In the face of legal threats from the manufacturer of Apple’s glass staircases, a former retail store employee remains defiant by re-auctioning a broken stair tread from the Fifth Avenue store on eBay. It’s not clear if Seele will bid on the item, or if the winning bidder will inherit the company’s legal claim of ownership of the tread. Mark Burstiner says he was working the night shift at the store in 2008, and watched as Germany-speaking Seele GmbH employees replaced three broken treads from the spiral staircase. After he got off work in the morning, he encountered the workers up-top at the curb, apparently waiting for a truck to haul away the glass treads. read more…
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Always moving slowly to ensure perfection, Apple is now prepared to accelerate the expansion of its retail stores in China, opening up to 25 stores over the next two years to serve a country of over 1.3 billion citizens. The rapid expansion is in line with Apple’s overall emphasis on international store expansion, but also signals increased experience and confidence in China retailing, which can be complicated by national politics and local regulations. Apparently Apple has gained sufficient insights from the operation of its first China store that opened in August 2008, and feels it’s ready to tap the potential of the country’s growing economy. The China plans were announced by Sr. V-P Ron Johnson during this week’s stockholders meeting in Cupertino, in response to an audience question about expanding international sales. Johnson didn’t provide any location or timing details, leaving company followers to speculate where Apple might locate 25 stores. read more…
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As the economy began to turn down in fall 2008, Apple’s executives made a strategic decision to dial down the number of store openings for the next year, betting the downturn would offer them significant savings from depressed lease rates. Turns out, they were right, said Apple COO Tim Cook during a session at this week’s Goldman Sachs annual Technology & Internet Conference in San Francisco. Cook said the company has now turned up the dial on new stores, opening about 50 stores this fiscal year, including Shanghai and London stores opening this summer that he called “jaw dropping.” Cook fielded questions for 42 minutes, talking thoroughly and intelligently on topics covering financial, technical, marketing and corporate culture. Although his well-recognized, gravely voice rarely expresses enthusiasm, his words were all about success, modestly expressed. And as always, his answers offered as much insight into Apple as there exists. more with Tim Cook
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If you’ve visited the IFO homepage in the last 24 hours, you’ve noticed the rather dramatic change in the appearance (RSS visitors, give it a look!). I had been using a very old Wordpress theme for the past three years, which was totally inflexible, was took “heavy” and required me to muck with the inner programming to tweak anything. This new Thesis theme is lighter, brighter and totally flexible. It’s very easy to set up, maintain and tweak…and I’ll be doing a lot of tweaking in the coming days. Hopefully for visitors it’s much easier on the eyes, the revised menu layout makes it easier to find valuable information, and you can now reply to specific comments, among other things. Feel free to send me feedback on things you like…or things you don’t. — Gary
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A most incredible auction has appeared on eBay—a 250-pound, seven-foot tread, allegedly from the Fifth Avenue retail store spiral glass staircase, hauled away by the seller after it was broken by a falling object, and then removed for a replacement part. Photos of the German-made tread on eBay appear to show an authentic, tapered section: the size and shape are identical, the cross-section is appropriately laminated, the diamond grip pattern is identical, and the visible attachment hardware appears to be from TriPyramid Structures Inc. The starting bid is $700, with a “Buy It Now” price of $2,500. The seller says the accident occurred “over a year ago,” and that when new, the piece would cost “10k,” or $10,000. The person says the piece is very collectible, since only two other similar stair pieces exist ”outside of the retail stores’ circulation.” [After 24 hours and two bids, the item was de-listed by the seller with no explanation. On February 28th, former Fifth Avenue part-time employee Mark Burstiner went public with the auction aftermath, and then re-posted the glass for auction.]
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An odd listing has popped up among Apple’s usually impeccable Web pages for the retail stores, promoting a store in San Jose (Calif.) called “Another Test Store.” Obviously it’s a placemarker of some type—or is it?
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One day after Idaho’s first Apple store was revealed, Apple has tossed another retail dart at the Pacific northwest. It’s been confirmed that the company will open a store at the River Park Square shopping mall in downtown Spokane (Wash.). The city is just as underserved by Apple stores as Boise, which will also host a store later this year. The red-brick, three-level mall faces onto the Spokane River and, understandably, Riverfront Park. It’s also adjacent to the city’s convention center and arena, which draws visitors to a wide range of events. The store could open by the end of September.
