Apple Drops 'Store' From Apple Store Branding

[busyscott]

Let me guess, this was probably a brilliant decision made by Angela Ahrendts. (Being she is in charge of the Apple retail stores.)

I used to love going to the Apple store, but I've only had bad experiences since she took over. I'm thoroughly unimpressed.

 

[sw1tcher]

You can't trademark common words.

Yes, you can.

"Super" and "glue" are common words, but Super Glue is a trademark.

"Super" and "heroes" are common words, but Super Heroes is a trademark.

"Colt" (horse) is a common word, but it's a trademark of Colt Manufacturing.

"Memory" and "stick" are common words, but Memory Stick is a Sony trademark.

"Lava" and "lamp" are common words, but Lava lamp is a trademark.

"Bubble" and "wrap" are common words, but Bubble wrap is a trademark.

"Dry" and "ice" are common words, and it was once trademarked by Dry Ice Corp (They lost trademark protection a long time ago)

 

[wiredup72]

Makes me feel so warm and fuzzy when I see APL on top of the important stuff.

 

[djcerla]

5) And Apple did it, so it must be amazing, magical and some other buzzwords, too.

What does this even mean?

 

[bbeagle]

You can't trademark common words.

Like 'Apple'?

 

[Prof.]

Let me guess, this was probably a brilliant decision made by Angela Ahrendts. (Being she is in charge of the Apple retail stores.)

I've yet to form an opinion of her. I feel as though she has yet to do anything amazing...? *shrug*

 

[hoorayberet00]

I've also had nothing bud a terrible shopping experience since Angela A. joined Apple. I've even provided feedback about it. What's sickening is that sure, we can complain about the shopping experience. But I can go to a carrier and get a phone there instead of an Apple Store. Unfortunately, I'm still stuck with the crappy iTunes Match that Apple can't get right. I don't know how to get help with that aggravation.

 

[CarlJ]

I actually like this change. It shows the retail locations are not focused on getting people to buy more things, but to experience them. One of my favorite things about visiting Apple is walking in and not being hounded by sales people trying to get their commission. I can just wander around and experience the products how I want to and make the decision I think is best for myself.

Very much this. It makes it more clear that it is Apple's local physical presence in the area, rather than only a place to buy Apple gear. I can see it making sense from that angle. Although, from a practical standpoint, when someone says they're going to "Target", or "McDonalds", it's immediately clear that they are speaking of the nearest retail outlet of that company, while Apple has multiple meanings (the store, the desktop computers, the mobile computers, the ecosystem, the famous watchband maker)*, so "I'm going to go to Apple" is a bit more ambiguous. "Target store" sounds redundant, as does "McDonalds restaurant", but I expect "Apple Store" will persist for quite a while in conversation.

*: ("SpaceBalls, the flamethrower", or "Apple - it's a floor wax! It's a dessert topping!")
[doublepost=1471544590][/doublepost]

Ah, the obligatory "slow news day" post
Soon to be followed by the "how is this news?" and "Steve would never..." post

Don't forget, "They have time for !@#$%ing XYZ but they still haven't come out with new MBP's/iPhones".

So, how does this story relate to Pokémon Go?

 

[twocents]

Like how they managed to keep all things "Pro" from iPad Pro 😛

 

[MR-LIZARD]

Although, from a practical standpoint, when someone says they're going to "Target", or "McDonalds", it's immediately clear that they are speaking of the nearest retail outlet of that company, while Apple has multiple meanings (the store, the desktop computers, the mobile computers, the ecosystem, the famous watchband maker)*, so "I'm going to go to Apple" is a bit more ambiguous. "Target store" sounds redundant, as does "McDonalds restaurant", but I expect "Apple Store" will persist for quite a while in conversation.

I see what you're saying, but I think you've over thought it. If, from the context of a conversation, it is apparent that someone saying they are going to McDonald's means the restaurant rather than visiting a Big Mac (or any of their other products) then a conversation pertaining to going to Apple is likely to mean the store rather than visiting a MacBook.

I'm sure people will continue to refer to it as a store. I don't think Apple are trying some newspeak to make people change the way they talk; they've just dropped an extraneous word from their store pages and branding.

