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Apple retail chief Ron Johnson officially departs with no replacement - Page 2

post #41 of 74
11/1/11 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pendergast View Post

And yet, clearly Steve did end up supporting them, as he was the ultimate authority at Apple. It wasn't a democracy.

Perhaps because he was initially opposed forced the team to refine the idea and make it better. Saying no can be a powerful motivator.

As opposed to "Yes we Can!"?
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post #42 of 74
11/1/11 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pendergast View Post

And yet, clearly Steve did end up supporting them, as he was the ultimate authority at Apple. It wasn't a democracy.

Perhaps because he was initially opposed forced the team to refine the idea and make it better. Saying no can be a powerful motivator.

Save your breath, the trolls are already too fat on AI... unless you just need some writing practice.
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post #43 of 74
11/1/11 at 8:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty321 View Post

Ron Johnson leaving Apple is a huge black eye to Apple. This is the beginning of the end. Welcome to post-Steve Apple.

I wondered how long it would take for the trolls with single digit IQs to appear. Scotty321 wins the prize.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ConradJoe View Post

Too constrained? WTF does that even mean?

Maybe they should get rid of the "museum of technology" look and set things up with more and better POS displays.

Apple's sales per square foot are greater than any other retail chain in the country - even Tiffany's. Why in the world would they take advice from YOU?

Quote:
Originally Posted by tundraboy View Post

The guy was offered the CEO position in a major national retail chain. I think there is nothing that Apple could have done to keep him.

Considering JC Penney's customer demographic, I don't expect them to start looking like Apple Stores with Ron Jonson as CEO. Or even like Target. But, given his track record, I'm a little excited to see what he can do to light a fire under JCP's retail strategy.

Of course. Even without more money, moving from "Retail Manager" to "CEO" is a powerful draw. Plus, he may see it as a possibility to improve his chances to get the Apple CEO role if/when Cook leaves. Broadening his experience can't hurt.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tundraboy View Post

I'd love to see Woz on an Apple advert. "Hi I'm Woz, thirty years ago my friend Steve and I started this company in his dad's garage. . . "

If they want to use Woz as a figure head, I couldn't care less. But if they try to use him for anything more, it's a huge mistake. He can't keep a secret and has no concept of how average people think.

Not to mention, of course, that he really wouldn't be of any value even as a figure head. No one knows Woz but a few older geeks - and they're largely outside Apple's target audience, anyway.

Quote:
Originally Posted by island hermit View Post

Isn't this a wonderful thread.

A fellow who has completed his job, is number 3 or 4 or maybe even 5 at Apple decides, while Steve is still at the helm, to leave Apple so that he can become number one at a retail chain that is faltering, so that he can once again use his full capabilities... and get paid even more than the salary given to him at Apple.

... but some how or other this is the beginning of the end for Apple.

Wonderful wonderful thread.

Carry on.

Exactly.
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post #44 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta;


If they want to use Woz as a figure head, I couldn't care less. But if they try to use him for anything more, it's a huge mistake. He can't keep a secret and has no concept of how average people think.

We're talking Woz here not Al Gore.
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post #45 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta View Post

If they want to use Woz as a figure head, I couldn't care less. But if they try to use him for anything more, it's a huge mistake. He can't keep a secret and has no concept of how average people think.

Not to mention, of course, that he really wouldn't be of any value even as a figure head. No one knows Woz but a few older geeks - and they're largely outside Apple's target audience, anyway.
.

Actually, I have to respectfully disagree here. Woz is much more an 'average person' than you think. My understanding is that he's spent much more time teaching kids than he ever spent at Apple (not certain of this).

Further, from what I've seen, he's legendary amongst the younger Apple clientele too. He'd be a great ambassador except that now that Steve has gone, the headlines would be quite negative, with a 'desperate Apple' bringing back a co-founder to shore up the brand. I'd like to have seen him given a role long ago.

All the best,

(I'm not saying that Woz should be given any particular role, just that he should be more visible.)
Where are we on the curve? We'll know once it goes asymptotic!
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Where are we on the curve? We'll know once it goes asymptotic!
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post #46 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:35am
Record profit per sq ft is probably more due to the products themselves (and their respective margins) than anything specifically about the actual store.

I've always found the stores more frustrating than anything. I'd rather pick up what I want and stand in a line to check out than wander around feeling lost trying to find someone to help me.
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post #47 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta View Post

I wondered how long it would take for the trolls with single digit IQs to appear. Scotty321 wins the prize.


Why in the world would they take advice from YOU?



Why do we have to put up with personal attacks here?

Mods - this guy needs some discipline.
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post #48 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IQatEdo View Post

I'd like to have seen him given a role long ago.

