DSGi dropped the Dixons retail brand in 2004 and went with "Currys."

That 2004 name-change also inspired the "DSGi" corporate moniker. Now it's back to the future and DSGI will re-brand the organization under Dixons Retail Plc. With its first annual profit in three years, Dixons has transformed more than 200 stores across the group since 2008. Transforming the corporate name is probably just one more change that had to be made with Best Buy Europe breathing down its neck.

Reformatted stores perform well: average gross profit is up 20% versus the rest of the chains. And average gross profit up 50% in the megastores and 2-in-1s.

Pure internet sales (under Dixons name) hit 1.4 billion pounds, and 16% of total Group sales of 8.5 billion pounds (at fiscal year-end in May 2010).

Go DSGi Changes to Dixons Retail Plc

What stops you from opening up a restaurant that looks like the inside of McDonalds?

That would be "trade dress." The commercial image of the manner in which a product (or place of business) is "dressed up" to go to market is protected under law concerning "trade dress."

Apple recently filed a trademark application that would cover the "distinctive design and layout" of their line of retail stores.

This filing may have Microsoft in mind as most trade papers have commented that Microsoft's retail stores look very similar to Apple's.

Go Microsoft stores and You Be the Judge

Lance Armstrong tries for a come-back, taking 3rd place on the winner's podium at the 2010 Tour of Luxembourg. Riding for Team Radio Shack, Lance is not the only one trying to make a come-back these days.

Radio Shack wants to sell out by end of summer. After an initial round of bids last week, U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group is one of the interested parties. Blackstone's portfolio includes The Weather Channel, Hilton, SeaWorld, Freescale, Nielsen, CentreParks and lots others including Merlin Entertainment that owns London Eye.

Radio Shack could net more than $3 billion. The granddaddy of electronics retailing, the new "Shack" is emphasizing mobile products these days.

Go "Shack" Commercial with Lance Armstrong

As Europe awaits the first Best Buy store, trade press tend to overlook Apple's new flagship store in central London-- and it's expected to be the most profitable CE store in the country.

In the heart of Covent Garden (on the former site of the Rock Garden nightclub), Apple will open within the next few months as part of a plan to revitalise the area.

Apple's Regent Street is now the most profitable shop per square foot in the country, collecting £60m a year (£2000 per square foot or more than 2X what Harrods gets, says Verdict Research).

The new store will be UK's 28th Apple store and the average Apple store (across the world) collected $5.9m in Q1, up 8% on previous quarter.Apple will open another 40-50 new stores worldwide during fiscal 2010.

Europe now races past USA as Apple's fastest-growing market as European sales turnover grew  63% (against 49% for the company as a whole). European iPhone sales rose by 133% as the company prepares to launch iPad this year.

Go Lessons from Apple Store Design