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Apple Retail

1,476 'Apple Retail' stories September 2010 - October 2015
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Apple operates more than 500 retail stores across the globe.

iphone 16 pro max apple store

Apple operates more than 500 retail stores in 22 countries. Under the direction of Deirdre O’Brien, Apple Stores are staffed by more than 70,000 team members and 3,000 Creative Pros. Here’s everything you need to know about Apple Retail including COVID-19 status, new store openings, and the latest news.

Table of contents

COVID-19: Changes to the Apple Store experience

Wondering about the status of your local Apple Store? Check out our COVID-19 Reopening Tracker, which includes a full map of open stores, health and safety procedures, and all the information you need to know before your visit.

Apple Stores: What makes them unique?

Beyond their award-winning architecture and landmark designs, Apple Stores are known for their focus on education and creativity. Over 250,000 free Today at Apple sessions were offered to the community each quarter prior to the pandemic. New stores are designed with a Video Wall and gathering area for Today at Apple known as the Forum. Older “classic” locations are being upgraded to accommodate the same experience.

Hours and locations: Where can I find details about my local Apple Store?

Apple’s website has a great tool for finding nearby locations and store hours; just type in your address or zip code to get started. You can learn more about the design and details of Apple Stores at The Apple Store Glossary.

Apple Store appointments: How can get I help?

If you’re having a problem with your device or want to shop with a knowledgeable Specialist, take the time to make an appointment before your Apple Store visit. If you need to make a Genius Bar appointment or contact Apple Support, visit Apple’s website. To schedule a shopping session, visit this link or open the Apple Store app.

The latest store openings and upgrades

Share your experience

If you attend a store opening, spot something interesting, or attend a great Today at Apple session, we’d love to see and share your photos.

Microsoft says iPhone users welcome in Apple Store-like 5th Ave Microsoft Store

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 26 2015 - 5:06 am PT
11 Comments

After setting up shop just a few blocks away from Apple’s signature retail store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, Microsoft says that iPhone users will be welcome to drop into the new Microsoft Store opening today, reports the NY Times.

“If you bring your iPhone in here, I’d love to show you how to use Office on it,” said Kelly Soligon, senior director of retail stores marketing at Microsoft.

While the piece notes that previous Microsoft Stores have seen few visitors, the company is hoping that its recently-launched Surface Books will change that.

Photo: Engadget

NY Apple Store employee charged with using fraudulent card details to buy almost $1M worth of Apple gift cards

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 21 2015 - 6:07 am PT
10 Comments

A former Apple Store employee has been charged with grand larceny and other crimes after allegedly using fraudulent credit and debit card details to purchase an incredible $997,000 worth of Apple gift cards in just three months.

24-year-old Ruben Profit is accused of carrying out the fraudulent purchases while working at the Apple Store in the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst, the company’s first retail store in Queens. All of the purchases were made between August and October, reports NBC New York … 
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One of the world’s largest Apple Stores opening in Dalian, China, this weekend [Gallery]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 19 2015 - 5:18 am PT
4 Comments

Apple has announced the grand opening of its latest retail store in China, this one in the city of Dalian, a major port and financial center. The store opens at 9.30am on Saturday 24th October.

The store, located in the six-storey Parkland Mall shown above and below, has been a long time coming. It was first announced way back in 2012, when the mall boasted that it would be “Apple’s World’s Biggest Flagship Store.” That claim is almost certainly out of date now, with the Dubai store set to open later this month rumored to be taking that title, but it is still likely to be one of the largest stores in the world … 
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Flagship Apple Stores get touch-sensitive tables to promote iPhone 6s 3D Touch

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 16 2015 - 3:22 pm PT
14 Comments

Two Apple Stores in New York and San Francisco have gained a new promotional tool to help sell the iPhone 6s. Shoppers visiting these Apple Stores will find a new kind of table with a large display across the surface that’s used for showing off the iPhone 6s.

As you can see in the video below, the table displays a water animation that responds to the 3D Touch sensors on the iPhone demos. When a user force presses the wallpaper to trigger the fish animation, the “water” beneath the phone ripples.


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‘ifo Apple Store’ creator Gary Allen, “Apple’s biggest fan,” dies aged 67

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Oct 15 2015 - 7:50 am PT
11 Comments

Gary Allen, creator of the now-defunct but historic web site ifo Apple Store, died Sunday at age 67, reports The Washington Post. ifo Apple Store tracked Apple Store retail openings and changes from their earliest days, when the Stores were considered by some to be a risky gamble, until well after the Stores had become ubiquitous in higher-end shopping malls and profoundly lucrative for Apple. Allen’s articles discussed opened stores, as well as details about unannounced stores that were expected to open in the future.

