Apple Retail Stores
Encyclopedia : A : AP : APP : Apple Retail Stores
Apple Retail Stores are computer-related retail stores owned and operated by Apple Computer. There are over 130 Apple stores in 31 U.S. states, in addition to worldwide locations in Japan (7), the United Kingdom (6), and Canada (2). The first store in continental Europe will open in Rome in 2006.
Design and history
Apple Stores feature substanially the entire Apple product line of hardware and software. They are organized into so-called "solution zones" for movies, photos, music and kids. Selected third-party accessories are also available. Many stores feature a theater for presentations and workshops, however all stores offer free workshops on Apple products. Workshop schedules vary by store and are listed on each store's individual webpage.
The first Apple Store opened on May 19, 2001 at Tysons Corner Center near McLean, Virginia. "Flagship" stores have opened in New York City (SoHo and Fifth Avenue), Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, London, Tokyo, and Osaka, with an additional flagship planned for Boston. Apple has received numerous architectural awards for its store designs, particularly its SoHo location.
Genius Bar
All stores feature a "Genius Bar" at which Apple product owners can discuss technical issues or bring their computers in for service. In the stores' original design, visitors to the Genius Bar were greeted with a bottle of Evian water. Apple dropped this amenity in February 2002 to cut costs.
Some stores feature a spin-off of the Genius Bar called "The Studio", with a Genius Bar-like setting where customers can meet with a "Creative" and receive help with projects ranging from organizing a photo album to music composition to film editing. Some of the older stores are being considered to carry a Studio in a future remodel, in some cases replacing the stores' theaters.
Recently, iPod Bars have appeared in a small number of stores. They resemble the function of Genius Bars, but serve to separate iPod issues and Macintosh issues into separate areas.
Store openings
Openings of new stores have turned into a happening among avid Mac users. The events often attract thousands of customers who line up early in the morning or even the night before. Getting in early has its benefits, as every store gives out a free T-shirt to the first 1000 people in the door. Added bonuses include discounts and the so-called "Lucky Bags" for flagship store openings.References
External links
- [Apple Store official site]
- [ifo Apple Store] — news and information about store openings
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.