Strange story involving an employee of the Green Hills (Tenn.) store: a customer came in believing that an installed Widget was a porn conduit to her son. Read the details. It was thoughtful of the employee to send an e-mail.
Thanks to M. Scott Smith for photos and a report on the Annapolis (Md.) grand opening, which grew a long waiting line.
The Drunkenblog Web site claims that "the new vogue" is to visit an Apple store and switch the desktop background to one of the site’s own desktops, "then snap a pic." If it escapes you, "The Cow" is the Web site’s mascot.
Ouch! The San Jose Mercury newspaper’s police blotter section reported that someone used a credit card—not his own—to make a purchase at the Palo Alto (N. Calif.) Apple store.
A tipster noted two empty spaces at the Fashion Square (S. Calif.) shopping center that could provide an opening for Apple’s upcoming retail store at the mall. The right-most space is not deep enough, but some combination of the spaces could provide retail and storage space for Apple. [space later confirmed]
Apple has also posted the position of Development Manager, European Union, which is based in offices above the Regent Street (London) retail store. The job description says the position will, "Oversee new store design, development, construction projects across the E.U." Among the job requirements are, "Character: energetic, innovative, fun, flexible, humble, dedicated, communicator." It requires about 50% travel.
Washington Times newspaper columnist Max Kelner writes of his experience visiting the Tysons Corner (Virg.) retail store and the Genius Bar, where he found the answer to a Mail password problem.
Apple has posted the positions of Associate Manager (N. Michigan Avenue) and General Manager (South Coast Plaza), which are variants on the Manager position. Check Apple’s job listings Web page for details.
On the other hand, tipsters say the future South Hills Village (Penn.) store will open Sept. 24th.
Apple announced that the Annapolis (Md.) retail store will hold its grand opening on August 27th at 10 a.m.
The Penn Square (Okla.) retail store is scheduled to hold its grand opening on September 24th. It’s the first store in the state, and brings to 30 the number of states with an Apple presence.
The space for the future Fashion Square (S. Calif.) store has been confirmed as on the second level near Bloomingdales–it’s the one with the black plywood over the storefront.
One of the challenges of operating a below-the-radar Web site is the truth of the tips your receive. Lately I’ve been the target of attempts to get bogus information posted, and have been able to fend off most of them. Regrettably, however, one did slip through: sales of logo merchandise at Apple’s stores. While Apple does sell such items at its Cupertino company store, there is no truth to the previous report here that such sales will move to other stores.
During Wednesday’s conference call with financial analysts, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer mentioned that the number of iPod resellers went from 21,000 to 25,000 during the quarter. Among those, a tipster points out, is the Army and Air Force Exchange System (PX, BX), which operates stores on military bases and a Web store. PX merchandise is typically discounted (avg. 22%) for active military, and overseas Department of State and embassy employees.
Retail traffic in central London was down 7.4% during July compared to June, and down 10.1% from June 2004, all the result of the terrorist bombings. The Regent Street was within a mile and a half of three bombings, and no doubt felt the impact of fewer visitors and buyers.