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Apple Opens First 'Next Generation' Retail Store (usatoday.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Apple has opened its new flagship store on Thursday in San Fransisco, throwing the curtain back on a design that puts a premium on hanging out over shopping. About 20 percent of the new store's space features an open Forum area where visitors can learn about Apple's various products. The new design is rolling out to stores in Brussels, Memphis and Guilderland, N.Y. "This is the next generation of Apple retail," Angela Ahrendts, Apple's senior vice president of retail and online operations, told media. "Fifteen years ago today Apple opened its first two stores and we're thrilled to mark the occasion with the opening of Apple Union Square in San Francisco," she said. "We are not just evolving our store design, but its purpose and greater role in the community as we educate and entertain visitors and serve our network of local entrepreneurs." The new stores were designed by Ahrendts and Apple's design chief, Jony Ive. "Among the other big changes in evidence is morphing Apple's Genius Bar to Genius Grove; the addition of a new Boardroom area dedicated to small business customers; and the advent of a new staff position, Apple Creative Pro, tasked with helping consumers with specific questions on music, photography, videos and the like," writes USA Today. "In addition, some of Apple's most significant store locations, include the [Apple Union Square in San Fransisco], will feature a public Plaza that will be open 24/7 and feature free Wi-Fi as well as occasional concerts and other performances." Oh, and you can't forget about the new 6K video wall, which display broadcasts various Apple products.
I hope this is a /vertisement because it'd somehow be worse if the editors greenlit this honestly. Also at the risk of being modded troll: no multi-national, maybe least of all Apple, should be touting the be touting their commitment to community given what they do to their workers overseas.
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The one in Memphis has an enormous screen on one wall.
http://appleinsider.com/articl...
They say it's designed to give you the laid-back feeling of shopping in a small town.
Not all of you. Not yet.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Originally, when Apple planned to renovate the Union Square retail location, they intended to remove the fountain that was on the property. Regardless of the aesthetic/cultural value of that fountain (personally, I think it's kind of an eyesore but I absolutely respect that others might not feel the same way), the public protested, and as a result, Apple changed their plan, and the fountain remains.
I think that says something about a corporation--even one as large and influential as Apple is--that they are willing to listen to the community. That they designed the store with the intent--whether or not it is realized--to integrate with the community, is something that I doubt many other major tech companies really care about. But in typical pessimist Slashdot "nothing is ever good enough and every action has some sinister and ulterior motive" fashion, people seem to always find some reason to complain.
Yes, it's a retail store. Yes, it's for Apple to make money. Yes, there was an environmental impact. No, Apple doesn't sell your beloved Android system. No, Apple isn't God, and they don't let their iPhones run anything you want. No, Apple doesn't do everything you want them to do exactly how you want them to do it and for free. No, the building is not some miracle of architecture designed to be perfect in every way, even if Apple hopes you might think so. Yes, Apple has their cult following.
Given all that, just take a deep breath, relax, and admit that it's a decent renovation, that there will be people who will enjoy the new store, and that Apple, unlike a lot of other companies and for whatever reason, at least tries to care about doing the right thing in this case. That is neither a case for sainthood nor demonization.
You mean being the best employer in China to work for, by a large margin, because workers are treated better and get bonuses?
It should be said, that is entirely unlike the sweatshop box YOU are typing on, Apple Hater.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I'm not sure what the point is, staying open 24/7 near Union Square. It's very busy during the day, but most of the late-night activity takes place in other parts of town. Is the market so saturated that their next target demographic is homeless people?
Changing the clothes doesn't change the person wearing the clothes. The products sold in the stores are the same now as they were before the stores were remade or available on the web.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell
Changing the genius bar to a genius grove, opening a plaza - it sounds like Apple is trying to make enough room in their retail stores. That's good. But here's another idea for making room in Apple stores:
I wish Apple would open Customer Service Centers (CSC). A CSC would take care of non-sales jobs, like genius bars, repairs, and workshops. Apple stores still would do these functions, but customers would have the added option of going to a CSC instead of to a store.
Because a CSC would not do any sales, it should not be in a mall. The CSC should be in an area that's easy to drive to, with plenty of empty parking stalls near the CSC. (The Apple retail stores that I go to are in malls, and the parking spots near the stores are usually taken. If I have to take my iMac to an Apple store for repair, and if I have to park far away from the mall entrance, then it's hard to carry the iMac to the store.) Also the CSC should be large enough to have plenty of room in it for its customers.
If most Apple customers went to CSCs for repairs and genius bars, instead of going to retail stores, then that would help in several ways:
* Apple retail stores would be less crowded, and the sales staff would have more time to attend to the customers. (In the Apple stores that I go to, there are lots of employees and customers, and the people are crammed like sardines. Most store owners would love to have the problem of their stores being crowded with "too many customers", but the crowding makes it hard for me to ask questions and try out their computers.)
* It would be less crowded and stressful for the Apple employees and customers in a CSC. Customers in the CSC would be able to walk into the CSC, talk with a genius, pick up a repaired computer or whatever, and walk out.
* Since CSCs would not be in shopping malls, Apple could choose from plenty of options on where to put them. So Apple would be able to open CSCs in areas with empty parking stalls nearby.
* If Apple opened lots of CSCs, then customers who lived near a CSC but not near an Apple retail store would have a nearby place to go, for genius bars and repairs. (The nearest Apple store is 30 miles away? That's ok - a CSC is just 5 miles away.)
Does it come with Safe Spaces? And I sure hope the special snowflakes do not have to walk across the whole building with all those horrible people in there to get there.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Hey, at least you get to look forward to the fact that when you leave the Apple Store, with a closet full of khakis and blue shirts, you'll already have the wardrobe needed to work at Best Buy!
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!