Having announced in March that he was shuttering ifo Apple Store based on increasingly widespread reporting on Apple Store openings and changes, Allen was actually suffering from brain cancer, his brother confirmed to the Post. During the years he ran ifo Apple Store, Allen traveled to over 140 new Store openings across the country and internationally, notably including locations in Europe and China. ifo Apple Store’s site currently reads “Please come back later,” without links to its past content.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai Apple Stores set to open on October 29

Avatar for Cam Bunton Oct 15 2015 - 3:22 am PT
6 Comments

UPDATE: We were sent some images of the Abu Dhabi store in its current boarded-up state, confirming the grand opening date. Thanks, @7Alsabe:

Apple is set to open its first two retail stores in United Arab Emirates in the next couple of weeks. Apple will host a grand opening in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on October 29 for the new Apple Stores, one of which is rumored to be the biggest Apple Store in the world. The company updated its store locations page recently to include the two stores in UAE, announcing the openings of both stores…


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Apple officially launches Hermès Watch collection, with options starting from $1100

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 5 2015 - 7:44 am PT
18 Comments

If you haven’t yet found your perfect Apple Watch strap among the company’s own offerings or the numerous third-party options, Apple has today officially launched its partnership with French leather fashion company Hermès.

Uncompromising craftsmanship. Pioneering innovation. Groundbreaking functionality. Apple Watch Hermès is the culmination of a partnership based on parallel thinking, singular vision and mutual regard. It is a unique timepiece designed with both utility and beauty in mind. With leather straps handmade by Hermès artisans in France and an Hermès watch face reinterpreted by Apple designers in California, Apple Watch Hermès is a product of elegant, artful simplicity — the ultimate tool for modern life.

Splashing out between $1100 and $1500 gets you a special version of the stainless steel Watch, with Hermès branding on the back, a number of special watch faces and a choice of three leather straps. Color options depend on the strap, some with suitably exotic-sounding names … 
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Apple describes its first store in Europe as “tired and outdated” as it joins the queue for a refresh

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 30 2015 - 4:52 am PT
6 Comments

A planning application to refresh the design of Apple’s Regent Street store in London describes the current look as “tired and outdated” as it joins the queue to see a major redesign. This is expected to be broadly in line with the new look first seen in Brussels when it opened two weeks ago, overseen by Jony Ive in his new role as Apple’s Chief Design Officer.

The status of the building as ‘listed’ (historically protected) will limit the exterior changes the company is allowed to make, but the four Apple logos in the windows will be removed to allow in more light, reports the Evening Standard.

The brief looked to re-imagine the overall customer experience within the store and address a tired and outdated interior sales area […] Part of the proposed works is also removing the four Apple Logos from the Regent Street facade. This assists with natural light penetrating the retail floor and preserves the historic character of the facade.

The upper floor will be set back from the front of the building, to allow more light into the ground floor. The existing glass staircase will also be removed and replaced with ““two new dramatic staircases,” which we assume to be the spiral designs seen in many Apple Stores. The store first opened in 2004, and has seen only limited interior refreshes since then.

As with the Brussels store, the redesign will be carried out by Foster & Partners, the architects behind London’s famous Gherkin building. It’s not known when the work will be completed, the planning approval being valid for up to three years.

Samsung tries to sell its phones to … people in an Apple Store queue for an iPhone 6s

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 25 2015 - 4:08 am PT
57 Comments

So, you’re Samsung. You want to try to sell some phones. You need to find some potential customers. You draw up lists of potential targets, and right at the bottom, in billionth place, are Apple fans so dedicated that they’ve queued up outside an Apple Store to buy the shiny new iPhone 6s. So where does Samsung go? Yep, to the Apple Store in London’s Regent Street, complete with backpack-mounted banners, reports The Enquirer. And it gets worse … 
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Apple Store app on iOS updated with iPhone 6s support, iOS 9 bug fixes

Avatar for Chance Miller Sep 24 2015 - 2:43 pm PT
1 Comment

As the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus gradually become available around the world, Apple this evening has rolled out an update to the Apple Store app on iOS. The update brings the app to version 3.5 and includes a couple of minor changes.

First off, Apple says the update is an “iOS compatibility update,” meaning that it fixes any issues that may have arisen with the launch of iOS 9 to the public last week and the subsequent release of iOS 9.0.1. Furthermore, the update adds support for the iPhone 6s. At this point, it’s unclear what specifically this means. We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on an iPhone 6s tomorrow to be sure, but it could mean support for features like 3D Touch. Or it could something more minor, such as simple compatibility updates.

