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Apple Names John Browett as New Senior Vice President of Retail
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As a UK based Mac user for nearly 30 years I feel compelled to post.
Dixons Stores Group are the absolute pits, and the instore experience is diametrically opposite to what the current Apple Stores offer.
I don't know this man personally, but I have had the misfortune of shopping in many Dixons Stores (before they were rebranded), and also PC World and Currys that are owned by DSG, and I cannot possibly see what talent he could have because these stores are generally dreadful. What exactly will he bring to the table? Attention to detail? (No.) Inspiring leadership based on previous successful experiences? (No.) The requirement for all staff to push overpriced extended warranties for everything, including iPod Socks? (Quite possibly).
I am floored by this appointment; has anyone from Apple actually bothered to visit a Dixons Retail Store? They have all the charm and environment of a Walmart, but with inflated prices, poorly informed staff and terrible trading results.
What is going on!?
Dixons Stores Group are the absolute pits, and the instore experience is diametrically opposite to what the current Apple Stores offer.
I don't know this man personally, but I have had the misfortune of shopping in many Dixons Stores (before they were rebranded), and also PC World and Currys that are owned by DSG, and I cannot possibly see what talent he could have because these stores are generally dreadful. What exactly will he bring to the table? Attention to detail? (No.) Inspiring leadership based on previous successful experiences? (No.) The requirement for all staff to push overpriced extended warranties for everything, including iPod Socks? (Quite possibly).
I am floored by this appointment; has anyone from Apple actually bothered to visit a Dixons Retail Store? They have all the charm and environment of a Walmart, but with inflated prices, poorly informed staff and terrible trading results.
What is going on!?
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For the first time in years, I now am worried about Apple's future,or at least the future of its stores. How could they pick someone who has headed the two least attractive chains in the UK?? Chains which have nothing in common with Apple?
I couldn't agree more. This poor choice makes me really worried for Apple's current way of thinking, and for the future. Some headhunters will be laughing all the way to the bank.
This is exactly what went through my mind when I read the article. Dixons Group is reknown for it's lack of staff training/education, and their stores have always been over-priced and over-staffed. We have a Currys PC World megastore here - I even have a friend working at it, he was PC World originally until they merged... he hates it, but he needs the job. "I hate being told to sell the most expensive HDMI cables to people when we know they don't need them"....such is their philosophy. (Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable, £30, vs £15 elsewhere...same brand product).
Anyway, since turning into a joint megastore, the place is like a ghost-town. Dixons Group is dead in the water. So yeah, I share your sentiment - here's hoping he left banging his head against the wall.
Oh My GOD!!!
What are they thinking. Dixons are rubbish over here in the UK. They used to be the store to go to before 2007.....since then its been a steep decline.
When Apple highered, Ron Jonson it was Steve Jobs that did it. Took him around shopping malls having loads of conversations with him about retail and how they should go about doing it. At least Ron came from GAP which holds its brand well. Globally.
First putting there OS into VMWare and now this. I wonder what will be third strike Tim? Lets see the Apple Shares fall!!
God help Apple. I think they are loosing there way. My Question is who is doing their high-ring!!! I would fire him. Obviously a B PLAYER in Steves words.
What are they thinking. Dixons are rubbish over here in the UK. They used to be the store to go to before 2007.....since then its been a steep decline.
When Apple highered, Ron Jonson it was Steve Jobs that did it. Took him around shopping malls having loads of conversations with him about retail and how they should go about doing it. At least Ron came from GAP which holds its brand well. Globally.
First putting there OS into VMWare and now this. I wonder what will be third strike Tim? Lets see the Apple Shares fall!!
God help Apple. I think they are loosing there way. My Question is who is doing their high-ring!!! I would fire him. Obviously a B PLAYER in Steves words.
Can't see them falling. They've managed to climb rapidly even after Apple released the utter garbage that is Lion...
Oh dear - this is not a good move.
I am amazed that this bloke managed to get through the interview process and land this job.
Dixons have an appalling reputation here in the UK.
If things had improved with John Browett's input over the past few years, I am sure it would have been the talk of the retail industry, but that has simply not happened.
I only have 5 Apple shares but I am nervous with this appointment - crikey, what a shock.
I am amazed that this bloke managed to get through the interview process and land this job.
Dixons have an appalling reputation here in the UK.
If things had improved with John Browett's input over the past few years, I am sure it would have been the talk of the retail industry, but that has simply not happened.
I only have 5 Apple shares but I am nervous with this appointment - crikey, what a shock.
