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Apple to Shift Retail Strategy to Larger, More Iconic Stores

Please - "Just Works" Over "Flash" & "Eye Candy"

Apple needs to get back to restoring its "just works" reputation. That reputation has been a bit tarnished lately with Apple's massive growth into lots of different product lines. While the growth is good, the almost inevitable downside is that they have had a slip in the "out of the gate" quality of its products.

It just seems like the "Gucci" side of Apple has had an overemphasis while the "Wozniak" side of Apple has suffered as a result.

Lots more bugs lately than in the old days....but everything "looks" better.:eek:
 
Macminiintel said:
why will it fail?, because you think so. I don't see any reason. its just one of Apple's iconic stores, which take your breathe away once you enter. It will be full of people on opening day with tourists, locals etc.
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because you spending money and resources on unnecessary parts of the store. I watched a national music retailer go out of business, so it not that I just think so. I'm not trying to say it will for sure happen, as Apple is it's largest vendor so already you removed something that could have added to the issue.

Big stores with lots of useless space are stupid. I think that store looks horrible and unfinished, and the acoustics have to be crazy.
 
To me it looks like they spend too much money on their stores, but that is just my opinion. There is enough additional room in there for a farmers' market.
 
Its also pretty cheap. If they leave a huge open space like that, it's way cheaper and faster to 'build'. Sure that glass is pricey, but still cheaper than making a two story store. All they need is to add tables, a floor and some paint. One of those stores can probably be built in a month tops.
 
not a good idea the cost for this must be staggering-all that empty space not producing one extra cent of income-yet it has to be heated, cleaned, decorated lit and the added construction costs' Thats the OLD paradigm-the Microsoft paradigm=bigger is better
Not very GREEN of APPLE
I would make it a two story building, rent the upper floor to Microsoft at a price that only stupid people would pay (and they would pay it)-then make so they have to walk completely through the APPLE store, like a maze to get there. Few would arrive after the enticements they see on the way
 
seashellz said:
not a good idea the cost for this must be staggering-all that empty space not producing one extra cent of income-yet it has to be heated, cleaned and the added construction costs' Thats the OLD paradigm-the Microsoft paradigm=bigger is better
Not very GREEN of APPLE
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If the space is to accommodate foot traffic, then that DOES produce considerable extra income.
 
seashellz said:
not a good idea the cost for this must be staggering-all that empty space not producing one extra cent of income-yet it has to be heated, cleaned, decorated lit and the added construction costs' Thats the OLD paradigm-the Microsoft paradigm=bigger is better
Not very GREEN of APPLE
I would make it a two story building, rent the upper floor to Microsoft at a price that only stupid people would pay (and they would pay it)-then make so they have to walk completely through the APPLE store, like a maze to get there. Few would arrive after the enticements they see on the way
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LOL. Not producing one extra cent of income? You don't think they will get tons of retail traffic, tourists coming to visit and buying things, etc., specifically because it is an architecturally interesting space?
 
ltcol266845 said:
Its also pretty cheap. If they leave a huge open space like that, it's way cheaper and faster to 'build'. Sure that glass is pricey, but still cheaper than making a two story store. All they need is to add tables, a floor and some paint. One of those stores can probably be built in a month tops.
Click to expand...

But the store does have multiple floors (maybe not two stories). Regardless a new building of that size in New York City has got to cost beaucoup bucks!
 
may have been said already....

seems nice, kinda cold but it looks like they could have easily had two floors in that thing.... I've only been to 1 Apple store and it was kinda hard to get my hands on a iMac.
 
looks pretty cool,
I love going to our nearest Apple store, but one thing I've never figured out, it always smells a bit like a barn...not necessarily a messy nasty barn, but still.
 
This building will look anything but sterile from the inside. Most of the wall and ceiling space is uninterrupted views of the city.
 
RyanR. said:
seems nice, kinda cold but it looks like they could have easily had two floors in that thing.... I've only been to 1 Apple store and it was kinda hard to get my hands on a iMac.
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They could have had about 4 floors. That's not the point.

After seeing the store in person it's going to be a very memorable retail experience, especially in New York.

In New York everyone tries to pack in as much retail space as possible, which leads to small, crampt spaces. Apple has done the opposite. Create a huge, open space in the middle of New York. It's amazing. And people are fooled by the pictures. Its actually twice as big as what you are seeing, being that service it located downstairs They have the most demo products on display than any store ever. Yes, in New York it will still be hard to get on a computer, but its easier than any other store.
 
That glass stairway looks too creepy. I hope it doesn't break with everyone on it via Final Destination style.

With the cold new look, I think I'll shop online instead.
 
I think is a very smart strategy to create these breathtaking stores.

These stores will bring attributes that Apple wants people to perceive them as a brand like:

Sophistication
modern
quality
ground-breaking
cutting edge
success

These are not bad things to be associate with. Apple has the money on the bank and they are capitalizing using it on their favor. Good job! :apple:
 
If you've actually been the to 5th Ave store you can understand why Apple is doing this. It's nice to see commercial buildings with some actual design though put in to them, in the days of pre-fab everything.
 
seashellz said:
not a good idea the cost for this must be staggering-all that empty space not producing one extra cent of income-yet it has to be heated, cleaned, decorated lit and the added construction costs'
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Many Macy's stores have marble floors and wood paneling. Many bars have these big areas of floor where people just dance around and don't drink at all for hours at a time. Shopping malls have lounge areas and grand entrances and extra wide corridors.

I think there is more to retail than just maximizing dollars per square foot. Otherwise all stores would just be windowless little gray rooms with little black & white paper signs on the outside that say "stuff sold here."

(Come to think of it, that pretty much is what stores were a couple hundred years ago. I guess the study of psychology has changed things.)
 
More photos here.


I rarely get to the Upper West Side, so I'll stick to the 14th Street store or J&R.

But this was interesting to me:

This is the last store in Manhattan for a while, and when asked about a Brooklyn shop, they said: "Stay tuned..."
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Toe said:
Many Macy's stores have marble floors and wood paneling. Many bars have these big areas of floor where people just dance around and don't drink at all for hours at a time. Shopping malls have lounge areas and grand entrances and extra wide corridors.

I think there is more to retail than just maximizing dollars per square foot. Otherwise all stores would just be windowless little gray rooms with little black & white paper signs on the outside that say "stuff sold here."

(Come to think of it, that pretty much is what stores were a couple hundred years ago. I guess the study of psychology has changed things.)
Click to expand...

Actually, there should be no stores. Everyone should just buy everything on the web. Then we would never have to leave the house, and super-efficient trucks can deliver everything. Very green :)
 
Macminiintel said:
If you read the post you'd know that the store hasn't opened yet, it opens on Saturday, so the employees are there checking it out for the first time I assume.
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It looks like a media event. The few non-employees seem to be reporters.

I just wanted to point out that the store won't ever really look like that. Imagine the same photo with a few hundred gaudily-clad shoppers and lookieloos in it, and you'll have a more realistic view of it's actual day-to-day appearance.
 
Although the walls are blank right now, I'm sure they will get filled with banners for whatever upcoming or new releases come out.

I would have loved to see a glass-floored catwalk ringing the outer walls. They could put software and lighter peripherals up there. Then you could head up there to get a copy of Snow Leopard or to just watch the masses jockeying for the computers below. There would still be plenty of open wall space above that, but it wouldn't look so barren. It would suck being the employee who has to keep the displays stocked up there, though.
 
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