Apple Preparing Retail Employees for June In-Store Apple Watch Launch

[zsbradt]

A bit off-topic but...
If I were to order a Watch today, my account would not be debited until it ships, right? The shipping times are June 15-17, so they would take my money when they send it about the 12th?

 

[dave2010]

What an awful thing to say to employees, especially to a global workforce who don't have the same culture as her.
I feel sorry for most Apple employees, not her obviously.

 

[RJCP]

My god, what an insight into her mindset.

This is what you were born to do Apple minions employees.

Maybe she should paint her face blue, grab a sword and visit Apple stores giving motivational speeches.

I think this attempt at a motivational speech has just managed to have every single Apple Retail employee thinking "where did my life go wrong?"

 

[Aluminum213]

What if the retail employees were in fact born to sell these watches?

 

[mwanderer]

I worked Apple Retail for years and Ron is a tough act to follow

Could you unpack that? In your experience, why was RJ so good? I've long wondered if Apple could somehow mend that bridge, and woo RJ back (now, post-Enjoy), but I'd love to have more concrete reasons for that opinion.

In regard to the current ARS leadership, I was very optimistic about AA hiring initially. However, after seeing video and reading statements she's made leading up to the Watch launch, my opinion's evolving.

AA: "you were born to do do this"

Several statements AA's made, like the one above, during the Watch launch suggests that she might not identify with her ARS employees, or worse. I hope I've got the wrong impression, particularly after listening to AA's Ball State commencement address:

An ARS can be the first and only contact point for millions of customers. Given the leadership gap over the last several years, the last thing Apple needs is a ARS leader employees don't want to work for. The corrosive effect that can have should not be underestimated.

 

[mac4good84]

I have nothing against AA and I hope she does possess the qualities they are looking for in order to be successful in the retail department but good grief I had to laugh at that "you were born to do do this" bit. You would think that a business like Apple, with billions in the bank, would be able to find someone to pen a better script than what she read in that video. And yes, she does look uncomfortable and really needs to work on that seeing as how she is the face of retail for Apple. Time will tell.

How about: "You've done an amazing job as evident by the success of our company and we know you will continue that tradition with this new product". Something like that would sound better but I'm no expert myself.

One earlier poster said it best: "You are selling watches, not boarding a rocket to outer space".

 

[pacalis]

At Maxfield in LA, every employee was given a Space Grey Sport, and then others bought SS models (because of the discount), but they were all wearing the space grey.

By transitive equivalence, they were born to wear space grey.

 

[macrooster]

Angela is a complete waste of space. She completely botched the watch retail launch (people standing outside to purchase nothing), made the retail employees less noticeable with darker shirts, and continues to prove again and again with statements like this she should stick to her prissy little handbags and leave the products with substance to the big boys...

If I worked retail and my VP made a statement that I was "born" to peddle these products I'd start looking elsewhere...

 

[Moonlight]

I am not really interested in an Apple watch, and Angela Ahrendts is making me want one less and less. She really pumps up "the emperor has no clothes" feel to applespeak. When Apple was changing the world, she was selling crap to fashionistas, and we can tell.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

A bit off-topic but...
If I were to order a Watch today, my account would not be debited until it ships, right? The shipping times are June 15-17, so they would take my money when they send it about the 12th?

That is correct.

My personal account had $550 in it yesterday, I ordered the watch on 4/24, and it now has $100, as it shipped today.

 

[Robert.Walter]

If the associates are born to do this, why do they have to study the training materials?

I like Angela, but such rhetoric is a bit over the top and more than a bit patronizing.

 

[pierino84]

Any news about the roll-out for the second wave of Countries?

 

[imanidiot]

May I humbly suggest that no-one working in Apple Retail are doing what they were born to do. This sort of comment is in keeping with the exreme hubris of the Apple Watch. Angela Ahrendts is perfect with the New Apple. I believe that Tim Cook is a good guy, but screw this. May the moderators beat me up for this. It's true. This is pretty horrible.

 

[Klaatu63]

AA is making the purchase of a watch a lot more complicated that it needs to be. Just let me know when I can walk into an Apple retail store and buy a watch. This entire watch rollout is being handled like a Coney Island cupie doll game.