A

What makes you think he would have accepted a position with Steve at the helm?

Maybe now there is some hope.


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post #49 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnb View Post

Record profit per sq ft is probably more due to the products themselves (and their respective margins) than anything specifically about the actual store.

I've always found the stores more frustrating than anything. I'd rather pick up what I want and stand in a line to check out than wander around feeling lost trying to find someone to help me.

You think that if the store actually just had boxes of products and one or two display models for each product, it would succeed? With the Apple Store, it's all about the experience of using items. Gateway sold computers in their own store and they're gone now.

In my experience, there are Apple folks every where. I had no problems asking for help.
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post #50 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConradJoe View Post

Of course. But so far, they have found exactly nobody to fill the role.

I'm not sure they're under pressure to fill it immediately.

By this time of the year, their blueprint for the 2011 Christmas season should be in place and is being rolled out. Just yesterday there was a story about in-store pickup of online orders and an app for self-checkouts.

They might have a six month window before they really feel the pressure to fill the role, and I'm sure they'll have someone long before then.
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post #51 of 74
11/1/11 at 10:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConradJoe View Post

Why do we have to put up with personal attacks here?

Mods - this guy needs some discipline.

You're the biggest troll here and you know it.
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post #52 of 74
11/1/11 at 10:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cajun View Post

I'm not sure they're under pressure to fill it immediately.

By this time of the year, their blueprint for the 2011 Christmas season should be in place and is being rolled out. Just yesterday there was a story about in-store pickup of online orders and an app for self-checkouts.

They might have a six month window before they really feel the pressure to fill the role, and I'm sure they'll have someone long before then.

They'll only need a guy of Johnson's caliber if they have to do a complete makeover of the entire retail operation.

It's very similar to hiring a contractor to build a house. Once the house is built a contractor is no longer necessary... just separate trades are needed for ongoing maintenance during the lifetime of the house.

Johnson has done a tremendous job at creating a blueprint for a successful retail operation. Now they need a service guy to keep everything in place until things go stale.
We know where you are. We know where youve been. We can more or less know what youre thinking about. - Eric Schmidt
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post #53 of 74
11/1/11 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by al_bundy View Post

has steve jobs been for any awesome idea at apple in the last 10 years?

against a Windows ipod
against iphone apps
against the genius bar

Also against keyboard or anything else that obscures the screen of iPhone.
Gave Ive the idea of using magnets to design of the SmartCover.
Insisted on starting retail stores against all advice.
...
...

Just slightly more awesome than most.

Quote:
Originally Posted by lorca2770 View Post

And yet, that is what mark a genius, being able to be receptive and change ideas for the best.
Awesome Steve...

Sorry, being receptive to change has nothing to do with being a genius. That's not to say Jobs was or was not a genius. But the bar for such a label is much higher than listening skills. Arguably, it has nothing to do with listening skills.

Quote:
Originally Posted by IQatEdo View Post

A.I., if this site so readily attracts rubbish such as this, perhaps it's time to move on. \

Do what you gotta do. No need for idle threats.
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post #54 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:09am
Hey, is anybody home at Apple Insider?

A disgusting thread, which is exactly what these trollers-for-dollars want. If you don't get rid of iKol and ConradJoe there is no hope for this forum, as far as I'm concerned. When you get occasional cranky posters like al_bundy, cajun and scottyxxx piling in, it becomes a pack of hyenas circling around a baby zebra. No hope of any enlightenment that isn't a sorry attempt to fend off the idiotic negativity.

AI, clean up or lose your serious audience.
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post #55 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty321 View Post

Ron Johnson leaving Apple is a huge black eye to Apple. This is the beginning of the end. Welcome to post-Steve Apple.

I think AI should start a Drama Club. There are so many drama queens here! Apple is a very big organization with a whole bunch of very talented people working for them. People come and go for all sort of reasons. Put a little more faith in the 'machine'.

In one sense you are right. There is no more Steve Jobs. The end of the Jobs era has come. A new era has started. Please remember that there were plenty of snafus while Steve was still around. People left while he was CEO.

Quit throwing you hands in the air and stamping your feet, boys. Quit predicting the end. Be more constructive and get out more often.
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post #56 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stelligent View Post

Do what you gotta do. No need for idle threats.

I don't think it's an idle threat. The pollution has been rising to choke level around here. If you don't notice it maybe you're part of the problem.
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post #57 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by island hermit View Post

Isn't this a wonderful thread.

A fellow who has completed his job, is number 3 or 4 or maybe even 5 at Apple decides, while Steve is still at the helm, to leave Apple so that he can become number one at a retail chain that is faltering, so that he can once again use his full capabilities... and get paid even more than the salary given to him at Apple.