If you look up any company's website that has multiple branches you'll more than likely just see the branches listed by the address without mention to the company name. Therefore you could argue they haven't gone far enough! If you're on the Apple website and looking up stores is it even necessary to have the word Apple included in the store listing? (I think in this instance it's OK as Apple location name is the branding).

As an aside: being a Brit it often gets referred to as the "Apple Shop" in our house as store isn't commonly used in the UK. Although at times I think we've called the local one the Apple store and just Apple too. We all know what place we're talking about.

 

[testcard]

That Angela Ahrendts, wow. Finger on the pulse. Maybe add some more 1970s tree pots to freshen things up everywhere.

Bean bags and lava lamps.

 

[grahamperrin]

… all of its store pages now refer to stores by names like "Apple Union Square" or …

All the UK stores still have Apple Store in the title. Oops.

 

[goosin']

does this sound awkward?

"I'm on my way to the Apple __"

"Apple what?"

"Apple"

How about "I'm on my way to Apple?"

 

[grahamperrin]

How about "I'm on my way to Apple?"

I'd prefer bobbing along

 

[Glideslope]

2017. The year of the "Apple Phone." May want to pick up a 7 if your into collecting Apple Hardware.

 

[6502]

This just in: The Container Store will now just be known as Container.

 

[Osamede]

The decision to remove the "Store" portion of Apple's line of retail locations likely has to do with efforts to turn newer stores into more than just simple stores, positioning them as gathering places for their communities. Apple Union Square, for example, features an outdoor plaza with regular acoustic performances and a 6K video wall with seating called "The Forum," aimed at allowing artists, photographers, and musicians to inspire and educate customers through year-round programs, events, and classes.​

Article Link: Apple Drops 'Store' From Apple Store Branding

Well yes and no. Yes, Apple is trying to sell offshore-produced product while pretending to be a community institution everywhere they are making money, except the profits get exported offshore while the CEO then declares that Apple wont pay tax on it until they get special tax breaks....

But actually, the likes of Macys and every other department store was doing this since a century ago e.g. Macy's Union Square or Macy's Herald Square etc. And not because they "position them as gathering places for their communities". It just happned organically.

But these days its all about pretending to be natural and "unpolished" and down to earth....

 

[picciano]

Oh, how Swifty the new naming is.

 

[yossi]

Can't wait for them to open a store in Pie Town, NM

 

[citysnaps]

It's not because it never was. It's just as silly as calling the Sunglass Hut the Sunglass.

No, the Apple Store is just stupid. People (most, I hope) understand Sunglass Hut is branding, as with Radio Shack, and there really isn't a "hut" or a "shack."

Myself and others I know just say, for example, "I'm going to Apple after work."

 

[heckyeahinmyopinion]

or .....

 

[6502]

No, the Apple Store is just stupid. People (most, I hope) understand Sunglass Hut is branding, as with Radio Shack, and there really isn't a "hut" or a "shack."

Myself and others I know just say, for example, "I'm going to Apple after work."

Sounds good, I'll meet you at Container when you're finished at Apple.

 

[diddl14]

Waiting desperately for "Apple Kärntner Straße" (or whatever the name will be for the 1st Apple Strore in Vienna..)

 

[redheeler]

4) it's shorter > more elegant

Shorter means more potential for confusion, and elegance is much of what Apple is known for. But what has Apple done lately that isn't confusing and un-Apple like?

------​

1) no confusion with the App Store

The App Store is where you buy software and the Apple Store is where you buy hardware and physical accessories; so some confusion may not be a bad thing as it has an implied meaning. That being said, the two certainly aren't interchangeable.

------​

2) it's no longer only a store; definitions are important

Just what else is it that it hasn't been for years?

 

[tampageek]

Can someone please lock Angela Ahrendts in a closet before she completely destroys decades of positive branding.
[doublepost=1471554220][/doublepost]

Next they will drop the mac line.

Only if they can't figure out how to attach a watchband to it.
[doublepost=1471554369][/doublepost]

Apple The Grove? They had a meeting and all agreed this sounds good? Please focus on the Mac line and quit this nonsense already!

Amazing. They turned a noun into a verb. That IS innovation!
[doublepost=1471554511][/doublepost]I haven't laughed this hard on this site in ages.