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More visitors, more revenue and more profit do not guarentee future success for Apple’s retail stores, which may be why the company is working hard to improve its retail sales operations, even now in trial at certain Canadian stores. Multiple sources are definite on the initiative, but haven’t provided details on how procedures, staffing or technical systems might change. The best clues come from four Apple corporate job listings that were posted in the last two weeks, focusing on the iPod touch point-of-sale (POS) system, possible introduction of mobile purchasing by customers, mobile marketing, and possibly the mobile Concierge sign-up app that has been rumored for the past six months. Apple’s job postings are notoriously vague, but the new listings provide enough detail to spark significant speculation. read more…
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Far out and left out. That’s the way Idaho residents have felt for nine years without an Apple retail store. Now their laments will end with confirmation of a future store at the Boise Town Square shopping mall along Interstate 184, west of downtown Boise. It will be the first store in Idaho, whose residents have had to drive to one of the other 41 other states that have already received an Apple store. Apple’s nearest store is 342 miles south in Salt Lake City, about a five-hour drive, but long-time reseller MacLife has been filling the void with sales and service at two locations. Apple has said that the majority of its new stores this year will open outside the United States, making this store location all the more fortunate. The store could open by September.
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The changing nature of cruise ship travel demands that new vessels include every amenity, including technology. When the just-christened Celebrity Eclipse sets sail on its maiden cruise in April, visitors will find an iLounge on deck six, complete with 26 MacBook Pro workstations, a full reseller store, a service bar and training on using Apple software. Passengers can check their e-mail or browse the Web, purchase Macs and iPods, get help with a glitchy Apple product, or learn how to make a photo book with iPhoto. The cruise line says its staff received 125 hours of training on Apple products in order to achieve reseller status, and will be ready to help novice and veteran Apple customers. Celebrity Cruise describes itself as designed for, “discerning cruisers, with modern, sophisticated environments, impeccable service, enriching and inspiring onboard programs, and world-class cuisine.” The first three-day cruise is April 26th from Southampton (UK), with summer 11 and 14-day cruises focus on France, Ireland, Germany and Scandinavia.
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A New York city couple used Valentine’s Day as the opportunity be married inside the Fifth Avenue (NYC) Apple store, the first known ceremony at a store. Joshua Li met bride-to-be Ya Ting Li in a store while she was shopping for an iPod, he tells Entertainment Weekly. After a courtship, the couple planned an in-store wedding to commemorate their first encounter. The vows took place one minute into Valentine’s Day, and included a minister dressed similarly to Steve Jobs. The rings were presented tied to a ribbon wrapped around a first-generation iPod, all videotaped by the hotdog stand vendor who works in front of the store. The event took place without Apple’s approval, Li says, but apparently the store staff didn’t interfere. View photos and a video here.
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Besides bringing together talented athletes from around the world, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics is an opportunity for lapel pin collectors to find additional treasures, including free pins handed out at Vancouver’s two Apple stores. As first reported by the iPhoneinCanada Web site, the stores are giving out 500 to 1,000 pins a day to store visitors, with each store giving out a different set. The Oakridge Centre store pin is a small iPod nano with a maple leaf on its screen. The Pacific Centre store is handing out a two-pin, red and gold set, one with a maple leaf and the other with the Apple logo. The give-away isn’t mentioned on either of the stores’ Web pages, and it’s not clear how long the promotion will continue.
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Proving that there is room for authorized Apple resellers, the Boutique iStore chain has added a new location in the north suburbs of Montreal (Canada). The store occupies a conspicuous corner location in the single-level Place Rosemère shopping mall, and features large windows, silver metal storefront, wood tables and shelving and bright lighting. The store is the largest in the chain of four, and is about seven miles from the Carrefour Laval Apple store. Besides selling Apple products, the chain offers priority service for $129 a year, and in-store workshops. View photos after the break. read more…
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When it came time to renovate his basement bedroom, a Madison (Wisc.) resident decided to give it a familiar look—like an Apple store. The remodel included some faux stainless steel walls, wood counter top, classic Apple posters a red telephone that is reminiscent of an early Genius Bar. The set-up includes his own take on the Genius Bar logo, which in this case is a puppy’s paw print. Photos after the break. read more…
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Apple enthusiasts scouting the future Lincoln Park (Chicago) retail store have spotted clues indicating there will be three entrances to the rectangular building, including one leading out to a garden and plaza, and a new red-brick façade for the adjacent CTA transit station. The building sits on a basically triangular piece of land, but will occupy a rectangular space, very similar to the Scottsdale Quarter (Ariz.) and Manhassett (NY) stores. Those stores have large glass windows at both ends, but only one entrance. At the Lincoln Park store, glass “awning” panels are visible at both ends of the store, installed for visitor rain protection, and indicating doors at both ends. Also, wooden crates of stainless steel were just delivered, and some are labeled “West Lobby,” indicating an entryway on the west side, facing a plaza now under construction. Next, trucks have delivered bundles of red brick for the exterior walls of the Halsted subway station, which Apple has offered to completely refurbish for nearly $4 million. Lastly, the pizza parlor that occupied a corner of the CTA building has closed, and there is construction underway inside. It’s unclear if the business will re-open with the same tenant. The Apple store is on-track for a mid-summer grand opening. View photos after the break. read more…
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