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Angela Ahrendts has plans to initiate a major restructuring of Apple's Retail stores to promote better customer service and to streamline operations, reports 9to5Mac. At the current point in time, stores are organized into geographical regions, but Ahrendts wants to restructure, instead grouping stores based on sales volume and customer demographics.
This means that stores will now be grouped by how much of certain products they sell. This will heighten customer satisfaction and streamline Apple retail operations as now similar stores will have similar leadership and similar promotions. This move is not designed to institute John Browett-likely sales targets, but it is planned to create even more tailored experiences to individual stores.
In a letter sent to retail employees earlier this month, Ahrendts said she plans to "focus on and evolve the customer journey online and in our stores." She wants customers to "feel surprised and delighted" by a personalized Apple experience.
Ahrendts has already restructured some of the retail executives working under her to streamline her department, and along with expressing interest in a redesign of the "end-to-end Apple Store sales experience," she may also have plans to focus on an in-store mobile payments solution and furthering Apple's business in China.
Ahrendts is expected to oversee the opening of 20 new Apple Stores in China through 2016, along with a new high-profile store in Italy and new locations across the United States.
Top Rated Comments
NOT. GOOD.
I've been through this in Michigan, with Macys. Live in a predominantly wealthy area? You get presented with one kind of Macys. Live in an area with a range of incomes? You get presented with an entirely different kind of Macys, unkempt and not stocking the products one would expect out of "Macys".
The overall effect is to greatly dilute the value of the brand, since the company presents a different level of customer experience depending on location, all under that same brand name. And as a customer, it REALLY grates you to be presented a shabbier store in your locale, all by intent.
Like I said: NOT. GOOD.
Hey Ahrendts - You want to create a different customer experience? Simple - start up "sidecar" brand names.... Want to target fashionistas? Call the brand "Candy Apple", and put THOSE stores where they make sense. A store that handles high-end AppleTV gear? "Golden Apple".
There - I'll give you that one, and if you implement it, just send me a fully loaded Mac Pro...
The best way to maximize profit is to make things better for your customers.
-Crowded - almost impossible to move at peak times.
-Confusing - not clear who to talk to or where to go to get help or check out. You often get passed off two or three times to get what you need, or end up just standing around trying to catch someone's attention
-Time consuming - very hard to just get in and get out if you already know what you want
-Ignorant - if you're an enthusiast like most of the people on this site, the sales associates are almost painfully ignorant. The last one I talked to didn't know what an SSD was re: MBP hard drives
-Condescending - the flip side of the last one. They will treat you like a newbie even if you are long time customer and insist on explaining basic stuff to you at length.
-Too familiar/casual - last time I bought a MBP from an Apple store, spending well over $2000, they never said "thank you" or "have a nice day" or anything like that. Even when I first said I would like to purchase it, the response was an indifferent "ok". They are trying to be hip and casual, but it can come across as disrespectful and unappreciative.
I know lot of people feel the same way. Everyone I know groans when they have to visit the Apple Store for something. Arendt should focus on making the retail stores a positive experience again for both newcomer and fans alike.
Eh. Macys has a lot more products than an Apple store. I think you might be looking at this wrong.
I'm sure all stores will have the same baseline for stock, and they will all sell all Apple items like they do right now.
But, if you have a store that say sells a lot of Macbook Pros, then they may start keeping more different variations (HDD, Memory, etc) in stock than they do now, possibly keeping an eye on the BTO's that are delivered to the store.
Thanks for this, it's an excellent example of how that restructuring might turn out. I've definitely noticed the difference in Macys stores in different regions -- hopefully Apple doesn't go that extreme.
They are a Mecca for even non-apple users, and if the plan is to change them to suit the geographic location, then that will sour the experience in my opinion - getting different experiences in different stores.