Battling For a Bite of the Apple

In the first quarter of this year, Brian reports, 71 million customers visited Apple's retail stores, an increase of 28 million from a year earlier, with sales rising 90 percent. With this astonishing performance, it's no wonder that property owners and local authorities in cities such as Salt Lake and New York are offering staggering incentives, like waived rent and taxes, to attract the technology trend-setter. Rather than complain about special treatment, neighboring retailers seem happy to see Apple get a sweetened deal.

"The truth is, realtors and local authorities know that when an Apple Store is opened in an area, tech savvy consumers come from surrounding areas to view products, seek help and spend money on luxury electronics."

"Apple might be benefitting from its success, in terms of the money it saves from leases, but companies in the vicinity of an Apple Store don't seem to mind. It's difficult to complain that a company is getting preferential treatment when it helps boost your own revenues and increase the number of people coming to the area."