AppleInsider reports that Apple unveiled the next step in its retail store strategy today. The new 'mini' stores are an all-new design featuring stainless steel walls and seamless white floors and ceilings. The mini store is half the size of Apple's smallest store to date.
The first six mini stores will open this Saturday at 10 a.m. in Palo Alto, CA; San Jose, CA; Santa Rosa, CA; Tukwila, WA; Bridgewater, NJ; and Rockaway, NJ. These are to be additions to the 84 existing Apple retails stores around the United States, bringing the total of retail stores to 93 as of this coming weekend.
The new stores will feature a full line of iPods, laptops and the iMac G5 desktop. In addition, the stores will offer third party products, on-site repair on all Apple products, and a miniature Mac Genius Bar.
Since the opening of the first Apple retail store in May 2001, Apple retail stores have attracted almost 50 million visitors and recently generated revenues of almost $1.2 billion in the company's 2004 fiscal year.
