“Sorry Steve, Here’s Why Apple Stores Won’t Work,” BusinessWeek wrote with great certainty in 2001. “It’s desperation time in Cupertino, Calif.,” opined TheStreet.com. “I give [Apple] two years before they’re turning out the lights on a very painful and expensive mistake,” predicted retail consultant David Goldstein.
Fascinating story about the Apple retail stores, from the ‘Apple is doomed!’ (the way it always starts), through the development cycle of designing the stores, through to how the Apple stores are now America’s best retailer. (via)
“Our stores were conceived and built for this moment in time – to roll out iPhone,” says Jobs, summoning one to the table with a tantalizing I’ve-got-the-future-in-my-pocket twinkle.
I’ve only been to a small store in Santa Monica, and it was quite pleasant. Good thing we don’t have any around Copenhagen, or I’d probably go broke…
yeah. i remember all of that going down. i wonder how good that crow tastes?
Good story. I don’t think I ever seen an Apple Store empty. I even showed up before one opened (for a Genius Bar appointment) and there was already 15 – 20 people waiting outside.
Assuming the iPhone is a success and the iPod keeps it up, Apple Stores will continue to rock. Of course, that means a ton of Mac sales too.
I’m on to you.
You’re a collector. Like I collect comic books, you collect Mac stuff.
Am I right? Am I right?!?
Somehow, Apple has almost perfected the art. I find myself compelled to buy something whenever I go inside their stores. Strangely enough, I have never left an Apple store without buying anything. Or, maybe, it’s just my addiction to shopping. :D
[quote comment=“103276”]I’m on to you.
You’re a collector. Like I collect comic books, you collect Mac stuff.
Am I right? Am I right?!?[/quote]
Nah. There’s lots of Apple stuff I don’t buy, and I can easily leave an Apple store (our local Humac stores in most cases) without buying anything.
But I enjoy it a lot. I love it when someone has spent a lot of time on detail, because they care.
[quote comment=“103288”]Nah. There’s lots of Apple stuff I don’t buy, and I can easily leave an Apple store (our local Humac stores in most cases) without buying anything.
But I enjoy it a lot. I love it when someone has spent a lot of time on detail, because they care.[/quote]
Yeah, but that doesn’t make you not a collector.
You still prefer an APPLE display for your mac, don’t you? And an Apple mouse / keyboard, if possible? Meaning, the home system becomes a collection.
Sure you’re not a hardcore collector. The comicbook comparison would be someone who had first second and third editions of any given comicbook. On my part, I just want the “latest and greatest” version, meaning, I’d rather have a comicbook in 5th edition, but good paper / coloring.
the apple stores are awesome.. been to all the stores in the LA area, and recently to the london store, which is great as well.. there is a certain buzz inside these stores that you don’t get at all in the copenhagen stores..
I went there for the free wifi.. and of course I left with 20 quid less in my pocket and an iKlear screen cleaning kit in an apple bag..
David Goldstein’s quote made me laugh. You know as soon as you step into one of those stores that they’ll be successful. You just want to be in them, and you want to buy every last little thing, it’s incredible.
It’s an instant recognition of quality, in brand, customer service, product, the feel of the store. Whatever you think of Apple, you have to admit it’s some quality stuff and that’s only part of their marketing genius.
And of course we’re to believe Steve Jobs had it all planned out, which could be true. I’m guessing we’ll see ten-foot-high iPhone-on-black posters in all the stores come June. I’ll buy an iPhone based solely on the size of the poster you know, so maybe if they make it twelve feet…
We have two apple stores.
And two premium resellers (basically apple stores – same layout, same products, same service).
No wonder I’m living from paycheque to paycheque at the moment…