July 24th, 2012

Apple Retail: 372 Stores, 123 Of Them Outside The U.S. $4.1B In Sales In Q3

Grand Apple store

In today’s Q3 earnings, Apple noted some strong increases in its retail operations, amid some other pressures in overall sales and numbers. Retail sales were up three percent in terms of Mac units, to 791,000 units, and $4.084 billion in revenue. That was a rise of three percent in terms of units, and 17 percent in revenue compared to the same quarter a year ago.

In the conference call, CFO… → Read More

March 30th, 2012

Inside Best Buy: An Anonymous Store Manager Speaks About Recent Changes

bestbuy

From the outside, we early adopters see Best Buy as a dinosaur in a dying world. The company recently announced the closing of 50 stores in the U.S. and 400 layoffs, mostly in corporate. It would be easy to say “Good riddance” and ignore the slow decline of bricks and mortar, but I wanted to speak to someone inside the company.

I got a hold of a manager who wished to remain anonymous and was… → Read More

September 22nd, 2009

In yo' face, Apple: Microsoft poaching Apple retail store talent with higher pay

Man, things are hotting up in the Microsoft vs. Apple feud. The latest news is that, yeah, not only is Microsoft planning on, well, ripping off Apple’s retail store model wholesale, but it also plans to hire Apple store employees. Microsoft has offered Apple store managers “significant raises,” and offered to cover any and all moving expenses. For the record, I’d be willing to work in the… → Read More

December 9th, 2008

Apple's first French retail store to open by next autumn

Apple is expected to start construction on its first French retail store later this week, to be located in a chic area of Paris. (“A chic area of Paris” is redundant, by the way.) Actually, it’s right by the Louvre, where thousands of plundered ancient treasures are stored for all to see. So that makes five European countries where Apple has at least one retail store: the UK, Germany… → Read More

June 26th, 2007

Apple Stores Shutting Doors At 2PM On iDay

Apple retail stores will be closed on June 29 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to get ready for the premiere of iPhone. We’ll open the doors again at 6:00 p.m., when you can be one of the first to see, try, and buy the iPhone. Be sure to arrive early — iPhone is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Apple → Read More