Europe to gain several Apple 'mini' retail stores
Apple Computer will extend its "mini" retail store strategy into Europe next year, highly reliable sources tell AppleInsider.
Although the company has yet to announce such plans, tipsters claim that approximately 5 Apple "mini" stores are slated to begin appearing throughout the United Kingdom in 2005. And at least one of the stores is scheduled to touch down in a university area of Scotland.
Speaking under anonymity, sources also confirmed that Apple will open a larger-size retail store in Manchester, England during 2005. The store will be the fourth full-sized retail store to open in the UK, joining an already established flagship in London and two forthcoming locations, one in Birmingham and another in Kent.
Introduced a little over a month ago, the company's fledgling mini store strategy aims to place retail outlets in a variety of new and interesting locations not suitable for a full-sized store. Averaging roughly 750-square-feet—half the size of Apple?s smallest full-sized location—the stores sport an all-new design consisting of stainless steel walls and seamless white floors and ceilings.
To date, Apple's mini stores appear only in shopping malls, but may soon begin popping up in airports and near international rail stations. And while it may be too early for outsiders to accurately assess the performance of these smaller retail stores, internal plans to expand the strategy overseas presents a clear indication of prosperity.
In an annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, Apple noted that net sales from its retail segment grew 91% to $1.2 billion year-over-year. The company attributes the growth to an increase in total stores from 65 in 2003 to 86 at the end of 2004, including a 36% year-over-year increase in average revenue per store.
Although the company has yet to announce such plans, tipsters claim that approximately 5 Apple "mini" stores are slated to begin appearing throughout the United Kingdom in 2005. And at least one of the stores is scheduled to touch down in a university area of Scotland.
Speaking under anonymity, sources also confirmed that Apple will open a larger-size retail store in Manchester, England during 2005. The store will be the fourth full-sized retail store to open in the UK, joining an already established flagship in London and two forthcoming locations, one in Birmingham and another in Kent.
Introduced a little over a month ago, the company's fledgling mini store strategy aims to place retail outlets in a variety of new and interesting locations not suitable for a full-sized store. Averaging roughly 750-square-feet—half the size of Apple?s smallest full-sized location—the stores sport an all-new design consisting of stainless steel walls and seamless white floors and ceilings.
To date, Apple's mini stores appear only in shopping malls, but may soon begin popping up in airports and near international rail stations. And while it may be too early for outsiders to accurately assess the performance of these smaller retail stores, internal plans to expand the strategy overseas presents a clear indication of prosperity.
In an annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, Apple noted that net sales from its retail segment grew 91% to $1.2 billion year-over-year. The company attributes the growth to an increase in total stores from 65 in 2003 to 86 at the end of 2004, including a 36% year-over-year increase in average revenue per store.
Comments
Although the company has yet to announce such plans, tipsters claim that approximately 5 Apple "mini" stores are slated to begin appearing throughout the United Kingdom in 2005. And at least one of the stores is scheduled to touch down in a university area of Scotland.
Interesting. Scottish Uni's: Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Stirling, Aberdeen.
Edinburgh students tend to have quite a bit of £££££, so, for my sake, I hope it is there. Location might be tricky in Edinburgh - not sure anywhere is cool enough though. Glasgow has a larger population, and thus probably a better choice.
I would just like to see one in Tulsa!
Originally posted by segovius
Edinburgh = Prince's Street Development.
Speaking as a resident of Edinburgh, if there was to be an Edinburgh store I would think it would be on either George Street or the newish "smart" shopping area at Multrees Walk beside Louis Vuitton, Harvey Nichols, Emporio Armani etc. Princess Street is a seriously poor reflection - the view apart - of Edinburgh nowadays.
By the way, it really is Princes Street (more than one prince), not Princess Street or Prince?s Street! And, no, even though there?s more than one prince, that doesn?t mean it should be Princes? Street: just compare the nearby George (not George?s) Street and St Andrew (no St Andrew?s) Square.
Speaking under anonymity, sources also confirmed that Apple will open a larger-size retail store in Manchester, England during 2005.
Well, that's my store down the pan. I think it's time I brushed off my CV and start jobseeking. Thanks Apple...
Originally posted by LoonyPandora
Well, that's my store down the pan. I think it's time I brushed off my CV and start jobseeking. Thanks Apple...
Which one is your store in Manchester?
The Mac Centre down toward the Uni or Micro Anvika or something else I've not been in?
Which one is your store in Manchester?
The Mac Centre down toward the Uni or Micro Anvika or something else I've not been in?
One you've not been in by the sound of it
AppleCentre Manchester - That's the one
Originally posted by LoonyPandora
One you've not been in by the sound of it
AppleCentre Manchester - That's the one
I bought my 20" and an Airport Extreme from there.
Originally posted by the061
I bought my 20" and an Airport Extreme from there.
Yeah, I can see on my database - bought in the middle of September, right?
It sure is a small world, you never know who'll you meet online
Might be after another one in the new year, a 23 though this time.
Is it Paul by the way? That's whose card I have.
Originally posted by the061
That's the one, crikey, tis a small world
Might be after another one in the new year, a 23 though this time.
Is it Paul by the way? That's whose card I have.
Lucky Guy!
I'm Andy, but you wouldn't have met me, as I'm in Tech Support, not Sales.
I nearly bought my G5 from your place but ended up going to a place in Rochdale.
Originally posted by the061
Cool, you should be a shoe in for the Store then if you have some experience at GBM. Its the best place to get stuff from in town, Mikro Anvika are arrogant and never have any of the proper stuff in stock, that other place down Oxford Road, I don't even want to go into why they suck so much but there you go.
I nearly bought my G5 from your place but ended up going to a place in Rochdale.
Yeah, I'll have to see how it impacts the service dept over here - I might stick around :-/
I know Rochdale well myself, you get it from the place on Oldham Road? (can't remember the name, and I think it's on Oldham Road, might be Drake Street though...)
I live kind of round that way (Lees) so it was handy too.
Originally posted by LoonyPandora
One you've not been in by the sound of it
AppleCentre Manchester - That's the one
Nope. Not been in your shop but I'll have to have a look now I know it's there although it looks like I'll have to borrow a car to visit. The last time I walked down that way I found the one in Oxford St, which was very grubby, and closed, so I didn't go again. It's a fair trek on foot out from the centre. I thought that was the 'Apple Centre Manchester'.
The last time I was in Micro Anvika, I was after a copy of MYOB. They had a stack of demo disks going free but no actual copies to purchase!
Surely a city centre Apple Store would be a suitably different kind of store to yours though? More consumer oriented rather than pro.
Surely a city centre Apple Store would be a suitably different kind of store to yours though? More consumer oriented rather than pro.
Yeah, I guess so, consumer sales aren't our number one business, but we've been making significant inroads into the consumer market lately, and it's become VERY big business...
I thought that was the 'Apple Centre Manchester'.
You know something, when I applied for my job here years ago, I thought exactly the same thing