Apple's Retail Head Angela Ahrendts Sends Out Her First Memo
by Joe White
June 13, 2014
Angela Ahrendts has sent her first memo out to Apple's retail staff, and in it the senior vice president of Retail discusses her first month, her visits to several company stores, and her hopes for the future of Apple retail.
The memo surfaced online in an image published by 9to5mac (included below). As you can see, Ahrendts mentions her recent visits to Apple Retail Stores in San Francisco and London, and also references her then-upcoming visit to Japan's newest retail store in Omotesando, Tokyo (which we told you about earlier today).
She also notes that "every couple of weeks, we will be visiting stores across the world to see and learn what we do best and hear your thoughts about opportunities ahead." Ahrendts adds that Apple retail must focus on maintaining customer experience while developing the technology behind Apple Stores:
Although technology is rapidly changing how customers shop, they will still want to feel surprised and delighted by the personalized Apple experience we provide at every turn. That’s what makes us unique. Keeping the customer experience as simple as any other Apple product will also be critical as we expand into new markets, integrate our platforms, and develop new technologies.While the Apple Online Store is continuing to improve, Ahrendts' responsibilities will involve developing Cupertino's "brick and mortar" stores while expanding Apple's retail presence into new markets. China, in particular, is said to be a "key focus" of Apple's: the company is reportedly looking to triple the number of retail stores it operates in the country, and additional stores are already in the process of being built. Here's the full memo: See also: Apple Launches A New ‘Browse By Category’ Collection On The App Store, Apple’s Upcoming Store In Chongqing, China Will Also Feature A Glass Entryway, and Twitter Kicks Off New World Cup And Match Timelines In Official iOS App.