The Apple Stores seem to have been doing well even before the October launch of the iPod. (See http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/12/technology/to-cash-in-on-a-life

The Apple Stores seem to have been doing well even before the October launch of the iPod. (See http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/12/technology/to-cash-in-on-a-lifestyle-apple-hits-the-mall.html http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/12/technology/to-cash-in-on-a... from July: "But Apple estimates that the stores will break even by the end of this year.") However, it would also have been difficult to predict that Apple would redesign the computer retail outlet so effectively.