In reaction to an ever-increasing number of visitors to its Genius Bars and limited space to seat them, Apple is testing out a new configuration that increases Genius Bar capacity, and emphasizes the use of iPads to manage service records. The designers’ solution to Genius Bar crowds was to pivot the GB table by 90-degrees so that it’s perpendicular to the rear wall of the store, and to eliminate the iconic kids seats and tables. A photo of the new set-up has surfaced showing a tall, 10-foot long wood counter at the rear of a store, with black stools on both sides. The table is set about 15 inches out from the rear wall of the store to allow employees to move from one side to another. There is at least one currency drawer in the table shown in the photo, but there are no visible outlets on the top surface for network, electrical or other connections. Electric and other cables are visible below the table, connecting to plugs set in the floor. Drawers are visible in the rear wall for Genius Bar equipment and supplies. Apple is in the midst of enlarging or moving several early stores to increase their size to improve the ability to accommodate more visitors. However, not every shopping mall or other venue has space available for a larger Apple store. This new 90-degree Genius Bar turn solution would be particularly effective at narrow stores where there is limited room for seated customers. The improvement seems to come at the expense of the very popular kids area, with its round, black seats and iPads loaded with children’s software. It’s not clear if this design change will be rolled out to other stores or if it’s simply being tested at this specific store. Update: It took less than 24 hours for tipsters to locate this test GB at the Los Gatos (N. Calif.) retail store. After the break are photos of the new GB in action and how the GB looked when the store opened. In August 2012 The Loop reported that Apple stores Genius Bars host 50,000 visitors a day worldwide, or an average of 133 per store. Naturally, the actual per-store figure is much more diverse than the average, with high-profile stores hosting perhaps 10 times the average figure, and small, mall-based stores hosting just 10% to 20% of the average figure.
Check this comparison of the previous and test Genius Bar set-ups.
This new Genius Bar table has stools on both sides and extends perpendicular to the rear wall of the store, taking over the space formerly occupied by the kids tables. The previous Genius Bar at this 30-foot wide store had 7 stools, while this table has 12, a 71% improvement in seating capacity (click on photo for larger view).
Here is a photo of the new GB in action. Electric and network connections are located under the lower edge of the table. (click on image for larger view)
This photo of the Sept. 2007 Los Gatos store grand opening shows the store’s original Genius Bar configuration.
E-mail this story
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
This is a test design (note the training wall behind it). Another item being tested at a couple of remodels is a new ‘theatre’ where the old seats are being replaced by a similar counter that is placed a few feet from a wall that has a built in viewing screen. This gives customers a place to sit with their laptops and iPads for hands on rather than just in stools in front of the Apple TV demo unit in the middle of the Red Zone where douche bag rude customers walk through the middle of things because they are too lazy to go around and/or too dumb to figure out that they are disturbing a class.
The only visible cables are two power cords and two ethernet cords which are used in conjunction with ports for both along the table. We have been using a server based MRI for ages at pretty much every store as well as iPads for Mobile Concierge and Mobile Genius for a good six months. The only time we need a computer is to DFU a mobile device for a customer and those are kept in the drawers along with replacement parts or in a stock room area just inside the employee door, depending on the layout. There is talk that they might ‘lock’ the drawers by tying them into the register system so that we don’t need a key but can pop them off our Easy Pays. That might be what the ‘drawer’ system on the back wall is testing also. Right now we are using ‘cash drawers’ on the setup tables to hold cables etc already so it is not a huge jump
Now if we could deal with folks coming in to use the computers as a free cyber cafe or insisting that we give them a place to lounge while they wait for their appointments etc. Or them getting pissy when we ask them to move cause they are at a training table (with a sign that says that) and a training customer needs the space.
I think there are no iMacs in the kids area anymore. they’ve been replaced by iPads!
Thanks…I’ve corrected the story.
So, let’s do the math on this. The previous bar could seat seven customers. This bar has seating for 12 (assuming 6 seats per side).
But the previous bar could handle seven customers on one side and seven genii on the other (I’m keeping the math simple to illustrate the point). This bar, assuming a one-to-one pairing, can accommodate three customers and three genii per side, total of six customers, so you’re losing a seat.
But in Appleville, you’ll probably have four genii scheduled to handle all twelve seats, which will result in some really awkward moments when you’re trying to reach over or between customers to reach the computer through the crowded bar.
The bean counters might like this, but I think this’ll fail field tests.
The plural of genius is geniuses.
“Genii” is an acceptable pluralization of the word, generally. In fact, at most Apple Stores, it is the *preferred* way to pluralize “Genius”. The word comes from Latin (2nd declension), so it behaves like “radius” (pl. “radii”).
If you’re just talking about smart people in general (and not the Apple Store role), the most common pluralization of “genius” is usually “geniuses” (especially in America).
(sourced: Merriam-Webster’s 11th edition; Apple Store training materials)
Agree. I’ll fail
this feels like one of the bubb test stores, not a real one. especially with the drawers on the back wall so accessible to customers.
This just seems like a daft idea.
It would make more sense to remove the iMacs from either side and have two bars. I rarely see those iMacs used for other than Genius work.
Replace the dual iMac desks with dual Genius Bars and replace the Genius Bar with an iMac desk.
Then have one desk for iOS, one for Mac.
I can tell you that is not the mock store. too small.
Rearranging the furniture! Sheer genius.
This will never work. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Unless you elimiate the geniuses altogether and just let the 12 customers stare at each other for their allotted 15 minutes.
Well they need to do something – having had the “pleasure” of two visits in 3 weeks due to a bodged laptop repair, where both times I waited 30mins beyond my allotted time!
It also irks me that I paid approx £480 quid for a new logic board and don’t get to retain the failed part. Today’s diagnosis is its the IO board!
On top of that the case now doesn’t fit snugly back like it originally did – but of course the comment is – well it is an old machine, that happens!
The Apple Store in Los Gatos had this exact arrangement when I was there on Saturday.
They sort of do this at Regent Street in London, but just using ex display tables, didn’t stop me having to wait over an hour past my appointment time though
In my experience, the problem with the genius bar isn’t the configuration – its the genii, who are far from genius.
Awesome issues here. I’m very happy to peer your post. Thank you a lot and I am having a look forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
{ 120 trackbacks }