Selfridges Apple Watch Pop Up Shop Shuts Down

[orbital~debris]

Or perhaps Apple thinks there is a big market for form over function with the same people that apparently spend tons of money propping up the whole fashion industry, apparently buying stuff like this...

and

...and similar. I tend to get around myself but just about never see almost any of that kind of thing "in the wild" (including the relatively, "well-to-do" wilds). And yet year after year, it keeps parading down runways and apparently somebody's- lots of somebodies- buy enough of it to keep the whole cycle going.

I'm not confident you're aware of how the fashion industry works…

 

[tentales]

....
When I first heard those prices, I was sure Apple would offer internal upgrades. I really thought that they would make the bottom able to be swapped out for additional censors in the future too. Thus, it would make people more willing to shell out 1000 for a premium item and high end watch bands as you know you will be able to use them in the future.

Heck, even gold watches might make sense in that case. Anyways, we know how Tim proceeded, and where we are with the wearable market.

Apple has been locking down Macs for eons but in recent years made even what little upgradability they had impossible. How could you possibly believe that they would make an upgradeable fashion accessory ? Apart from watch bands that is.

 

[Bacillus]

Doubtful it's poor sales. More likely it's due to Apple now focusing the Watch as a "Fitness" gadget as opposed to a "Fashion" gadget which is something they should have done in the first place

Health was an euphemism for poor sales.
Fitness is an euphemism for poor sales.
Hiding sales from the financial statement is an indication of poor sales. Very few outlets get killed silently when sales are good.
Now the question is: how did sales go...?

 

[gugy]

The biggest problem with Apple today is that they have a fundamental misunderstanding of their customers.

Especially the pro crowd. What Apple is doing to the Mac and the professionals that depend on it is criminal. Lack of updates to the desktop line, weak MBP update and moving away from Airport/displays are really bad moves.

 

[Naraxus]

Health was an euphemism for poor sales.
Fitness is an euphemism for poor sales.
Hiding sales from the financial statement is an indication of poor sales.
Now guess: how will sales go...?

Don't get me wrong, I've been a massive critic of the Watch since its unveiling but I think Apple's on the right track positioning it as a fitness device. That 17k Gold Edition was nothing more than hubris and marketing the Watch as a fashion device was a blunder of amusing proportions.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Apple gave a shot selling the V1 to the high end market and it failed hard. I have the AW V2 Nike +. The cheapest model. Honestly I don't see the point of spending too much on a tech that in couple years will be obsolete. I don't mind paying thousands on a timepiece like Rolex, Omega, Piaget, etc. that can last a lifetime. Apple tried to lure that crowd and failed.
As sport device, I love it. My Nike + is really helping me push harder on running/swimming. Still, I use my Omega on social occasions.

I only wear my Sea Master when I forget to charge my AW.
[doublepost=1483490281][/doublepost]

Don't get me wrong, I've been a massive critic of the Watch since its unveiling but I think Apple's on the right track positioning it as a fitness device. That 17k Gold Edition was nothing more than hubris and marketing the Watch as a fashion device was a blunder of amusing proportions.

The gold Watch was a marketing exercise to generate buzz and to break down notions of tech not being fashion.

It was less about convincing the wealthy and more about convincing the Everyman that the entry level Watch was, except for the case material and band, the same as the sport Watch.

I'm surprised how many folks didn't understand this.

 

[gugy]

I only wear my Sea Master when I forget to charge my AW.
[doublepost=1483490281][/doublepost]
.

Love my Seamaster. I would love Apple to have a band so I could wear my Semaster at all times like I did before the AW.
Well, I love the AW for workout and at other times, I just go back to my Omega.

 

[Floatingworks]

Doubtful it's poor sales. More likely it's due to Apple now focusing the Watch as a "Fitness" gadget as opposed to a "Fashion" gadget which is something they should have done in the first place

In business school we played a business simulation game. We were divided into three companies, which manufactured and sold mass market shoes. The object of the game was to make the most money. Because I played this game awhile ago, the following is what sticks in my memory the most: One company made cheap, poorly manufactured shoes. They did little advertising. The second company had medium priced shoes, with OK quality and B celebrity advertising. The third company had expensive shoes, with OK quality and A celebrity advertising (VERY expensive advertising). There was more involved in the game, but this was the basic setup.

Logic would dictate that the company with OK quality at a medium price would win, but this was absolutely not the case. The company with A celebrity advertising always won.

It appears Apple might have taken a similar approach with the Apple Watch. They first branded it as a high fashion item, and then they had A celebrities endorse the product. This year they have increased the emphasis on the fitness aspects of the device. Maybe the next iteration will have more sensors and they will emphasize the health reporting/warning features.

Today, Apple Watch remains the best selling smart watch by a wide margin.

 

[Shookster]

If you have $17k to spend on a watch, is the Apple Watch even the best watch you could buy for the money? The technology is already out of date and Apple won't replace parts forever. A Rolex will last your entire life and retain its value.

 

[mi7chy]

No surprise. If it doesn't say Swiss made then it doesn't belong in high end department store jewelry destined as a lifetime gift and no amount of rebrainwashing will change that.

