Ron Johnson Launching Gadget Delivery Service, Poaching Apple Employees

[JeffDM]

I guess they need to explain how they're different from what's already here or coming.

If it's partly about quick delivery of goods, Amazon is working on a few different ways to do same day delivery, once that's up, what will be special about Ron's offering?

The Genius Bar angle implies a repair service. OK. Is Geek Squad that lucrative that it's worth chasing with private equity funds? I guess he'll find some suckers.

"Geek Squad meets Genius Bar" seems redundant. Genius Bar fixes stuff in store. Geek Squad does similar with house calls. Neither is about directly selling products.

 

[nutmac]

I'm confused...

This makes me think that it's some kind of delivery company, like Dominos or UPS or something. Order a device and have someone drive up to your house in a limo with it am hour later?.

The details are sketchy at best and I can only take a guess. But I think it might be an alternate take on Google Shopping Express, but with higher quality shopping experience and post sale service.

 

[inscrewtable]

Wonder why he left.

He had a dream. I'm not sure though if that dream included a gadget delivery service.

 

[John.B]

You want a gadget, you open up your Uber like app(Uber is currently testing doing this anyways so good luck) and you will get your device most likely within the hour.

If only there were buildings stocked with products where you could just go to buy stuff whenever you wanted...

 

[filmantopia]

Perhaps he's trying to innovate on the way we purchase/receive products like the iPhone in an attempt to get bought out by a larger company... perhaps Apple... to streamline the way sales are made and products are delivered to consumers.

I worked at an Apple Store for four years, and when we had our big store meetings he would deliver these video speeches about how the retail sector is progressing, and the staff would crack up at his odd gestures and awkward speaking style.

That said, he did a lot for the company and it was obviously a big mistake for him to jump off for JCP. The staff clearly respected him despite his strange demeanor.

 

[rmatthewware]

Geek Squad meets Genius Bar? Blech...

 

[12vElectronics]

I completely do not understand what the purpose of his company is?

 

[SusanK]

Good thing he didn't try to do this while Steve was still around. He would have gotten a visit ...

If Steve was still around Johnson probably would have stayed at Apple.

 

[aaronvan]

Is it just me or does his face look really unnatural

He looks like some mega-church pastor selling gold to the rubes.

 

[proline]

I wish Ron was still at Apple....

It's pretty clear at this point that Ron needed Apple a lot more than Apple needed Ron. While I'm sure Ron made great contributions, it is clear that he is nothing without Apple.

 

[japanime]

"Poaching" is such a loaded word.

 

[SusanK]

It's pretty clear at this point that Ron needed Apple a lot more than Apple needed Ron. While I'm sure Ron made great contributions, it is clear that he is nothing without Apple.

Steve recruited Johnson from Target. He did well there.

 

[WoodNUFC]

well considering his last venture in retail was a disaster (JC Penney). He almost put a 100+ year old retail company out of business by being completely out of touch.

I don't see this going past idea stage.

JC Penney was also a lot more pleasant to shop in during his tenure. His pricing policy was fair, and far and a way cheaper than the false "sale" notion that the store's dying clientele prefer. But hey people would rather have the illusion of saving money than actually save money.

 

[Mtmspa]

"Poaching" is such a loaded word.

I prefer scrambled.

 

[classicturd]

This gentleman fell flat on his face in the retail business when he was handed the keys to a large business with stores across the country. My gut is that much of the concept work for the apple retail experience was conceptualized by someone else and executed in development by this man much the pay that a project manner oversees the development of the plans of an architect. It took an incredibly obtuse and arrogant person to fiddle with J.C. Penny and make an enemy of everyone from bottom tier retail worker to top board member. He was run out on a rail. It is ironic that he did not want to stay at apple, but he still wants to make a living off apple. It is somewhat vampirish.

What pally said. He's easily one of the worse if not the worse CEO in recent history. Hard to fathom why anyone would give him money for such an ill conceived concept and given his history at JC Penney. He must be one charming fellow.

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

My gut is that much of the concept work for the apple retail experience was conceptualized by someone else and executed in development by this man...

I think your gut is wrong. Ron Johnson, with some input from Steve, conceptualized the Apple Store as we know it today. You can read about it in Steve's biography.

What probably happened at Target is he ended up having people working for him who weren't willing to Think Different.

 

[a.coward]

It's pretty clear at this point that Ron needed Apple a lot more than Apple needed Ron. While I'm sure Ron made great contributions, it is clear that he is nothing without Apple.

Either that or Ron was nothing without Steve Jobs. But, I kind of
viewed him as a bit of a dinosaur near the end of his tenure at Apple.
As an Apple stockholder, I'm actually pretty excited to see what Angela
Ahrendts can do with Apple, especially with her background in fashion
and the upcoming Apple Watch being aimed as an accessory.

 

[ouimetnick]

Seems to me like this is a service for the virgin-nerds that work in high-tech that absolutely needs things right ****ing now...

Like all the people who waited for hours just to buy the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+?

 

[a.coward]

I think your gut is wrong. Ron Johnson, with some input from Steve, conceptualized the Apple Store as we know it today. You can read about it in Steve's biography.

What probably happened at Target is he ended up having people working for him who weren't willing to Think Different.

Do you mean J.C. Penney, not Target? He actually did quite
a good job in increasing the image at Target beyond that of a
discount retailer. He failed miserably at J.C. Penney, though.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

well considering his last venture in retail was a disaster (JC Penney). He almost put a 100+ year old retail company out of business by being completely out of touch.

I don't see this going past idea stage.

That's more like it, M.R. Some positivity for a change.

 

[anubis72]

Every time I see this guy...

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Do you mean J.C. Penney, not Target? He actually did quite
a good job in increasing the image at Target beyond that of a
discount retailer. He failed miserably at J.C. Penney, though.

Doh! You are correct, I meant J.C. Penny.

 

[iJandro]

Ron Johnson can go to hell. Seriously, when I was working at the Apple Store, his reward for everyone's hard work and record-sales at retail were two tacos for christmas! DOUCHE!

 

[Bubba Satori]

Looks like Beaver's brother.

 

[KPOM]

well considering his last venture in retail was a disaster (JC Penney). He almost put a 100+ year old retail company out of business by being completely out of touch.

I don't see this going past idea stage.

I don't understand all the Ron Johnson hate here. He was successful at Target, and is a big reason for the success of the Apple Stores. He may not be as good as Angela Ahrendts in selling a $5,000 Apple Watch Edition, but should be recognized for what he did accomplish. As for JC Penney they were a dying company. The status quo wasn't working. He made a risky move that didn't pan out. That's why it was called a risky move. Heck, Steve Jobs took some risks that didn't pan out. Sometimes the biggest successes in business are also the biggest failures. If you don't try you won't adapt, either.