opened | Future stores | Total open stores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 19 May 2001 | 50 (approx) | 162 |
| Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom | 20 November 2004 | 6 | 10 |
| Image:Flag of Japan.svg Japan | 30 November 2003 | 0 | 7 |
| Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada | 21 May 2005 | 8 | 4 |
| Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | 31 March 2007 | 0 | 1 |
| Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico | — | 1 | 0 |
| Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia | — | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | [15] ~61 | [15] [17] 184 | |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.apple.com/retail/storelist
- ^ http://www.ifoapplestore.com/stores/chronology_2.html
- ^ http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2007/10/16/apple-nearing-milestone-opening/
- ^ http://news.softpedia.com/news/Apple-Planning-Flagship-Store-In-Montreal-62959.shtml
- ^ Apple, a Success at Stores, Bets Big on Fifth Avenue. The New York Times (2006-05-19). Retrieved on 2006-05-19.
- ^ Apple Computer Retail Stores: Gold, Environments. Industrial Designers Society of America (2002). Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Store Redesign Photos. ifo Apple Store (2006-09-22). Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
- ^ Apple Store's Easy Pay. Adding Understanding blog (2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
- ^ http://www.ifoapplestore.com/stores/hiring.html
- ^ Old School Genius. Tech Today (2005). Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
- ^ iPod Bar Japan: Great Service But The Cocktails Need Work. Gizmodo (2005). Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
- ^ Apple Store Fashion Valley San Diego. Find a Local Guide. Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
- ^ Grand Opening Lucky Bags. ifo Apple Store (November 28, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-05-12.
- ^ Sydney Construction Underway. ifo Apple Store (April 10th,2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
- ^ a b c ifoAppleStore Chronology. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
- ^ India Store. Retrieved on 2007-10-02.
- ^ ifoAppleStore Chronology 2001-2005. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
[edit] External links
- Apple Store official site
- ifo Apple Store — news and information about store openings
- Virtual tour of Fifth Avenue Apple Store (Google Maps Street View)
Apple Inc. | |
|---|---|
| Board of directors | Bill Campbell · Millard Drexler · Al Gore · Steve Jobs · Arthur D. Levinson · Eric E. Schmidt · Jerry York |
| Hardware products | Macintosh · iMac · Mac mini · MacBook · MacBook Pro · Mac Pro · Xserve |
| Accessories | AirPort · Apple TV · Cinema Display · iPhone · iPod (classic, shuffle, nano, touch) · Mighty Mouse · Xserve RAID |
| Software products | Aperture · FileMaker Pro · Final Cut · iLife · iTunes · iWork · Logic · Mac OS X (Server) · QuickTime · Safari · Xsan |
| Stores and services | ADC · AppleCare · Apple Specialist · Apple Store (online) · Certifications · Genius Bar · iTunes Store · .Mac · One to One · ProCare |
| See also | Advertising (Get a Mac, iPods, Slogans) · Braeburn Capital · FileMaker Inc. · History (Discontinued products, Litigation, Typography) · Portal |
| Annual Revenue: US$24.01 billion (Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg24.3% FY 2007) · Employees: 17,787 full-time; 2,399 temporary · Stock Symbol: (NASDAQ: AAPL, LSE: ACP, FWB: APC) · Website: www.apple.com | |
is:Apple Store it:Apple Store nl:Apple Retail Store ja:Apple Store (直営店) sv:Apple Store