 

[MNJohn]

Just like others... really laughing at the "born to do" this part. Apple employees are not boarding a rocket... they're selling a watch.

In my opinion, a chimp could have been less offensive in addressing the ARS employees than Angela. As far as I know, the worst thing a chimp does is throw dung at people.....

 

[dannyyankou]

Once it starts being sold in stores, I expect to see a lot more of these around.

 

[Denmac1]

2 whole pages about how much you hate Angela....SMH. On a brighter note, at least I will have a Watch before the end of June.

Hate is a very strong word. People are frustrated with the way this whole thing has rolled out. Is Angela to blame? Not completely. She's new to this game and IMO she just hasn't tuned in to the true Apple culture.

I personally don't care for her style or substance, but since I don't know her, hating her would be an unfair definition.

In her Burberry days, it was a lot easier to ramp up the extra production if needed. Now she is in a different environment dealing with precise manufactured products that can have their caveats. She was CEO and was able to call the shots. Not so much anymore.

With that said, I have my watch of choice now and the extra band that I wanted.

I'm just not convinced at this point if she's the right fit for the face of retail. It's a tough job, be it male or female.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Yea. Her entire statement was over the top IMO. This entire "upscale" dogma from Tim is starting to feel like bringing in Donald Trump to open Apple Casino. I'm not buying into it. Apple is not Maxfield, and never will be.

Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets. How about some reality based Mac Upgrades? Nah, to "mainstream" for todays Apple.

You should thank the idiot who actually hired her. And he's a CEO. I find that disturbing.

 

[Tech198]

This is almost before the "I'll be able to walk in a buy one" type moment When that day come, won't we all be happy.

 

[stanhope]

During Apple's most recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook announced plans to begin carrying the Apple Watch in the company's retail stores in late June. Now that we've entered the first week of that month, Apple has begun preparing its retail employees for the in-store launch of the Apple Watch.

In a video message sent to retail employees, the contents of which were shared by 9to5Mac, retail chief Angela Ahrendts told employees that they need to be "above and beyond ready" for the launch. Apple's VP of retail operations Jim Bean also detailed an upcoming "Reserve and Pickup" feature.

Reserve and Pickup will let customers check the Apple Online Store each day at 8:00 a.m. local time to see if a nearby store has their desired Apple Watch model in stock. If it's available, customers will be able to reserve the Apple Watch and choose a time to pick it up. Customers will also be able to make reservations for Apple Watch models that are not yet in stock.In addition to preparing Apple employees for in-store Apple Watch sales, Apple has also notified them that customers are now able to try Apple Watch demo units paired to an iPhone in store. Prior to now, Apple Watches have been in a demo loop or attached to tables and unable to pair with iPhones.

Since its launch on April 24, the Apple Watch has been available from Apple solely online. Apple has, however, made limited numbers of the Apple Watch available to customers through third-party boutiques, such as Maxfield in Los Angeles. According to retail chief Angela Ahrendts, Apple's efforts to keep sales online have been done due to supply constraints and to provide customers with the best possible Apple Watch buying experience.

The Apple Watch continues to be in short supply, but shipping times for many models have greatly improved since launch. Some models of the Apple Watch Sport and stainless steel Apple Watch are now shipping within a week in the United States.

Article Link: Apple Preparing Retail Employees for June In-Store Apple Watch Launch

 

[stanhope]

During Apple's most recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook announced plans to begin carrying the Apple Watch in the company's retail stores in late June. Now that we've entered the first week of that month, Apple has begun preparing its retail employees for the in-store launch of the Apple Watch.

In a video message sent to retail employees, the contents of which were shared by 9to5Mac, retail chief Angela Ahrendts told employees that they need to be "above and beyond ready" for the launch. Apple's VP of retail operations Jim Bean also detailed an upcoming "Reserve and Pickup" feature.

