Apple Watch Pop Up Shop at Galeries Lafayette in Paris Shuts Down

[MacRumors]

Following the closure of the Apple Watch pop up shop at Selfridges department store in London earlier this month, the shop at Galeries Lafayette in Paris has apparently also shut down, as Apple has removed its entry from the company's list of retail stores.

The closure of the Galeries Lafayette shop this month was rumored back in October, and it leaves the Isetan Shinjuku location in Tokyo as the only remaining Apple Watch pop up shop.

Apple opened the trio of Apple Watch pop up shops in April 2015 at the luxury retailers as part of the company's initial efforts to position the watch as a fashion item, with gold Apple Watch Edition models selling for as much as $17,000.

Apple has since toned down the luxury aspects of Apple Watch marketing, focusing more on health, fitness, and convenience features for the average user. With the launch of Apple Watch Series 2 last September, Apple did away with the luxury gold Edition line, replacing it with new ceramic Edition models topping out at $1,300.

Article Link: Apple Watch Pop Up Shop at Galeries Lafayette in Paris Shuts Down

 

[chinesedemo]

You mean they weren't the big money makers Timmy expected? Maybe Angela chose the wrong displays, they didn't quite pop. I guess we'll be seeing more Apple watches at closeout prices on eBay and Amazon again...

 

[macs4nw]

An item ahead of its time. Still believe in its future, however not as a luxury fashion statement.

 

[Madmic23]

I bought an Apple Watch Series 1 at Target before Christmas for $199. It's a great device, but I wouldn't want to pay more than that for it.

I think they're doing the right thing by trying to market it more as a fitness device now, like a high end FitBit.

If they wanted luxury models, they should have partnered with luxury watch makers to make luxury cases (think Apple Watch by Rolex). But we all know that's just not going to happen.

 

[dannyyankou]

You mean they weren't the big money makers Timmy expected? Maybe Angela chose the wrong displays, they didn't quite pop. I guess we'll be seeing more Apple watches at closeout prices on eBay and Amazon again...

Maybe looking up the definition of a pop-up store will answer your question.

 

[adamneer]

I know this article will undoubtedly be taken the wrong way, but it bears noting that pop up shops are not meant to be permanent fixtures. Hence "pop up".

 

[Kaibelf]

You mean they weren't the big money makers Timmy expected? Maybe Angela chose the wrong displays, they didn't quite pop. I guess we'll be seeing more Apple watches at closeout prices on eBay and Amazon again...

Certainly you know that pop up shops aren't permanent, right? Or does that basic fact get in the way of your bizarre implications that somehow you could do anything at apple better?

 

[chinesedemo]

Certainly you know that pop up shops aren't permanent, right? Or does that basic fact get in the way of your bizarre implications that somehow you could do anything at apple better?

These were meant to be as permanent as the money they were expected to make was.

 

[MICHAELSD]

You mean they weren't the big money makers Timmy expected? Maybe Angela chose the wrong displays, they didn't quite pop. I guess we'll be seeing more Apple watches at closeout prices on eBay and Amazon again...

I think the rationale behind it was more so based in marketing. If you see the Apple Watch featured in a luxury shop full of high-end items then you'll see the Apple Watch as a high-end luxury item. Better yet, it's a high-end luxury item that's affordable for what it is.

 

[verpeiler]

I guess they already made enough money off 2$ bands sold for 500$.. and people were stupid enough to buy them.
Apple always had great marketing.

 

[chr1s60]

Apple watch doesn't work as a luxury watch. People shopping in the true luxury market tend to purchase things like jewelry and watches that will retain their value. Just because they may have a lot of money doesn't mean they will waste it. The Apple watch doesn't fit that category and no smart watch ever will.

 

[elvislives]

Why is this news macrumors? It's a "pop up store" never ment to be a store forever ...

 

[firewire9000]

Can we change the name of this website to MacHaters.com? Thank you.

 

[dannyyankou]

These were meant to be as permanent as the money they were expected to make was.

Just because they didn't make money on it from you doesn't mean they aren't making money on it.

They're selling plenty of units, I see people wearing them all the time.

 

[haydn!]

Irrespective of whether these were temporary or not, Apple did get the pricing and positioning strategy wrong for Apple Watch. Hence the shift in focus and rather substantial average price drop for Apple Watch 2.

 

[Col4bin]

Just because they didn't make money on it from you doesn't mean they aren't making money on it.

