Introduction
In the retail markets of all industries, Apple has clearly distinguished itself from its competitors with its significant revenue. In 2010, as stated by Farrell and Staff (2011), Apple earned approximately $6,000 per square foot, which guaranteed Apple to be the most profitable retailor. The second retailor on the list, Tiffany, only accomplished half of Apple’s profitability (Farrell & Staff, 2011). Speaking of Apple’s success, one cannot fail to mention Steve Jobs, the person who established every “Apple Standard.” Under Steve’s supervision, Apple accomplished great success in the development of a retail concept and technology development in Jobs’ era; however, the legend left Apple forever. Without the master who proved himself an excellent rudder, will the new executives take Apple in the wrong direction? At Jobs’s time, Apple realized its high profit model through genius concept in detail-oriented retail centers sales model, which has been discussed as one of the most successful retail cases ever. Apple’s retail store consists of several successful elements, including the fantastic architecture, the unique products exhibiting methods, and the most “Apple” ingredient, the Apple employees.
Apple’s Model of Retail Stores
Dramatic Design of Apple Stores
One of the most popular stereotypes about Apple is that its fabulous retail store is a major reason for its success. Like other scholars, Stewart (2011) praised Apple for its dramatic retail store design. Apple retail stores, as Stewart commented, were nothing like traditional cheap and ugly retail stores. Instead, Apple makes great employment of glass in its design. The transplant material gives Apple store a luxurious and advanced look, which is an appearance that all Apple’s products share. Apple has now more than 300 retail stores all around the world. Many of them have even become local symbols, such as the transparent cube on Fifth Avenue in