Reserve and Pickup will let customers check the Apple Online Store each day at 8:00 a.m. local time to see if a nearby store has their desired Apple Watch model in stock. If it's available, customers will be able to reserve the Apple Watch and choose a time to pick it up. Customers will also be able to make reservations for Apple Watch models that are not yet in stock.In addition to preparing Apple employees for in-store Apple Watch sales, Apple has also notified them that customers are now able to try Apple Watch demo units paired to an iPhone in store. Prior to now, Apple Watches have been in a demo loop or attached to tables and unable to pair with iPhones.

Since its launch on April 24, the Apple Watch has been available from Apple solely online. Apple has, however, made limited numbers of the Apple Watch available to customers through third-party boutiques, such as Maxfield in Los Angeles. According to retail chief Angela Ahrendts, Apple's efforts to keep sales online have been done due to supply constraints and to provide customers with the best possible Apple Watch buying experience.

The Apple Watch continues to be in short supply, but shipping times for many models have greatly improved since launch. Some models of the Apple Watch Sport and stainless steel Apple Watch are now shipping within a week in the United States.

Article Link: Apple Preparing Retail Employees for June In-Store Apple Watch Launch

"This is what you were born to do...." this chick is ridiculous.

 

[stanhope]

"This is what you were born to do...." this chick is ridiculous.

 

[TallManNY]

A bit off-topic but...
If I were to order a Watch today, my account would not be debited until it ships, right? The shipping times are June 15-17, so they would take my money when they send it about the 12th?

Yes, though Apple has been generally beating its shipment windows. So you could get charged a bit earlier than the 12th, but it won't be until right before your watch ships.

 

[TallManNY]

The "born to" comment is laughably bad and obnoxious to say to a group of folks generally working retail and judging by the average age of the Apple employees I see in retail unlikely to stick with the company very long.

But let's set that aside. The hate for Angela displayed in this thread and elsewhere is kind of predictable. Basically anytime a woman gets a powerful business or political position, she is going to elicit a larger amount of hate than a man in the same role doing the same thing. She is going "rub people the wrong way". They won't be able to put their finger on it. The presentation isn't going to sit right. Something will be off. Many folks will deny that it is because she is a woman, but I've just seen this happen too many time to buy it. Women in high profile positions just become a more polarizing figure. And I think this is even more the case to the generally male online community in forums like this.

But the "born to" comment was terrible. Still it is just one snippet of one sentence. And I think Apple has a better sense than most how important the Watch release is. Not because Apple needs it to make money, but because of how disruptive it is. Anecdote, showed a co-worker my Apple Watch at the office yesterday and she literally said, "I'm thinking about buying a Rolex, but maybe I will just get one of those instead." This device is going to be a big deal.

 

[Glideslope]

The "born to" comment is laughably bad and obnoxious to say to a group of folks generally working retail and judging by the average age of the Apple employees I see in retail unlikely to stick with the company very long.

But let's set that aside. The hate for Angela displayed in this thread and elsewhere is kind of predictable. Basically anytime a woman gets a powerful business or political position, she is going to elicit a larger amount of hate than a man in the same role doing the same thing. She is going "rub people the wrong way". They won't be able to put their finger on it. The presentation isn't going to sit right. Something will be off. Many folks will deny that it is because she is a woman, but I've just seen this happen too many time to buy it. Women in high profile positions just become a more polarizing figure. And I think this is even more the case to the generally male online community in forums like this.

But the "born to" comment was terrible. Still it is just one snippet of one sentence. And I think Apple has a better sense than most how important the Watch release is. Not because Apple needs it to make money, but because of how disruptive it is. Anecdote, showed a co-worker my Apple Watch at the office yesterday and she literally said, "I'm thinking about buying a Rolex, but maybe I will just get one of those instead." This device is going to be a big deal.

Bunk. Stop playing the gender card. I personally believe she is a very talented, highly intelligent "person."
However, her comments were out of line. I could care less what sex a person is. She should have known better than to accept Tim's Kool Aid Dogma. IMO, the money was simply too much to ignore. Turning Apple into a Maxfield is quite different than taking Burberry from a traditional clothing retailer to an upscale fashion retailer.

In this situation she has signed on to the impossible for the lust of financial gain and prominence. As many men have done. These recent comments display the cracks forming in the Glass House.

It makes no difference in this position if one has a penis or not. The end game is unachievable.