... but some how or other this is the beginning of the end for Apple.

Wonderful wonderful thread.

Carry on.

QFT, man.
PPC4EVER
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PPC4EVER
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post #58 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by paxman View Post

I think AI should start a Drama Club. There are so many drama queens here! Apple is a very big organization with a whole bunch of very talented people working for them. People come and go for all sort of reasons. Put a little more faith in the 'machine'.

In one sense you are right. There is no more Steve Jobs. The end of the Jobs era has come. A new era has started. Please remember that there were plenty of snafus while Steve was still around. People left while he was CEO.

Quit throwing you hands in the air and stamping your feet, boys. Quit predicting the end. Be more constructive and get out more often.

Good one. I always picture them stamping their penny loafers on the floor.

But I'm not sure he's serious or just wishing to join the majority pack of hyenas around here.
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post #59 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

Those are ALL the exact opposite of what needs to happen. Every single one of them. Particularly six and eight.

What do you have against the matte screen option? What did matte screens ever do to you? Heartless.
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post #60 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by iKol View Post

HOPEFULLY:
1.) An option to turn on/off Flash for iOS
2.) Matte screens on iMacs
3.) Blu-ray support
5.) HDMI on all Macs
6.) Safari and apps on ATV.
7.) End of keynotes - only self serving to the master showman. A disaster without him.
8.) More Woz.

Flash has become one of those religious crusades that Jobs was famous for. It would be nice to have Flash available. I would like it to work in Safari the way FlashBlock works in Firefox; you see an icon for a Flash element, and click on it if you really want to view it.

An Apple TV with a Blu-Ray drive would be nice.

I wasn't aware that all Macs didn't already have HDMI support. In 2011, how can this be?

Safari on ATV would be nice; apps are a necessity. I have no doubt they're coming; I just can't believe it's taking this long.

Team keynotes are the way forward; Tim Cook and the executive team did a nice job with the iPhone 4S launch.

Woz... love him, but his best days are behind him. The Apple ][ was the pinnacle of his career success, and that was 30 years ago.
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post #61 of 74
11/1/11 at 11:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by island hermit View Post

They'll only need a guy of Johnson's caliber if they have to do a complete makeover of the entire retail operation.

It's very similar to hiring a contractor to build a house. Once the house is built a contractor is no longer necessary... just separate trades are needed for ongoing maintenance during the lifetime of the house.

Johnson has done a tremendous job at creating a blueprint for a successful retail operation. Now they need a service guy to keep everything in place until things go stale.

Well said.
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post #62 of 74
11/1/11 at 12:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iKol View Post

HOPEFULLY:
1.) An option to turn on/off Flash for iOS

Person A buys iPhone; shows to geek friend.
Person B enables flash and says "here, I just made it so you can play stupid web games."
Person A. Thanks.
- two weeks later -
Person B asks Person A, "how'd you like your iPhone."
Person A. "I returned it. The battery life was horrible and it kept getting hot. Apple really should do something about that."

Quote:
2.) Matte screens on iMacs

Look shitty in stores to regular consumers. Customers see Apple as just another PC vendor.
Quote:
3.) Blu-ray support

It's not what I want Apple to spend any effort on, but I wouldn't complain if it was there. It is available from third party now. Even movie playback.
Quote:
5.) HDMI on all Macs

Done via dongle. Surely you don't want to waste the space for an actual full size port given that 99% of Macs will never connect to a television?
Quote:
6.) Safari and apps on ATV.

Surfing the web on a TV is horrible. Absolutely horrible. Apple wouldn't tolerate that level of user experience. JailBreak your ATV and put Firefox on it if you want to.
Quote:
7.) End of keynotes - only self serving to the master showman. A disaster without him.

Are you insane? Keynotes are one of the major reasons that Apple gets all the press coverage that they do. If they just put our a press release, the press wouldn't care. It's the big show that gets them shown on CNN, MSNBC, and write ups in newspapers.
Quote:
8.) More Woz.

Why?

The problem with your list is that it reads like a geek wish list. Sorry, but Apple needs the mainstream too, more than the geeks who make up a tiny minority.
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post #63 of 74
11/1/11 at 12:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConradJoe View Post

That is brilliant.

They could market the company to the faithful as the "old" Apple, the one you fell in love with. Not the giant ruthless multi-national that Apple has become, but rather, the warm and fuzzy nerd-village Apple of yore.

Brilliant.

I suspect having millions fewer customers has something to do with why they don't want to go back to the "old" Apple.
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post #64 of 74
11/1/11 at 12:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freshmaker View Post

What do you have against the matte screen option? What did matte screens ever do to you? Heartless.

