Apple to Overhaul Retail Store Appearance

[Michael Essany]

Anyone who thinks Apple isn't concerned about the growing pressure from Microsoft's foray into the retail world should look no further than the announcement from Apple this week that the company is "Revamping" its stores nationwide.

MacRumors is reporting that Apple is "tweaking several aspects of its retail store operations" under the guise of changing things up in advance of the holiday season. But most analysts suspect Microsoft is the real impetus behind the forthcoming face lift for Apple stores.

Among the changes are an adjustment to color-coded t-shirts for various types of employees and a shift from using Windows CE-based EasyPay mobile checkout devices to iPod touches using barcode scanner accessories and custom point-of-sale software.

Ironically, it sounds like some of these adjustments are being made to make Apple stores look more like Microsoft's new retail experiment. Apple, for example, will nix its current class structure of employees like concierges, specialists, creative, and geniuses, etc. - all of which were adorned with designated colors. Over time, a consistent color scheme will be realized for all employees.

Visitors have reported that seeing orange, dark blue, light blue, medium blue and black T-shirts is simply confusing. Beginning soon, the entire store staff will wear the same color T-shirt, with that color changing from time to time.

Although the colors worn by staffers won't have a tremendous impact on Apple customers, the company's transition to the iPod touch as a checkout device could. The updated checkout process will help ease some of the frustration experienced by store employees regarding the performance of the current EasyPay devices.

The new iPod touch-based systems will reportedly allow for a single pass of the barcode reader to register multiple codes present on many Apple products, speeding the checkout process. The new system will also reportedly allow sales staff to accept cash for transactions.

What's more important to note than the changes outlined above is that Apple seems poised to make this first update to its retail appearance the first of many. What does that mean exactly? I have no clue. But we'll probably find out soon enough.

Image via MSN

[LittleJob]

old news...they redid the Apple store where i live a week ago.

looks about the same...

-B

[Melech518]

Yeah, this is retarded. Apple has been remodeling all of their stores for the past few months...old news

They have already done 2 of the stores in our area...it is the same, just bigger...

[petterloco1]

What is. Going whit this companys, ms and apple they are going nuts by competing against each other, on every little detail the one brings out the other whants perfetctionate that, or iff they can't, they just make silly videos making fun from the other product, for me this becoming a kids game lol.

[Limegrntaln]

If Microsoft has anything to do with the decision at all why would Apple change all of their stores when Microsoft only has one retail store open?? Makes no sense.

[chstriker11]

Apple is probably revamping because the Microsoft store looks exactly like the Apple store now... and who wants to look like Microsoft? eeeew

[nighthawk283]

I understand that they been doing this for quiet sometime.lol

[DayumQuitPlayin]

I lol'd when I read "under the guise of revamping for the holiday season" lol.. "Oh na.. we're just changing things up a bit, you know how things are during the holidays (Smile)"

[StealthBravo]

lol. They have been remodeling for a few months now. The remodeled both stores here already.

[matthew1111]

In TX they havent remodeled yet, but the black top instead of white looks sweet.

[projekt9]

Passed by the grand opening of the Microsoft Store at the Mission Viejo Mall yesterday...looks exactly like the old Apple Store. Hopefully Apple has something better planned for this location, which is two doors down.

Sorry for the blurry image. I was walking and taking the shot with my 3GS.

[VBLUE42]

This has absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft. It is merely time for a change to the layout of the Apple stores sense they started rolling them out some years ago. Most all retail does this at this point.

[playful_cyanide]

I love the fact that they are using iPod Touches for scanning purchases.

[Fallguy]

Instead of revamping the stores , why dont they put that effort to revamping the iphone ? Lets get that 5 mp camera and flash , etc .
I hate repeating myself .

[viperstarpoint9]

Thank god they are leaving the old ms mobile pay points. They are the reason that it took me 2 hrs to get my 3gs. It was the most misurable experience I have had to date with an ms product.

[ExTrEmE99]

I was at the apple store today and its nice to see how the integrated the iPod touch/iphone into a checkout device. Its pretty funny hearing the employee tell the customer to sign your name with your fingers

[niZmo v2]

Yea they are doing the one near me right now, and it doesn't open till nov 10th. I wanted to see how that magic mouse was.

[sucram6791]

ii look forward to seeing the newly designed apple store, i also am a big fan of the ipod touches as their cash register thing

[dillonsmith9147]

wait wait wait how are they gonna use ipod touches to scan barcodes?

[tudtran]

Cool I hope the stores get a complete remodel.