Nevertheless, the latest version of the Apple Store app for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store now for free.

iPhone 6s launch day kicks off as customers queue up around the world

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 24 2015 - 1:00 pm PT
11 Comments

via <a href="https://twitter.com/iPhonemods/status/647119325090807808" target="_blank">Twitter</a>

While at least one person in the United States has already received their iPhone 6s after pre-ordering with the rest of us, iPhone 6s launch day has officially kicked off on the other side of the planet. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus go on sale at 8 am local time in a dozen markets around the world. New Zealand goes first at authorized resellers as there are no Apple Stores in the country, then the first Apple Stores in Australia two hours later, followed Japan and China and others before starting in the United States 16 hours from the start.

Earlier this week, all models and configurations of iPhone 6s and 6s Plus became sold out online for pre-ordering with launch day delivery. The larger iPhone 6s Plus models were among the first to sell out for launch day, although that may be in part due to display production issues and not just demand. Still, Apple Stores and carriers alike will have limited launch day inventory if you’ve waited and decide to take a gamble at getting the model you want.

Do you plan to queue up outside your Apple Store for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus this year or did you send your robot instead? Send your launch day photos to tips@9to5mac.com and check out the scenes below as you await your new iPhone.
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Apple Stores switching to gray shirts tomorrow alongside iPhone launch

Avatar for Mike Beasley Sep 24 2015 - 8:47 am PT
15 Comments

With tomorrow’s launch of the iPhone 6s, Apple will also be debuting a new look for its retail employees. According to a tipster, Apple Store workers will be sporting a new (space?) gray shirt, replacing the well-known blue versions that helped employees stand out in crowded stores.

A photo of the new shirt is included below, via our tipster.

Update: And here they are:

[tweet https://twitter.com/AngelaAhrendts/status/647416552724168704 align=’center’]

The 4th person in the iPhone 6s queue at one Apple Store is an iPad-based robot

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 24 2015 - 6:39 am PT
13 Comments

Queuing at Apple Stores versus ordering online is one of those great divides. Those who queue describe it as an unmissable social experience, while those who order online see queueing as a way to get cold and wet while not getting your iPhone any earlier. But one enterprising woman in Sydney, Australia, has found a way to combine the two: fourth in the queue is her iPad-based telepresence robot … 
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Video: Apple opens redesigned Brussels Apple Store, featuring indoor trees and new touch-sensitive tables

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 19 2015 - 8:23 am PT
27 Comments

In Belgium, Apple has opened its first ‘next-gen’ redesigned Apple Store in Brussels. The store features huge glass panes that curve around the exterior. The store has also reduced its reliance on backlit screen panels. Instead, Apple is relying on a single huge screen that covers one wall which will serve many purposes, including retail training and product marketing.

Inside, Apple has installed two rows of plant pots with real trees growing inside the store. Even more incredibly, the product tables (made of fine redwood) are actually motion sensitive with power outlets revolving into view when it detects people are nearby. Reader Franklin Schrans has sent in a video showing the cool moving tables in action …


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Apple’s new company store to sell devices for the first time, new collection of Apple branded merchandise

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Sep 18 2015 - 10:04 am PT
7 Comments

Update: Images of the new store’s facade below via @MikesiOSHelp and @thequinntaylor.

With Apple’s redesigned company store set to open this weekend, details of changes to the new store have been highlighted in a memo to employees (via MacMagazine). Among the changes, the new Apple company store will for the first time sell Apple devices including the iPhone, iPad, Macs, and Apple Watch. The store is also re-opening with a new collection of Apple-branded merchandise including clothing, mugs, and other collectibles that are only available at the company store. 
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Incipio acquires Incase, adding to stable of Apple-focused case + accessory brands

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Sep 16 2015 - 6:00 am PT
6 Comments

Incase, maker of numerous laptop bags and cases for Apple devices, has been acquired by Incipio, the growing developer of cases, electronic accessories, and wireless speakers based in Orange County, California. Announced today, the acquisition is expected to expand Incase’s distribution and improve its logistics for further international expansion.

Known for years as one of the top Mac, iPhone, and iPod case makers featured in Apple’s retail stores, Incase even developed commemorative cases to mark the openings of new Apple Store locations, and has long maintained a reputation for high-quality products. The company was previously acquired by investment group Swander Pace Capital in 2010, and now joins the Incipio stable of brands including Braven, Tavik, and Clam Case…


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Jony Ive-designed Apple company store at 1 Infinite Loop re-opens Saturday, possibly with big changes

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 15 2015 - 5:01 am PT
7 Comments

The Apple Company Store on its 1 Infinite Loop campus, which closed for major refurbishment back in June, will re-open at 10am on Saturday – the same day its first Belgium store opens. Apple announced the Grand Reopening on its retail site.

