A trademark application on the words “Genius Bar” that Apple filed back in mid-2001 is only now being considered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For some reason the original application was never pursued by Apple, and was reclassified by the PTO as “abandoned.” Last summer the application was reinstated, but a month later the TPO sent Apple a “refusal” on the trademark. Then this past January Apple sent the Office correspondence which apparently shook the application loose. Check the print-out downloaded from the TPO trademark status computer system.
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The Osaka (Japan) Apple retail store on Midousuji street remains concealed in construction wrapping, exactly like the Ginza store, but a huge iPod poster still gives away its location. Apparently it will be officially known as Apple Store Shinsaibashi rather than "Osaka." Midousuji is the wide main street of the Shinsaibashi shopping district, is an impressive 144-foot wide, and is lined with gingko trees whose leaves turn bright yellow in the fall– it reminds me of Paris. Everything continues to be on track for an August 29th grand opening. Check the other details I’ve uncovered about the building.
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Surfing the Internet with my Powerbook via the Cafe Olé’s free Wi-Fi access point in Philadelphia , I pondered the inscription on the Liberty Bell nearby. "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," the inscription reads, perhaps referring to independence from England back in the colonial days. Or perhaps it referred to another type of independence– freedom from any Apple resellers in downtown Philadelphia. Just then, someone dressed as Benjamin Franklin approached and said, "If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect." Uh… I’m not gettin’ it, Ben. "Aww, get thee up to 1727 Walnut St.," he barked, claiming that the two-story, 22,000 square-foot, former Borders Books store located there looks like the perfect spot for a future Apple retail store. Ben then walked off and muttered, "Think different." Am I to doubt Ben Franklin?
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I’ve posted some information about planograms, those diagrams that Apple and other retailers use to document the location of all the products in their stores.
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Thanks to the alert Apple watcher who says the iPod Mini flashing light window display were custom created by Element Labs, using their VERSA tube technology. In typical Apple fashion, the concept was developed in-house, and the design team then created a video of exactly how they wanted the system to operate and look, including the colors, patterns and timing. Element Labs then turned the concept into reality, operated by a custom controller that was colored white to blend in with the store design.
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Thanks to Graham for interpreting the mosaic tilework over the arches of the future Regent Street retail store: it apparently depicts lion symbols of both Britain and Venice (Italy). From the photos, you can see the Lion of St. Mark over the right arches, which is a symbol of Venice, but can only barely see the British version of a lion on an adjacent arch to the left.
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Thanks to Nathan for complete photo coverage of the future Stoneridge (N. Calif.) retail store.
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I’ve updated the hiring advice with information about taking your resumé directly to the stores, and arranging an interview with the store manager, who has hiring authority. Apple’s Web site is not the only way to begin the application process, apparently.
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I continue to wonder what the employee turn-over rate is for Apple stores? Executives have said it’s among the lowest in the retail industry, but since retail turn-over traditionally is 50% or higher, that’s not saying much. There are 162 specific job openings right now at retail stores, or roughly 10% of the total retail workforce. Could the turn-over be as high as 75%?
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Loss Control Prevention Office positions have appeared for the San Francisco, The Grove, 3rd Street Promenade, and Colorado Blvd. retail stores–all in California.
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It pays to arrive early and stay late at an Apple store, to find out there are employee training sessions scheduled for existing employees from several stores. The multi-store meetings are apparently refreshers on sales procedures and techniques, and include role-playing activities to hone skills.
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AppleInsider reports that Apple switched software for its customer relationship management (CRM), moving to a Web-based application from PeopleSoft over the past year. In fact, I’ve learned Apple was previously using CRM by Vantive Software, which PeopleSoft purchased in 1999. and who then developed its own CRM software. PeopleSoft has been trying to migrate Vantive customers to new software ever since, and gave a 2005 termination for Vantive software support. At the retail stores, the CRM software is used by managers and asst. managers to administer the Mac Genius work and AppleCare records.
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Apple has posted a "Planogram Manager" job position on its Web site, responsible for developing diagrams that set out where everything goes in the store, based on sales and marketing programs, competitive analysis and other factors. Apple’s planograms show the location of every computer, literature rack, cable, and other product within the store, to insure it’s placed for maximum effect, and in a standardized manner. Read the full job description.
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Apple has posted a “Regional Sales Exec.” position on its “Jobs” Web page, but clicking on the entry leads to a page with no job description. The location is listed as “Bunnik,” in the Netherlands, where Apple has been posting European retail store support personnel.
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a href=”http://www.ifoapplestore.com/stores/regent_street_0725/index.htm”>
Thanks to Wesley for the updated photos of the Regent Street store showing the scaffolding removed–the week after I visited the store! You can clearly see the area where the Apple retail store will occupy, and the intricate mosaic above the arches (right).
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