Retail Stores

Apple's retail VP departs amid search for new boss

If Apple retail vice president Jerry McDougal was on the short list to head up the company's retail efforts, that list might now be even shorter.

McDougal took off from Apple last week, says IfoAppleStore. Citing sources, the blog -- which has obsessively tracked Apple's retail goings-on -- says McDougal plans to spend more time with his family, a move that puts him out of the running to replace John Browett, whom Apple fired last October.

The blog goes on to say that McDougal was effectively the "right-hand man," of former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson. … Read more

Looxcie heads to Europe through Apple

LAS VEGAS -- Looxcie, the company that sells a Bluetooth camera that livestreams events, has landed a deal to sell its cameras in Apple stores in Europe.

The company announced the news tonight at CES 2013. Looxcie's recently released HD camera will go on sale in Apple stores beginning January 23.

Looxcie also unveiled its new enterprise product tonight. The Vidcie, a more rugged Bluetooth camera model that has 8 hours of battery life -- the Loocxie model has about 4 hours of battery life -- and is aimed at those in work that could use recorded surveillance. Think … Read more

Paris Apple Store robbed of more than $1 million in goods

Armed robbers broke into the Apple Store in Paris on New Year's Eve and made off with more than a million dollars' worth of merchandise, according to reports.

Masked suspects wielding handguns forced their way into the store through an employee entrance as a janitor was leaving, about three hours after the store's 6 p.m. closing time, England's Telegraph reported. The janitor was "lightly injured," the news outlet said. The Wall Street Journal cited French reports and said a security guard had also been overpowered by the thieves.

The Journal said two suspects forced … Read more

Apple offers free two- to three-day shipping on all products

Apple's online store is offering free two- to three-day shipping on all of the products it carries.

The iPhone maker is promoting the deal on its home page today, saying that choosing the fast-shipping option will, in most cases, ensure customers get the products they desire "in time for the holidays."

Apple was quick to point out that the deal is available on everything in its store -- even those products, like the company's newly updated iMacs, that are either not available to ship soon or won't be available until next month.

To help customers … Read more

iPhone 5 now in stock at Apple stores; online ship time drops

Consumers eyeing an iPhone 5 for the holidays now stand a much better chance of snagging one.

A poll of 20 U.S. Apple Stores conducted by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster found the iPhone 5 readily available for customers.

"We believe the iPhone 5 has finally reached a point where consumers can walk into an Apple Store and walk out with a phone," Munster said today in a note to investors that was sent to CNET.

The 20 stores polled also uncovered Verizon iPhone 5 handsets in stock, the model that has been in the shortest supply … Read more

Apple video shines light on retail store importance

It seems like a lot of prep, planning, and philosophy goes into Apple's retail model. Now, a leaked internal video proves this to be true.

9to5Mac spotted the video from Washington Square Films, writing that the clip never publicly aired and was only meant for the eyes of Apple retail store employees.

"Every great journey begins with a first step and we took our first step about a decade ago," former senior vice president of Apple Retail Ron Johnson said in the video, "we started retail."

The year-old video narrated by Johnson, who left Apple … Read more

A Black Friday tale of two stores: Apple vs. Microsoft

The Apple store in the Mall of America in Minneapolis had a better Black Friday than a Microsoft outlet across the hall.

On Black Friday, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster camped outside of the Apple Store in the Mall of America to analyze foot traffic and product purchases. He also stationed a team outside the Microsoft Store across the way to see how things went for the software giant. During the two hours he and his team evaluated the stores, Microsoft's outlet had 47 percent less traffic than Apple's.

Munster provided his findings to Fortune, which was first … Read more

Apple teases upcoming annual Black Friday sale

Apple plans to hold a sale at its retail stores and online Friday in step with Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving which marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season.

A special message noting the sale was spotted on Apple's Australian site, where it's already Tuesday, by Macrumors.

Details on which products will be discounted and by how much were not included, however that list typically leaks out in the days ahead of the sale. Last year's sale brought discounts anywhere from $41 to $61 on Apple's iPad 2, and $101 on Apple's … Read more

Hello, Rio. Apple Store to make first foray into Brazil

Apple is heading to Rio de Janeiro.

The electronics giant will open its first retail store in Brazil, it confirmed in an email to Brazilian press.

The company didn't specify when the store will open or where it will be located in the city.

Here's the full statement from Apple, via Brazilian reports:

"We look forward to the opening of the first Apple Store in Brazil, where we have longstanding customers and hope to win many more every day. We cannot wait to offer the unique Apple retail experience to the people of Rio de Janeiro and … Read more

Apple stores still top earners per square foot, study says

Apple's retail stores have once again nabbed the top spot when it comes to sales per square foot.

According to research firm RetailSails, compared with more than 200 chains in 15 different retail genres, Apple brought in the most money per square foot at its stores during the year.

According to the rankings (seen right), Apple made $6,050 per square foot during 2012, a little more than twice that of the runner-up, jewelry maker Tiffany & Co., which brought in $3,017 per square foot. By comparison, RetailSails pegged Apple for $5,626 per square foot in its … Read more