retail

Microsoft's holiday pop-up stores get Oct. 26 start date

Microsoft will indeed open its 30-plus holiday pop-up brick-and-mortar stores on October 26, the day that Windows 8 and the Surface RT tablets go on sale.

It seems obvious this would be the case, doesn't it? But back in early September, when Microsoft announced the list of pop-up stores it will be opening "this fall," officials refused to confirm they'd be open by October 26.

Luckily, eagle-eyed Microsoft watcher @steveymacjr spotted a mention of the New York store opening on October 26 on Microsoft's own Microsoft Stores web site.

I checked some of the 31 … Read more

Apple eyes India stores, but laws may hold it back

Apple's retail stores are expanding their footprint globally. But now, their move into India could be held back.

Earlier today, the Economic Times reported that Apple is currently considering opening stores in India. However, The Wall Street Journal reported today, citing sources, that the company is subject to a law that requires all foreign retailers to source 30 percent of their product sales from local companies. In other words, 30 percent of the products sold in the stores must have come from an Indian partner.

For Apple, that's a problem. The company currently relies on companies like Foxconn … Read more

Amazon to start selling wine?

It's a well-known hidden secret that online shopping is made more fluid by a glass of evening pinot noir.

Somehow, inhibitions subside and emotional -- that would be material -- needs are given full rein.

How clever, then, of Amazon to assist you in your online shopping comfort by offering you wine shipments to go with the books, movies, and 55-gallon tubs of personal lubricant it currently offers.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Amazon will be launching a wine marketplace in the next few weeks, one that will surely lift the spirits.

It seems that company executives … Read more

Hong Kong gets second helping of Apple Store

Apple will open a second Hong Kong store later this week, the company has confirmed.

Apple's new retail store will be in Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong. The store will hold its grand opening on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time. According to Apple's Hong Kong Web site, the store will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time every day.

Reuters was first to report on the news.

The second help of Apple Store for Hong Kong comes as Apple is increasing its presence in and around China. CEO Tim Cook said … Read more

Amazon shutters popular shoe site endless.com

Never fear, Amazon says, it's not really closing down its trendy shoe and accessory Web site endless.com -- it's migrating it to Amazon.com/Fashion.

The company posted a note on its Web site today saying that it has "exciting news." Apparently, as of September 27, endless.com will be no more. The goal for the company is to integrate this mainly shoe Web site into its bigger apparel site.

Here's more from endless.com:

This new style destination will have the latest shoes, handbags, jewelry and watches from an expanded selection of brands--including … Read more

Apple retail chief offers a pep talk to his troops

Apple retail head John Browett offered reassurance to store employees Sunday night following recent concerns within the ranks about store cutbacks, including reduced work hours and layoffs.

"You will see a number of improvements which are coming through which are going to make it better for the customer, easier for you to do your jobs and that's what my job is all about," Browett said, according to an audio recording of his address during Apple's quarterly meeting for every Apple Store. The audio was obtained by 9to5 Mac.

Browett, who became Apple's senior vp of retail five months ago, … Read more

AT&T bites into Apple strategy with its own mega retail store

AT&T is adopting the Apple philosophy with a mega retail store that focuses on the consumer and not just on selling products.

Opening Saturday, the new 10,000 square-foot store is nestled along Chicago's famed Magnificent Mile. The design of the store offers the promise of a more customer-focused experience than that found at AT&T's usual retail outlets.

The product runway gives customers a chance to check out the latest smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. An Explorer lounge lets people try out different mobile apps based on their interests.

The various products are … Read more

Why shop via your phone? To keep your spouse in the dark

Some people just cannot stop buying.

They wander into stores during their lunch hour, they're constantly attuned to online shopping. Who can wonder that the wise people at Amazon decided to name their online clothing store MyHabit?

And yet, as everything goes mobile, is it really quite as easy to shop through your phone, as it is on your cute little PC or iPad? Everything is a little smaller, for example. It's harder to zoom out and imagine.

However, new research has entered my laptop that offers a far more rational perspective on mobile shopping. Apparently, a substantial … Read more

Parts of Apple's Genius training manual leaked

One of the key parts of Apple's retail success has been its Genius Bar, its in-house support service that lets Apple product owners bring in their gear to get looked at.

As it's been explained by former executives, the idea for the bar initially befuddled users, though over the years it's become a defining feature, and an increasingly important one as the company's gadgets have moved away from user-replaceable parts.

But just what kind of training is involved to make it behind that bar? Tech chops for sure, but as an internal training document shows, quite … Read more