Apple Stores Top Tiffany's in Retail Sales Per Square Foot

Apple retail stores may look like a minimalist man cave, but the sleek space earns more money per square foot than the leading diamond emporium.

According to new metrics from research and consulting firm Retail Sails, Cupertino makes approximately $6,050 for every square foot of store space, more than twice that of Tiffany & Co.'s $3,017.

For the second year in a row, Apple took home the gold, literally, as the most valuable retailer per square foot, but didn't fare as well when judged on overall sales per store. All Things D, which acquired the full Retail Sails report, said that the electronics seller dropped to No. 9, behind big-box stores Costco, Sam's Club, and Walmart.

Retail Sails did not specify the size of the average Apple retailer. Apple recently a new Genius Bar layout in some locations, in an effort to open more space to customers.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Retail Sails pointed to a growing trend of online shopping, but added that brick-and-mortar stores continue to hold more than 90 percent of U.S. retail sales. "Shoppers still value the ability to see and touch the merchandise," the site said. "And more than anything they prize the in-store shopping experience."

The most recent stats measure a cross-section of more than 200 U.S. retailers, spanning 15 sectors, more than 200,000 stores, and $1.6 trillion in sales, from retailers including apparel, health, furniture, grocery, home improvement, craft, jewelry, and miscellaneous specialty stores.

In cases when a store did not directly release information, the research firm used estimates, it said, based on industry sources or competitors' figures. All non-store retail-related revenue, like direct-to-consumer sales, wholesale, or membership fees, were stripped from the final numbers.

For more, see PCMag's slideshow above of the 7 Apple Stores to Visit Before You Die.