Oh, nothing, I assure you. I used to be one of you guys. Then I got my 27" Cinema Display and realized that it's silly to demand matte. I used 3 24" third party matte displays prior to it and I pined over the 30" Cinema Display years and years ago, so I've lived both sides.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cajun View Post

I wasn't aware that all Macs didn't already have HDMI support. In 2011, how can this be?

They do. That's not the point. HDMI is a television port. Thunderbolt is a computer port. People stupidly want HDMI ports on their Macs over Thunderbolt. All Macs have HDMI support, just buy an adapter.

Quote:
Safari on ATV would be nice; apps are a necessity. I have no doubt they're coming; I just can't believe it's taking this long.

Perhaps because it isn't coming. Because Internet TV is laughable at best and apps just don't work in that realm.
PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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post #65 of 74
11/1/11 at 1:02pm
All the trolls were out last night and are now wired on sugar today. Nice.

BOT: The reasons for Ron Johnson leaving are best known by Ron himself, but some of the speculation here rings true.

If, as Jobs has indicated in the past, he has sought out the best people who "get" the Apple vision, then folks like RJ are highly motivated innovators (HMI). HMIs tend to deliver a brilliant solution and then move on to the next challenge. Apple Retail was a huge challenge of gigantic proportions against a sea of nay-sayers. But now it is a mature and highly successful operation and needs someone less HMI, more motivated innovator/manager style. As CEO of an ailing retail operation RJ gets to flex his chops once again and demonstrate that he is a clear leader in retail operations innovation and management.

Hopefully if we wait long enough the insulin crash will set in and the trolls will curl up for naps.
If you are going to insist on being an ass, at least demonstrate the intelligence to be a smart one
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post #66 of 74
11/1/11 at 1:05pm
I personally hope Ron joins the Board of Directors now, as he was a member of the Board at JC Penney while at Apple.

Also, here is Ron's profile at JCP: http://www.jcpenney.net/Our-Company/...ive-Board.aspx
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post #67 of 74
11/1/11 at 1:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gustav View Post

I suspect having millions fewer customers has something to do with why they don't want to go back to the "old" Apple.

Ummm......nobody said that they wanted to go back to the old Apple.

The topic was marketing.

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post #68 of 74
11/1/11 at 1:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fecklesstechguy View Post

If, as Jobs has indicated in the past, he has sought out the best people who "get" the Apple vision, then folks like RJ are highly motivated innovators (HMI). HMIs tend to deliver a brilliant solution and then move on to the next challenge. Apple Retail was a huge challenge of gigantic proportions against a sea of nay-sayers. But now it is a mature and highly successful operation and needs someone less HMI, more motivated innovator/manager style. As CEO of an ailing retail operation RJ gets to flex his chops once again and demonstrate that he is a clear leader in retail operations innovation and management.


Your guesses are as good as any, I suppose.

\\
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post #69 of 74
11/1/11 at 2:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tundraboy View Post

The guy was offered the CEO position in a major national retail chain. I think there is nothing that Apple could have done to keep him.

Considering JC Penney's customer demographic, I don't expect them to start looking like Apple Stores with Ron Jonson as CEO. Or even like Target. But, given his track record, I'm a little excited to see what he can do to light a fire under JCP's retail strategy.

Yes! Most highly-motivated executives want to "do it their way" and set their own standards of excellence.

That is quite a coup and a challenge for Johnson...

... it will be interesting to see if he can turn it into the French boutique it was always meant to be...

...Zhay - Cee - Pennae -- C'est la marque d'un joueur de grande classe.


Or, maybe I'm confusing him with the famous Roman Lion Tamer -- Claude Genitalia

"So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world."
– Alan Kay –
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"So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world."
– Alan Kay –
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post #70 of 74
11/1/11 at 2:27pm
Part of being competitive is being able to fool the competition. Obviously Jobs was not against any of those things, and Jobs made the call.

Quote:
Originally Posted by al_bundy View Post

has steve jobs been for any awesome idea at apple in the last 10 years?

against a Windows ipod
against iphone apps
against the genius bar
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post #71 of 74
11/1/11 at 2:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConradJoe View Post

Why do we have to put up with this sort of stuff so often?


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"So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world."
– Alan Kay –
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"So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world."
– Alan Kay –
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post #72 of 74
11/1/11 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum View Post

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Way to go. He usually clocks out and takes his lunch about this time. We should have a nice surprise waiting for him when he comes back for his evening shift.
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post #73 of 74
11/1/11 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flaneur View Post

Way to go. He usually clocks out and takes his lunch about this time. We should have a nice surprise waiting for him when he comes back for his evening shift.

You guys!
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post #74 of 74
11/1/11 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

Those are ALL the exact opposite of what needs to happen. Every single one of them. Particularly six and eight.

thank you
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