Apple plans four new international retail stores
AppleInsider StaffSeveral postings scattered throughout the Internet, including some on Apple's own website, have revealed company plans to open four more international retail stores this year: two in the United Kingdom and another two in Japan.
According to Apple's UK jobs website, new stores in Sheffield and Manchester should turn up a little later this year. The company has already begun the staffing process and is seeking qualified Mac Geniuses, Mac Specialists, and Inventory Specialists for each store.
Rumors dating back to last September implied that representatives from a "large computer company" were looking for a "sufficiently large" retail space in Manchester, hinting that this store will likely fit Apple's flagship model.
Apple currently operates two retail stores in the UK: a massive flagship location on London's Regents Street and a smaller-scale store in Birmingham's Bull Ring Shopping Centre. By August, a third UK location should also be operational inside the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent.
Another Two in Japan
Meanwhile, Japanese websites are abuzz over two new Apple stores scheduled to open in Japan by year's end. Apple retail store enthusiast website ifoAppleStore notes that Apple is using the local websites to recruit staff for stores in Sendai and Fukuoka.
Both locations are members of an existing Apple Japan retail store hit list, which prioritizes over two-dozen Japanese locations that are prime for future Apple stores.
According to the document, both stores are likely to be placed within existing shopping centers that offer street access. The Fukuoka store is listed as a "B" priority location in close proximity to a rail station that caters to over 380,000 average users. The Sendai store is also near a rail station and is expected to become Japan's first "C" priority location.
Apple has already knocked-down three "A" priority Japanese flagship locations in Ginza, Shinsaibashi, and Nagoya Sakae.
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11 Comments
Still no store in Scotland. :-(
I think that the strong retai lposition of Apple will halp it sell the new mactel machines
Apple is positioning itself on the world market to CRUSH MS!
It has been the plan for the past 5+ years. Apple knew that a transition to Intel was immanent at least two years ago with their "just in case plan b" preparations moving significantly ahead due to the weenies at IBM and their suited, uni-colored mindset. OS-X was developed with a pure focus to meet this goal of crushing the beast who's time has come and if IBM was not the certain path to this end then Intel would be. Remember we are a WORLD economy and Apple will have no problems selling off their PPC's in other then US markets.
MS is weak and the time to strike is NOW!
This new deal with Intel is going to be so huge that Apple will become the new, undisputed leader in the personal computer/digital home market and become recognized as the most innovative and successful consumer electronics developer since Sony.
MS is bloated with uncertainty and stagnation and knows not which way to turn. Along with them, Dell and the rest of the hardware makers lack innovation and OS-X. As such, they will not be able to stop Apple at any level.
Watch Apple move!
Develop a strong footing on a global basis with Apple stores to mass market their killer OS on their killer boxes with new Intel architecture. Inject a high degree of innovation with new products that will blow the minds of electronics geeks the world over and bring them to market with a chip company truly capable of delivering at breakthrough Apple pricing!
Personal Computers - Music Products - Video Markets - Cellular Market - New "Undiscovered" Markets!
Look out WORLD, here comes Apple and the Alliance!
"Think Alike...BE Different!"
why would apple be opeing stores if there going to let OS X run any on machine? as people like to think this will happen. because its clear apple cannot make computers as cheap as dell and hp can.
why would apple be opeing stores if there going to let OS X run any on machine? as people like to think this will happen. because its clear apple cannot make computers as cheap as dell and hp can.
FOR SPECULATION PURPOSES ONLY!
I don't think that will be the case. Intel has a chip technology (LaGrande) that could be built onto Apples boards to lock the hardware to Apples OS software.
See here: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2005/...ap2088233.html
Who know's, Apple, in the future may want to open up the hardware key to run on ALL computers but only if and when they decide to move away from hardware manufacturing to become a software branch and have reached a high enough market share to do so. Very soon the hardware will not matter. It will be all about the software.
Cheap?
I believe Apple can and will offer very competetive pricing but they ARE NOT
like Dell or HP in their market strategy. Apple is more like a Sony in that they produce a product for higher asthetics, form and functionality. This may cost slightly more then what the competition offers but I for one am willing to pay more for greater innovation and style. It just depends on personal need and taste. Volume sells is a great price reducer. If Intel works with Apple on pricing (which is believed to be the case) I don't see why that difference will be as great as has been in the past."Think Alike....BE Different!"