This says it all really...
http://hexus.net/business/news/econ...-apple-good-pc-world-bad-which-retail-survey/
http://hexus.net/business/news/econ...-apple-good-pc-world-bad-which-retail-survey/
ditto. Strange appointment particularly as he has a reputation in the city of over-predicting. Wrongly most of the time! But, we must also remember his time at tesco.com was positive. Not to be confused with brick & mortar Tesco which as others has said a UK version of stack them high sell them cheap. at the time tesco.com was rolled out, the platform was very fresh and highly innovative taking advantage of the very successful tesco loyalty card. Perhaps the Currys gig was not one that ANYONE would have been able to win so willing to give the guy a chance
A staggering appointment based on his previous employers, but I'd like to think that Apple looked beyond that and at the man himself. They must have had a lot of applicants but seen something in Browett that made him a good fit for Apple. One thing's for sure; the retail strategy is firmly in place, and any major change (bonuses for example) would have to be agreed at board level. Time will tell.
I say give the guy a chance before writing him off, theres clearly a good reason he got the job. Apple is not going to jeopardize there winning retail formula. I'm sure they would have been well aware of how bad dixons is, it wouldn't be news to them.
I'm sure he is there to grow the existing formula, not reinvent the wheel.
And on the flip side browett is probably well aware that the stores are polar opposites, and probably why he wanted out, if it's so ****.
Good luck to him. Hope things continue up for apple retail.
I'm sure he is there to grow the existing formula, not reinvent the wheel.
And on the flip side browett is probably well aware that the stores are polar opposites, and probably why he wanted out, if it's so ****.
Good luck to him. Hope things continue up for apple retail.
Yep, this doesn't sound too good for Apple.
I'm also one of the many that feels that the Dixons group of stores have consistantly offered a very poor service for a very long time.
Anyone remember the mobile phone chain; 'The Link' ? They were also part of the Dixons group and disappeared off the high street a few years back because they were shockingly bad.
I really can't see what John Browett can bring to the table, thats of any use to Apple.
I'm also one of the many that feels that the Dixons group of stores have consistantly offered a very poor service for a very long time.
Anyone remember the mobile phone chain; 'The Link' ? They were also part of the Dixons group and disappeared off the high street a few years back because they were shockingly bad.
I really can't see what John Browett can bring to the table, thats of any use to Apple.
TEsco Man comes to Apple
This appointment tells you a lot about how Apple is going off the rails - as it did the last time Steve Jobs wasn't there.
Except this time Steve isn't there PERMANENTLY.
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THis blind faith in Apple is really weird. It's clear that they've been making bad decisions lately. Such as Lion.
This appointment tells you a lot about how Apple is going off the rails - as it did the last time Steve Jobs wasn't there.
Except this time Steve isn't there PERMANENTLY.
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THis blind faith in Apple is really weird. It's clear that they've been making bad decisions lately. Such as Lion.
Our US cousins will be waking up soon, I am wondering what they will make of this uniformly negative picture everyone with first hand experience of Dixon's is painting...
I spent years working at the after sales/technical counter at PC World, the experience was horrible, as much as a member of staff may want to help a customer, their hands are tied by company policies.
I then went to work at the Genius Bar at Apple, and the difference was HUGE. It was all about the customer.
The man who was in charge of DSG when their stock price has fallen 90% is the guy in charge of Apple Stores now? This really makes no sense!
I then went to work at the Genius Bar at Apple, and the difference was HUGE. It was all about the customer.
The man who was in charge of DSG when their stock price has fallen 90% is the guy in charge of Apple Stores now? This really makes no sense!
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Dixons (PC World & Currys) consistently comes bottom of the customer satisfaction league tables year after year in the UK. Terrible service, pushy sales staff who don't have a clue about what they are selling, cluttered stores, etc.
My local PC World / Currys hybrid store are still selling the white MacBook and they still have the price sign next to it that says "New". How dishonest is that. Very odd appointment if you ask me.
My local PC World / Currys hybrid store are still selling the white MacBook and they still have the price sign next to it that says "New". How dishonest is that. Very odd appointment if you ask me.
They're not employing him to revolutionise their retail strategy. He's obviously an intelligent man with plenty of contacts and the ability to drive more retail openings. It's all about widening their audiences and focusing a lot more on European countries, an area in which he clearly has knowledge.
How embarrassing that anything Dixons should have anything to do with anything Apple.
Dixons have been a byword for shoddy retail in the UK. They are the antithesis of cool. In fact, they represent the bin-end of the drowning-not-waving bricks and mortar sector here. This is all just bizarre.
Dixons have been a byword for shoddy retail in the UK. They are the antithesis of cool. In fact, they represent the bin-end of the drowning-not-waving bricks and mortar sector here. This is all just bizarre.