retail

Why working Apple retail just got better

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Apple store
There’s good news for Apple Store employees.
Photo: Apple

Apple retail store employees are getting more time off. Both sick days and vacation days. This is part of improving the benefits for those who works in the Mac-maker’s brick-and-mortar locations.

The changes come as lots of employers find themselves competing for quality applicants in a tight job market.

Apple Stores in the UK will start reopening on June 15

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Not including those in Scotland and Wales.
Photo: Richard Shrum for Cult of Mac

Apple’s plan to get retail stores back in action will see the reopening of locations in the United Kingdom starting Monday, June 15.

The government confirmed on Thursday that non-essential stores, most of which have now been closed for as many as three months, could begin reopening next week — provided they follow COVID-19 safety measures.

Apple is expected to open all stores in England and one in Northern Ireland first. Another five in Scotland and Wales must wait.

Coronavirus keeps China’s Apple Stores shuttered into next week

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Apple store in Shanghai
The Apple Store in Shanghai.
Photo: FullbridgeProgram/Flickr CC

Apple Stores across China will remain closed into next week amid the growing coronavirus crisis.

All 42 stores were closed this week because of the outbreak but were scheduled to open Feb. 10. In a memo to Apple Store employees this morning, Apple retail chief Deidre O’Brien indicated a reopening time is on hold until further notice.

Apple Amsterdam reopens October 24 with pro filmmaking sessions

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Apple-Amsterdam
Just over one week to wait.
Photo: Apple

Apple will reopen its flagship retail store in Amsterdam on October 24 following months of extensive renovations.

The redesign will feature a Forum and video wall for Today at Apple events. Visitors will also get the opportunity to take part in professional filmmaking sessions to celebrate the store’s reopening.

Apple forced to close Hong Kong stores early amid protests

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Apple-Causeway-Bay
The Apple Store in Causeway Bay closed 5 to 6 hours earlier.
Photo: Apple

Apple closed all Hong Kong stores early on Monday due to growing concerns over more violent protests.

The move came a day after police fired tear gas during a clash with thousands of antigovernment activists. Other businesses also closed their doors and sent staff home early.

Apple’s flagship L.A. store will be part retail, part performance center

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Tower Theatre
The 91-year-old Tower Theater will be the home of the first LA Apple Store in the Downtown district.
Photo: Steve Minor/Flickr

Apple’s plans for the historic Tower Theatre store were revealed today, showcasing how the iPhone-maker plans to turn the Los Angeles location into one of its main flagship stores.

Tower Theatre was one of the first buildings in L.A. with air conditioning, an aspect that intrigued Apple when it started making plans. Instead of constructing a perfect glass box store, Apple plans to keep a lot of the building’s historical aspects intact.

5 big revelations from Apple’s surprising Q2 earnings call

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Will Apple reach its own targets for Q2?
Apple stock is booming after today's report.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple blew analysts’ expectations out of the water this afternoon with its historic Q2 2018 earnings report that saw the company post the most revenue ever in the March quarter.

Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri were absolutely giddy during today’s call with investors. Everyone expected the iPhone X to be a bust, but even Apple was surprised by its success as it still dominates the iPhone sales charts. New products are on the horizon too as Apple’s executives teased new goodies coming down its pipeline:

These were the biggest takeaways from the call:

Apple silently raises iPad Pro prices

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ipad pro
No one can topple the iPad.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The iPhone isn’t the only Apple product lineup that got a lot more expensive this week.

While Apple fans were busy ogling at all the specs and prices on the new iPhone X and iPhones 8 after yesterday’s keynote, Apple made a quiet adjustment to the price tags on all of its iPad Pros but hasn’t publicly stated the reason for the increase.

Apple’s new Dubai store features mesmerizing ‘Solar Wings’

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The new Dubai store is a stunner.
The new Dubai store is a stunner.
Photo: Apple

Rather than loads of glass and steel, the crowning architectural achievement of Apple’s new Dubai store is its motorized carbon fiber windows. Apple revealed the store’s “Solar Wings” today, and they’re one of the coolest features we’ve ever seen.

The automated system is designed to minimize air conditioning usage in the United Arab Emirates store, but the most impressive feature is the way the system opens and closes. Prepare to be mesmerized!

NYC Apple store’s glass cube will be dismantled

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Hopefully the glass cube comes back.
Photo: Simone Lovati/Flickr CC

Apple’s giant glass cube in New York City is about to come crashing down.

The iPhone-maker’s most iconic retail store is set for major renovations this year, and according to a new filing, the glass cube is scheduled to be dismantled and removed.

Apple retail boss teases new store in Dubai

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Dubai Mall is getting an Apple Store.
Dubai Mall is getting an Apple Store.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to expand its retail presence in the Middle East by opening a brand new store in the United Arab Emirates.

The new store coming to the Dubai Mall got revealed today by Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s VP of retail, who tweeted a teaser of the location. It will be Apple’s third store in the UAE (and second in Dubai) once it opens.

Take a look inside Apple’s new flagship store in Germany

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Apple's new store on Europe's busiest shopping street.
Apple's new store on Europe's busiest shopping street.
Photo: Macerkopf

The newest Apple store in Germany is ditching the Genius Bar, but it will have a boardroom.

Apple is set to open its second store in Cologne, Germany this weekend and early photos have already revealed some of the new features, like an area dedicated entirely to business that is becoming a staple at other flagship stores.

Austria is getting its very first Apple store

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Vienna is finally getting its own Apple store.
Photo: Bohringer Fredrick/WikiCommons

Apple has confirmed previous rumors that it is set to open an Apple store in the Austrian capital of Vienna, by posting retail job listings in the city. Positions advertised include managers, creatives, geniuses and specialists.

This will be the first Apple store in Austria, with the closest physical stores previously being located in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

Apple’s flagship store in Chicago comes with $62 million price tag

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An artist rendering of Apple's store on the north bank of the Chicago River.
Photo: Chicago Department of Planning and Development

The new store being built by Apple along the Chicago River is shaping up to be one of the company’s most expensive new locations of 2017.

Apple’s store on the iconic “Magnificent Mile” is being mostly built underground at 401 N. Michigan Ave., but Apple wants the plaza-level entrance to be absolutely fabulous, so it’s going to cost more than $60 million.

DJI’s tiny Mavic Pro drone will land at Apple Stores

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The Mavic Pro can be flown via the included controller or your iPhone.
The Mavic Pro can be flown via the included controller or your iPhone.
Photo: DJI

The battle for droning supremacy is heating up today after DJI revealed its tiny new Mavic Pro drone that will take on GoPro’s new Karma drone system.

Despite launching later, the Mavic Pro has a few advantages on the Karma though. It’s smaller, faster and smarter. And you’ll be able to buy it at your local Apple Store.

The Apple Store app is getting a big redesign

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Shopping for Apple stuff on iPhone is about to get better.
Photo: Milo Kahney/Cult of Mac

A major redesign is coming soon to the Apple Store iOS app that will bring Amazon-like shopping suggestions to users based on customers’ buying history.

Apple’s redesign will reportedly include a new “For You” tab that suggests products based on previous orders, arming the tech giant with a new tool to create more sales right before the launch of the iPhone 7 in September.

Apple opened its first retail stores 15 years ago today

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San Francisco Apple Store Line
Customers queuing outside an Apple Store in San Francisco.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Fifteen years ago today, Apple opened the doors of its first two brick-and-mortar retail stores in McLean, Virginia and Glendale, California.

For a trip down memory lane (a nice way of saying “a way to make you feel really old”), check out the below video of Steve Jobs offering a personal guided tour of what customers setting foot in an official Apple Store could expect.