Angela Ahrendts Talks Apple Retail in New Interview: 'Retail is Not Dying, But it Has to Evolve'

[0388631]

You mean the company that just announced 150 stores are closing because they aren't selling enough?

Who knew people don't want burned coffee?

 

[jonnysods]

Is this the reasoning behind all of these TV shows they are trying to push out? Because I still can't make sense of the content they are trying to create.

 

[PhilMacbook]

It would be great if Apple took their stores seriously enough to stock a couple of high end laptops for professional buyers. If you want a 13" Macbook Pro with 16GB RAM you have to wait 2 weeks. That is more re-snail than retail.

 

[ConfusedChris]

It sounds like something Alan Partridge would say.

I’ve heard of these mythical Apple Stores but don’t live near to one. Would putting charging mats and coffee machines all over the tables help? A playpen for the bewildered?

 

[PhilMacbook]

It sounds like something Alan Partridge would say.

I’ve heard of these mythical Apple Stores but don’t live near to one. Would putting charging mats and coffee machines all over the tables help? A playpen for the bewildered?

I wonder if they have an Apple store in Norwich? I would love to see Alan interview Tim Cook

 

[Bacillus]

I get what Angela's trying to do in terms of making the Apple Store a "destination", but I just don't see it being successful. Foot traffic at most malls is way down compared to five years ago. I don't see Apple being able to reverse that trend.

I live 15 minutes from one of the biggest malls in the Atlanta Metro area. Even though I'd say foot traffic is down at that mall, if I need to go to the Apple Store, I still have to park and then it takes five to ten minutes to walk to the Apple Store if I park at the closest entrance. There's no way I'm doing that to go have coffee and get an Apple training session when I can sit at home, drink my own coffee, put my feet up, and watch YouTube videos that will show me the same thing I'd learn at the Apple Store. I go to the Apple Store for one reason and one reason only: hardware repair that I can't do myself.

From her tenure and body language, I can tell you one thing: she’s aiming for the CEO position and the only way to get there is a dramatic Apple Stores transform
Whatever the succes or failure for the company, she needs to set her footprint firmly and visibly.

 

[LordVic]

I'm not sure I blame Angela for many of her own job's recent shortcomings.

I think she was was brought on to try and transform the image from a tech company to a fashion / lifestyles brand.

I just don't think it's possible to do so in a "tech" market the way you would in designer watch / clothing. the products aren't the same, and neither are the ways in which they're sold. Add in theres been quite a bit of recent product issues, the high end watches were overall a bust, and she's left spinning her wheels because of the overall company direction.

Its becoming increasingly harder for more people to justify "premium" tech at the "above premium" price points that are growing more and more excessive. When you also look at the growing economic realities, more and more people have less disposable incomes to spend on "luxury" frivolities. Her hands are effectively tied in how well she can do her job.

 

[developer13245]

Well, it's simple:

Mac Hardware IS dying because it HAS NOT evolved.