Retail Stores

Apple is planning to give its Palo Alto, Calif., retail store a reboot as part of an upcoming construction project that will build a new "prototype" store just a block away.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that construction on an upcoming $3.15 million, 15,030-square-foot store is imminent, and that the new location could serve as a replacement for its nearby predecessor.

"Our Palo Alto store was one of our first retail stores when we opened it nearly a decade ago and it's been incredibly popular," Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette told the Mercury … Read more

One thing was made abundantly clear when Apple opened up its Grand Central store for the first time today: those early enthusiasts care more about the Apple experience than the products.

The Grand Central store opening garnered the kind of buzz typically reserved for a new product launch. Hundreds of Apple fanboys waited in line, which stretched into the tunnels of the station, all for a glimpse at a retail outlet. As with any product launch, the first wave of customers entered the store to thunderous applause and cheering from Apple employees.

"Your heart beats like crazy, seeing all … Read more

Apple prides itself on the skills of the people who staff its retail outlets, undoubtedly one factor that's helped turn the stores into huge moneymakers.

But how much in sales does each store employee actually generate? Market researcher Asymco thinks it has the answer.

Looking at Apple retail store data published by ifoAppleStore.com, Asymco analyst Horace Dediu determined that the stores bring in around $100,000 in sales per employee each quarter. For 2010 as a whole, revenue reached $481,000 per employee. This year, revenue so far is averaging around $320,000, though that figure doesn't … Read more

Apple confirmed today that it will open its Grand Central store Friday morning.

The store will have a unique look, integrating Apple's typically modern polish with the classic look of Grand Central station. It will occupy the east and northeast balconies of the terminal, overlooking the main concourse.

The store will almost certainly be considered Apple's flagship location in Manhattan, which already has four other eye-catching stores on Fifth Avenue, the Upper West Side, SoHo, and the Meatpacking District. The Grand Central store, however, is the only one with a guaranteed flow of consumer traffic as countless commuters … Read more

Holiday shoppers looking to grab some items from Apple can enjoy free shipping on all online orders until December 22.

To ring in the holidays, Apple is offering the free shipping on any product ordered through its online Apple store or through its Apple Store iOS app. Apple normally provides free shipping only on online orders of more than $50. So the new promotion gives shoppers incentive to buy less pricey stocking stuffers or to pick up multiple items throughout the holiday season.

Last-minute shoppers who need their items delivered quickly can also opt for two-day shipping for $10 or … Read more

In Apple's continuing effort to streamline the shopping process at its retail stores, the company has reportedly launched software that informs its employees when shopper has arrived to pick up a purchase.

The free Apple Store app allows shoppers to buy Apple products before entering a retail outlet and then alerts store employees that the customer has arrived to retrieve their purchases, according to a New York Times report. A store employee told the newspaper that 16 customers used the location feature to pickup purchases at the company's Palo Alto, Calif., store on Friday.

Employees already have a … Read more

Apple took this week off as a company holiday, but that doesn't mean things stood still.

The week kicked off with a rumor that Apple was planning to open up its Grand Central Terminal retail store in New York in time for Black Friday, but that deadline came and passed. Not all was uneventful though--Apple put up a sign confirming that the store was "arriving soon."

The space is more than 23,000 square feet and stretches between two balconies. By comparison, Apple's Regent Street store in London is 25,000 square feet, 22,000 square … Read more

Grand Central Station commuters looking to score a holiday deal at Apple's imminent New York City store may have to wait a while.

Recent rumors had pegged the launch of the new Grand Central Terminal store for sometime this week as the holiday shopping season officially kicks into gear. But a construction worker reportedly confirmed to Mashable yesterday that Apple's latest store probably won't open for business until next month.

"It won't be any time too soon," the worker told Mashable. "We still have a lot to do, so my guess is that … Read more

As the former vice president of retail at Apple, Ron Johnson partnered with Steve Jobs to plan the first Apple store. Now the CEO of J.C. Penney, Johnson reveals why Apple stores work.

Writing about his efforts in fashioning the Apple store in a Harvard Business Review guest post, Johnson explained that a store has to do more than just offer products for sale. It has to create an experience--something that turns it into more than just a store.

"Any store has to provide products people want to buy," Johnson wrote. "That's a given. But … Read more