The future of Apple Retail
Apple recently opened the doors to their brand new flagship store in Union Square, San Francisco. The store was designed by architect Norman Foster’s firm, Foster + Partners, and is powered by solar panels on its roof. It is said to be “the next generation of Apple retail.”
As you arrive at the store, you are greeted by 12,8m high glass doors that can double as glass windows. There is a 6K resolution video wall in the Forum, that can be used for creative classes, promotional videos, music video premieres and presentations. The customer support section, also known as the “Genius Grove” has real live trees and sitting areas for customers who might need a moment to figure out how to use their new devices. There is also a boardroom to increase Apples business customers.
Apple aims to roll out the 6K resolution wall in 480 Apple stores across the world. The final and most appealing feature of this store is the Plaza at the back of the store. The Plaza area offers free WIFI and is open 24 hours a day. It will also be used to host live acoustic events. Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president for retail and online, says that the idea behind this feature is to make this store feel like a town square, where one can meet up with friends.
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By: Tumelo Mojapelo
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Image credit: Verge
Video credit: Wired