 

[medazinol]

Those gold watches were doomed from the beginning. What were thy thinking??

 

[Floatingworks]

If you have $17k to spend on a watch, is the Apple Watch even the best watch you could buy for the money? The technology is already out of date and Apple won't replace parts forever. A Rolex will last your entire life and retain its value.

I'm not a watch aficionado, but here are a few more observations about the watch/Apple Watch business:

1. The more expensive version 0 Edition Apple Watch (the gold watch) created a buzz and might of let Apple into the fashion door.

2. I don't know the investment prospects for high-end watches like a Rolex branded watch, but the first Apple Watch Edition model might be appreciating at around 40% a year. This means it has been an excellent investment, and has value.

3. In its first year of sales the Apple Watch beat all other watch makers in sales except for Rolex. This means the Apple Watch has been a very successful watch product. If the Apple Watch didn't have good quality then word-of-mouth would of stunted its growth.

 

[Asarien]

I don't hate on Apple for trying with their Edition line. Gotta test the waters and see what sails.

Overall, Apple Watch has a critical, inherent flaw that other premium watches don't have; they depreciate over time. In another generation or two, the original Apple Watch may not do much other than literally tell time.

 

[Soccertess]

Apple has been locking down Macs for eons but in recent years made even what little upgradability they had impossible. How could you possibly believe that they would make an upgradeable fashion accessory ? Apart from watch bands that is.

Yes, it was a stupid thought. Maybe more hope than anything else. If you are dropping 1g on a watch that does basically the same thing as your phone not including accessories, it would be nice it lasts more than 1 year. Funny how the first generation Apple didn't even last 1 year before Apple replaced it with the S1 (that had a faster processor).

But yes, you are right. Upgradability is out, Dongles are the new thing

 

[Moonlight]

Goes to show it takes more than dimples and a strong jawline to be successful at Apple... Another Angela failure.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Mechanical watched made with old world quality standards last a lifetime.

 

[JPSaltzman]

Goes to show it takes more than dimples and a strong jawline to be successful at Apple... Another Angela failure.

I'm really trying to think of just ONE successful event/thing/product/store that has benefited Apple by hiring Angela. What comes to my mind are the dull, monotone, cheap-looking, mundane T-shirts the employees must wear at the Apple Stores that makes them all look like slackers. Oh, and the all-important money-making interchangeable watchbands. None of which are exactly up to Burberry snuff.... well, except for the prices.

 

[nawoo]

Apple watch sucks. End of story.

 

[Earthful]

Pimps do not go to those stores.

I regrettably went, just once, very basic experience.

 

[RogerWilco]

I'm really trying to think of just ONE successful event/thing/product/store that has benefited Apple by hiring Angela. What comes to my mind are the dull, monotone, cheap-looking, mundane T-shirts the employees must wear at the Apple Stores that makes them all look like slackers. Oh, and the all-important money-making interchangeable watchbands. None of which are exactly up to Burberry snuff.... well, except for the prices.

She was hired on with an up-front bonus of more than $70MM. No other Apple executive received that kind of treatment, so why did Cook agree to it in her case?

 

[AppleScruff1]

Or perhaps Apple thinks there is a big market for form over function with the same people that apparently spend tons of money propping up the whole fashion industry, apparently buying stuff like this...

and

...and similar. I tend to get around myself but just about never see almost any of that kind of thing "in the wild" (including the relatively, "well-to-do" wilds). And yet year after year, it keeps parading down runways and apparently somebody's- lots of somebodies- buy enough of it to keep the whole cycle going.

In fact, presumably there's so much money in that maybe Apple thought it could take a bite out of those same wallets with a piece of technology for the wrist... by executing a variety of atypical Apple marketing campaigns & strategic placements that seem to be more in line with that kind of prospective buyer.

Did it work? Hard to say. Apparently Apple did sell a lot of watches, including some priced at the highest price points (in spite of having the exact same functionality as those at the lowest price points). Go figure.

I have the leopard print underwear.

 

[AFDoc]

The biggest problem with Apple today is that they have a fundamental misunderstanding of their customers.

LoL yeah ok..... the billions in the bank say they are doing just fine. You people crack me up.

 

[IbisDoc]

I'm actually embarrassed for Tim and Angela.

 

[forcenine]

It was really hard to even find this pop up store when I visited last year...

 

[dan110]

Or perhaps Apple thinks there is a big market for form over function with the same people that apparently spend tons of money propping up the whole fashion industry, apparently buying stuff like this...

and

...and similar. I tend to get around myself but just about never see almost any of that kind of thing "in the wild" (including the relatively, "well-to-do" wilds). And yet year after year, it keeps parading down runways and apparently somebody's- lots of somebodies- buy enough of it to keep the whole cycle going.

In fact, presumably there's so much money in that maybe Apple thought it could take a bite out of those same wallets with a piece of technology for the wrist... by executing a variety of atypical Apple marketing campaigns & strategic placements that seem to be more in line with that kind of prospective buyer.

Did it work? Hard to say. Apparently Apple did sell a lot of watches, including some priced at the highest price points (in spite of having the exact same functionality as those at the lowest price points). Go figure.

Probably the best "iWatch" post I've ever seen on this website. LOL