Apple Tops U.S. Retail Chains in Sales Per Square Foot

retailsails sf sales rankings
RetailSails compiles (via 9to5Mac) a list of the top 20 U.S. retail store chains, revealing that Apple easily leads the pack with sales of well over $5,000 per square foot. Second-place Tiffany & Co. came in well behind at under $3,000 per square foot.

It’s not surprising Apple leads the pack, as there have been numerous articles such as this, but it is quite shocking by how far ahead of the competition they are, especially considering the company only has 10 years of retail experience.

RetailSails' report analyzed over 160 U.S.-based retail companies, reporting sales information and calculated sales per square foot on a global basis.

Some of Apple's flagship locations understandably generate sales significantly above the average, with performance at the company's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan being pegged at approximately $35,000 per square foot several years ago.

Top Rated Comments

applesith Avatar
164 months ago
Could the average cost of Apple products vs. the average cost of products at other stores also be part of this (meaning Apple has more expensive products)?

I think so.

I take it you don't shop at Tiffany's?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nastebu Avatar
164 months ago
Also take into consideration the PRICE of the machines they sell per squarefoot.

I would think that not only Tiffany's (#2), but also Coach (#3), has a higher average price for their merchandise.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wol Avatar
164 months ago
Makes me wonder where the Microsoft retail stores end up in sales per square foot... ;)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMaci7 Avatar
164 months ago
Makes me wonder where the Microsoft retail stores end up in sales per square foot... ;)

They will just open realy really small stores to beat apple at this record
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimUSCA Avatar
164 months ago
This is likely due to Apple's *very* strategic store location planning. They're very careful to not water down their brand by putting stores on every corner a la Radio Shack. Plus, they generally only put them in upscale shopping areas.

Pair that with the fact that people love buying their Apple products in a brick & mortar store, and it's an instant win!

They deserve it, really. Nobody thought their stores would survive, and look at them now. Their stores are what really allowed them to survive and do so well over the last decade. I credit them to really "saving" the company.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tiger8 Avatar
164 months ago
Disruptive

I am reading a book called 'Disrupt!' about businesses that thought outside the box, the Apple retail store is listed as one of the examples. Apparently, Apple observed that users like not only to look at a product, but interact with it: Touch it, feel it, as if it is their own. All Apple sales reps are trained not to hassle customers, be responsive but not to be over the customer's shoulder as they are shopping (have you been to a furniture store recently? Jesus!)

Apple sells an experience in their store, and they make it so easy for you to wip the plastic out and any t-shirt wearing sales rep can instantly do the checkout for you. No need to drag all the stuff and go to the 'checkout line'
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...
iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ACCOUNT Feature

'Apple ID' Expected to Change to 'Apple Account' Starting With iOS 18

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:13 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to rebrand "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" across its software platforms and websites like iCloud.com as early as this year, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated this change. A mockup of the new Apple Account branding In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new "Apple Account" branding will start to be used later this...