NumBytes 12: Apple of Productivity's Eye

According to a Wall Street Journal article on Apple's retail accomplishments, Apple's annual retail sales per square foot soared to $4406 (add online sales and it jumped to $5914). No wonder. Apple can pick the best of the crop because it is inundated with applications, and then the company follows up with extensive training and a semi-mentoring program. No sales commissions. No sales quotas. But if sales staff don't sell enough service contracts, they're retrained or reassigned to another position. Apple also triple books the tech support department. Of course, it helps to have smart, hot products and a store design that includes one-on-one training area, personalized set up area, and kids play area so mom and dad can shop. Staffers even cheer customers when they buy new products on opening day -- kinda like Saturn used to do when you bought a car. No wonder there's an 'Apple Happy Dance' fad making the rounds of the internet.

In contrast, Tiffany & Co retail sales per square foot was $3070, Coach Inc. was $1776, and Best Buy was $880. Apple's success is done with staff paid just a tad more than usual -- between $9 and $15 per hour, and up to $30 per hour for the tech support 'geniuses' (store tech support is located in the 'Genius Bar'). That's management genius.