With Jony Ive now having responsibility for all aspects of design – including retail stores – it should be interesting to see how it’s changed.

The Company Store has always been quite a different experience to all other Apple retail stores, with no iPhones, iPads or Macs on sale. Instead, the store has majored on Apple-branded clothing and other brand-oriented products. But sources told us back in June that things may be very different when it reopens … 
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Apple discontinues combined Apple Watch + iPhone AppleCare packages

Avatar for Mark Gurman Sep 14 2015 - 9:05 am PT
4 Comments

 

On the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus announcement day, Apple increased the pricing of its AppleCare+ protection plan from $99 to $129. We’ve since discovered that Apple has additionally discontinued its combined plans for the Apple Watch and iPhone. Since the launch of the Apple Watch earlier this year, Apple offered combined packages that allowed a customer to protect both devices on a single plan. Now, customers must purchase both plans separately. The combined packages did not bring any discount or value over purchasing the plans separately, so the discontinuation of the program does not come as a major change for consumers. Apple has told employees that customers who have already purchased the combined plans will not be affected through their deals.

Apple video showcases the art & artists behind the opening of its new Brussels store

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 14 2015 - 5:52 am PT
1 Comment

In the run-up to Saturday’s opening of the first Apple Store in Belgium, Apple has uploaded a video showcasing the artists behind the comic art it is featuring on the hoardings outside the store. Brussels is known for its comic art, with many young artists moving there to further their careers.

Apple asked 20 artists to each create five images to help tell the story of the city. The paintings are displayed along with the slogan ‘The creativity continues.’

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=41&v=dC7WPAH35AQ]

Featuring local artists at soon-to-be-opened stores seems to now have become standard practice for Apple. We’ve seen calligraphy used in Hangzhou, a combined painting and photo in Chongqing, and a mural in Miami.

The Apple Store goes down ahead of iPhone 6S/iPad Pro/Apple TV event later today

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 9 2015 - 4:03 am PT
8 Comments

As expected, the Apple Store has gone down ahead of Apple’s Hey Siri event later today at 10 AM PST. Although we don’t expect the iPhone, iPad Pro or Apple TV to be available to buy today, the site will return with information about the new products after the presentation is over. There is a chance that Apple’s updates to Apple Watch — new band colors and a new gold Sport watch — may be available immediately.


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Apple officially confirms first Apple Store in Belgium opens in Brussels on 19th September

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 4 2015 - 5:42 am PT
17 Comments

Apple has now officially confirmed the opening date of its first Belgian retail store, opening in Brussels on 19th September. The date is shown on the hoarding outside the new store, located on Avenue de la Toison d’Or (also known as Gulden Vlieslaan), and was confirmed by Apple to ANV.

The wording on the hoarding reads ‘Creativity, to be continued,’ and features paintings by local artists (below). The store is a large one, at 1500 square metres, reports iCulture. The store is not yet shown on Apple’s website.

We first saw job listings for Apple Store-specific roles in Brussels as long ago as December 2014, with more seen in May of this year … 
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Patent application suggests possible Apple Watch-style interactive demo units for iPhones

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 3 2015 - 5:30 am PT
0 Comments

As anyone who’s tried one of the interactive demo units for the Apple Watch will know, it’s a pretty effective way to understand what the Watch can do. From a patent application published today, it appears Apple may be considering doing the same thing with future iPhones.

While iPhone users may consider the devices pretty self-explanatory, and wonder why such interactive displays might be needed, the patent text does give one clue. The description specifically references Bluetooth devices as a potential application of the technology.

An electronic device may include features that require communication with another electronic device. For example, a Bluetooth accessory offered for sale may require a separate electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, to operate particular features of the Bluetooth accessory. These features may be desirable to demonstrate to a potential customer considering a purchase.

It’s also possible the units could be used to demonstrate how the iPhone interacts with cloud services, like Apple Music.

We include our standard disclaimer: just because Apple patents something doesn’t mean it will do it, but it’s certainly an interesting idea.

Via Patently Apple

‘Next generation’ Apple Store redesigns to start rolling out this fall, Memphis one of the first in the US

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 1 2015 - 5:03 am PT
10 Comments

A planning permission meeting for a new Apple Store in Memphis has seemingly revealed more information about Apple’s plans for its retail stores. According to the Apple representative, the Memphis project represents one of the first ‘next generation’ Apple Store designs that Apple is rolling out around the world, starting in the fall. The Memphis store will be part of the first rollout of the new look stores in the US.

So what does the ‘next generation’ Apple Store look like?


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