retail

When there was no choice about shopping, stores did as they pleased.

If they decided that the holiday season began when the clocks went back, then shoppers had to endure it.

Now, however, shoppers don't have to populate malls where the restrooms are clean, but the fountains are dirty.

Now, they have the Web.

It seems, indeed, that this year might represent an even greater rebellion against holiday decorations adorning stores before Thanksgiving.

I am speaking with the assurance of a drunken pollster, because I have before my eyes a survey performed on behalf of a cloud and mobile … Read more

Apple's retail empire is still expanding.

The company today said it plans to open another 30 to 35 retail stores during its 2013 fiscal year, which wraps up next September. About three-quarters of those stores would be located outside the United States, the company said.

The mention came inside the company's annual report, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon. Apple added that it plans to spend about $850 million on the expansion, as well as investment into its current retail infrastructure.

The plans fall in line with Apple's retail store … Read more

Apple is once again on the hunt for someone to run its still-growing retail empire.

The company today said John Browett, who it hired from U.K. electronics retail chain Dixons, is leaving the company after a six-month stint.

Apple now says it's in the midst of finding a replacement, and in the meantime, its "retail team will report directly to (CEO) Tim Cook."

Browett started near the end of April, and was given a compensation package worth north of $61 million. It took Apple more than seven months to hire him after the departure of Ron … Read more

Apple will open another retail store in China on Saturday.

The company announced on its China Web site today that it will open a new store in the Nanshan District of Shenzhen on Saturday. The store will be open for business at 9 a.m. on Saturday to celebrate its grand opening. From then on, the store will open at 10 a.m. each day.

The Shenzhen location is the latest in a string of Apple stores to come to China. Earlier this month, Apple touted a new Beijing store in the Wangfujing district. At that event, Apple senior vice … Read more

Shares of Best Buy declined in after-hours trading after the electronics retailer announced a management shake-up and issued a warning about its upcoming third-quarter results.

Best Buy announced today that two executives, including its U.S. president, would be leaving the company as part of a restructuring effort. U.S. business President Mike Vitelli will retire at the end of the current fiscal year in February 2013, while Tim Sheehan, executive vice president of U.S. operations, will leave the company at the end of the month.

Best Buy also warned that its net income for the third quarter will … Read more

Amazon is considering acquiring a Brazil-based bookseller, according to a new report.

The e-retail giant is currently in talks with Saraiva to acquire the bookseller, Bloomberg is reporting today, citing sources. The publication's sources did not divulge how much Amazon would be willing to pay for Saraiva.

Amazon has been rumored for months to be considering an acquisition in Brazil, and Saraiva's name has been floated before as a possible acquisition target. The acquisition could give Amazon a foothold in Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy, and help the company expand its Kindle efforts in that area.

Saraiva, … Read more

Apple is opening a third retail store in Beijing on Saturday.

The company over the weekend updated its Chinese store Web site announcing the impending opening of the Wangfujing store in Beijing. According to Apple, the store will open at 9 a.m. local time on Saturday.

The Wangfujing store is in the Dongcheng district in Beijing. Apple already has stores in the Chaoyang and Xicheng districts.

Apple has been rapidly expanding its retail presence in and around China. Back in June, a report surfaced saying that Apple would open two new brick-and-mortar stores in Chengdu and Shenzhen this year, … Read more

Best Buy, hit hard by cheaper online prices, has decided to take the fight to Amazon.

During the holiday shopping season, Best Buy will match Amazon's prices in its stores to keep pace with its chief competitor, the Wall Street Journal is reporting today, citing a source. In addition, the retailer will offer free home delivery on products that are out-of-stock at its brick-and-mortar stores.

The move is a thinly veiled attempt on Best Buy's part to head off so-called "showrooming," which sees consumers come into the company's stores to check out products without buying. … Read more

I have it on very good authority that many Apple fanpersons eat at McDonald's simply because they serve Big Macs.

These people will do anything to extend their Mac affiliation.

Perhaps, therefore, it's for them that a McDonald's in Virginia Beach, Va., has struck upon a novel idea to induce loyalty from its customers: it has placed iPads in its restaurant for their use.

Yes, entirely for free.

As my regular reading of the Virginia-Pilot revealed, the iPads are mounted on tables, so that you can surf while you chew.

Some might surely worry that the screen … Read more