They're selling plenty of units, I see people wearing them all the time.

Agreed. But still, a $17k Apple Watch... Just plain silly but who am I to judge?

 

[NachoGrande]

I think my Apple Watch is dumb and I got it for free. If I would have paid 17k for it I'd be really disappointed.

 

[Veinticinco]

It's clear the AW, and in particular the launch series and ridiculous "edition" complete with the nauseating fashion PR puff, "luxury" tag and GL/Selfridges pop-up nonsense, bears all the stiletto marks of a certain ex-Burberry executive in charge of retail.

An embarrassing and strategic fail on so many levels, and I'm not in the least surprised at the recent fitness/value repositioning that's taken place.

Finally, the emperor's lack of attire has been acknowledged. I only wish that extended into other areas at Apple.

 

[44267547]

An item ahead of its time. Still believe in its future, however not as a luxury fashion statement.

I would agree with this. I feel the Apple Watch is capable of having a long future ahead of it with health related advancements. But I certainly don't agree it's a luxury item or should be marketed as one. Even though that's what they attempted to do at first, I think Apple figured out very quickly that wouldn't work.

But the whole idea of the Apple Watch, is it just works. It does it well.

 

[stephannikolic]

It's clear the AW, and in particular the launch series and ridiculous "edition" complete with the nauseating fashion PR puff, "luxury" tag and GL/Selfridges pop-up nonsense, bears all the stiletto marks of a certain ex-Burberry executive in charge of retail.

An embarrassing and strategic fail on so many levels, and I'm not in the least surprised at the recent fitness/value repositioning that's taken place.

Finally, the emperor's lack of attire has been acknowledged. I only wish that extended into other areas at Apple.

Wooow the hate towards Angela is real. Lol (Personally i think she is doing an amazing job with the stores)

Just remember she is not the only fashion executive that moved to Apple (can't remember his name but among others there was a high profile one from Yves Saint Laurent) ...

 

[Adam Warlock]

Just remember she is not the only fashion executive that moved to Apple (can't remember his name but among others there was a high profile one from Yves Saint Laurent) ...

Paul Deneve, but his profile was removed from the leadership page last month and like the Apple Watch he seems to have been demoted: he's apparently now reporting to Jeff Williams instead of Tim Cook directly.

 

[Veinticinco]

Wooow the hate towards Angela is real. Lol (Personally i think she is doing an amazing job with the stores)

Just remember she is not the only fashion executive that moved to Apple (can't remember his name but among others there was a high profile one from Yves Saint Laurent) ...

No hatred, I'm as indifferent to her personally as any of the execs. Agree the stores look much nicer, kudos to the design consultancy she hired.

No, what grates is when people overstep their mark and provide misjudged "expertise" from previous roles that bears absolutely no relevance to the brief. A glaring example would be her shockingly unsuitable predecessor.

As head of retail in charge of selling product, it wouldn't be within her remit to actually decide how a product was developed or strategically positioned, and yet you can almost hear her pitching to Tim...

"Fashionistas...editorials....conversation pieces....social media....PR....gold edition...Hermès...".

Not her fault however that they actually listened. I mean that's what they hired her for, rightly or wrongly, just as they fawned over a 63 year old Jimmy Iovine to lend them some "cool" and be "down with the kids"

 

[tippytap90]

Apple watch doesn't work as a luxury watch. People shopping in the true luxury market tend to purchase things like jewelry and watches that will retain their value. Just because they may have a lot of money doesn't mean they will waste it. The Apple watch doesn't fit that category and no smart watch ever will.

Exactly, it would take a real shift in mindset for the average luxury watch consumer to spend $10k on a smartwatch.

 

[chr1s60]

I think my Apple Watch is dumb and I got it for free. If I would have paid 17k for it I'd be really disappointed.

Anyone who paid more than $400 or whatever the entry model cost at the time should be disappointed. They continue to be overpriced. The ridiculously priced gold models were nothing more than a ploy to generate publicity and possibly grab the attention of people in the very high end market from famous people who would wear it and gain free advertising for Apple. They failed to realize that those people aren't going to ditch their quality made luxury watches for an overpriced gold covered toy. I have no clue how many of those they sold, but even if they only sold a hundred or so, they made a killing on profit from them.

 

[Stella]

Why is this news macrumors? It's a "pop up store" never ment to be a store forever ...

While true, If the store made lots of money it would stick around