Dixons and Currys represent amongst the worst shopping experiences the UK has to offer. Their staff seem to know very little and their reputation is not one to be proud of. Perhaps this chap wanted to escape the Dixons environment and is actually quite good at what he does .. but after years of living with Dixons and Currys I rather think not. Get your act together Apple!
Dixons, with its other brands Currys and PC World, are well known in the UK as a major tech retailer, but also one of the worst shopping experience in the UK. They have huge stores but very few staff, so shopping there is like a scene out of some ghost story - lots of lost shoppers wandering around in the vague hope that someone will serve them. Even if you are "lucky" enough to collar a member of staff their technical knowledge tends to be nil, or sometimes even negative (they think they know about the products but all their facts are wrong). They are probably the country's leading seller of printers, but a couple of years ago they decided to stop selling computer paper! I think it just didn't return enough for the space it took up, but without paper the printers were useless. I think they now sell paper again.
I do hope he's not going to turn the Apple Stores into white and light wood versions of Currys/PC World.
Seems to me Apple's retail strategy is pretty much set in stone. Can't see this guy changing that. I doubt he was hired to turn Apple into Dixons. anyway I'm willing to give Tim Cook and the board the benefit of the doubt and not condem this guy before he's even started.
I think this is one of the "caretaker" hires that Apple does. After a new product or service is in place, they often hire people who's talent is NOT innovation. "Just keep doing what we have been doing."
The only consulation is that it will take Mr Browett an awful long time and a lot of hard work to make any Apple Store as abysmal as a Dixons, Currys or PC World. Hopefully before then he will be giving some other organisation the benefit of his knowledge.
Sounds exactly like Steve Jobs, in fact. I hated when Steve gave Stevenotes fully shaved; his stubble was the best.
Yeah, I can see the memo:
"Dear (name). You are scheduled for your New Hire Press Release photo on (date). We understand that most new hires come from a typical corporate culture, so this is a reminder to:
Not shave the morning of your photo appointment;
Drink heavily the night before (we want you to have that hard-working, saggy-eyed look);
Dixons, with its other brands Currys and PC World, are well known in the UK as a major tech retailer, but also one of the worst shopping experience in the UK. They have huge stores but very few staff, so shopping there is like a scene out of some ghost story - lots of lost shoppers wandering around in the vague hope that someone will serve them. Even if you are "lucky" enough to collar a member of staff their technical knowledge tends to be nil, or sometimes even negative (they think they know about the products but all their facts are wrong). They are probably the country's leading seller of printers, but a couple of years ago they decided to stop selling computer paper! I think it just didn't return enough for the space it took up, but without paper the printers were useless. I think they now sell paper again.
I do hope he's not going to turn the Apple Stores into white and light wood versions of Currys/PC World.
Yes, Currys, Dixons and PC World have always sucked big time. I remember when PC World started carrying Macs and thinking it was doing the Apple brand a dis-service. The Macs looked filthy and dishevelled and the staff would always point you away towards a PC.
But having said that... we are all comparing to the Apple stores. Are there, or were there, any god tech shopping experiences around before the Apple stores? I remember having no qualms about using Dixons or Currys because there really was nothing much better. Not sure if there is today.
"Dear (name). You are scheduled for your New Hire Press Release photo on (date). We understand that most new hires come from a typical corporate culture, so this is a reminder to:
Not shave the morning of your photo appointment;
Drink heavily the night before (we want you to have that hard-working, saggy-eyed look);
Wear a day-old shirt half unbuttonned; and
Do NOT get a haircut.
Welcome to Apple!"
Think what you will. You're wrong, but think what you will.
Apple doesn't have a dress code. Doesn't seem to affect them in any way whatsoever.
Comments
You would think the most successful retail operation on the planet could have done better. Am I missing something?
How about:
1. You are a VP not a CEO.
2. We don't want to change anything.
3. You cant choose the products you sell.
4. You report to a very controlling personality.
5. You will be traveling 150 days a year.
Dixons, with its other brands Currys and PC World, are well known in the UK as a major tech retailer, but also one of the worst shopping experience in the UK. They have huge stores but very few staff, so shopping there is like a scene out of some ghost story - lots of lost shoppers wandering around in the vague hope that someone will serve them. Even if you are "lucky" enough to collar a member of staff their technical knowledge tends to be nil, or sometimes even negative (they think they know about the products but all their facts are wrong). They are probably the country's leading seller of printers, but a couple of years ago they decided to stop selling computer paper! I think it just didn't return enough for the space it took up, but without paper the printers were useless. I think they now sell paper again.
I do hope he's not going to turn the Apple Stores into white and light wood versions of Currys/PC World.
How about:
1. You are a VP not a CEO.
2. We don't want to change anything.
3. You cant choose the products you sell.
4. You report to a very controlling personality.
5. You will be traveling 150 days a year.
6. You will be working on a "special project" for the next nine months. Until we can trust you.
7. You will have little to no control of the store designs.
8. As Apple Retail is at the very top, the only way for you to go is down.
Strange choice.
Even stranger haircut. Flat on the sides and pointy on the top?
Even stranger haircut. Flat on the sides and pointy on the top?
Wow, 5 o'clock shadow, dishevelled collar, wierd haircut. Looks like they found him in a bar.
Sorry, in a pub.
Wow, 5 o'clock shadow, dishevelled collar, wierd haircut. Looks like they found him in a bar.
Sorry, in a pub.
Sounds a bit like Steve Jobs.
Dixons. Didn't they open the worlds first Google Shop and predict that the chromebook will make up 10% of all computer sales by the end of this year?
But they already have one in Belfast... ***DUCKS FOR COVER***
Seriously though, I've been reading about what has happened
to Ireland post-bust. Also been running into quite a few Irish people
here in Australia.
Edit: I was going to say, sorry to hear about Ireland. Raped by Banks
Yes but we want to be raped by Apple Stores.
6. You will be working on a "special project" for the next nine months. Until we can trust you.
In this case it's less to do with trust and more to do with test.
Wow, 5 o'clock shadow, dishevelled collar, wierd haircut. Looks like they found him in a bar.
Sorry, in a pub.
Dishevelled collar, I mean, how dare he
Wow, 5 o'clock shadow, dishevelled collar, wierd haircut. Looks like they found him in a bar.
Sorry, in a pub.
Sounds exactly like Steve Jobs, in fact. I hated when Steve gave Stevenotes fully shaved; his stubble was the best.
6. You will be working on a "special project" for the next nine months. Until we can trust you.
7. You will have little to no control of the store designs.
8. As apple retail is at the very top, the only way for you to go is down.
lmfao @ 6.
Hahahahahahahaha
Sounds exactly like Steve Jobs, in fact. I hated when Steve gave Stevenotes fully shaved; his stubble was the best.
Yeah, I can see the memo:
"Dear (name). You are scheduled for your New Hire Press Release photo on (date). We understand that most new hires come from a typical corporate culture, so this is a reminder to: Welcome to Apple!"
Oh Dear!
Dixons, with its other brands Currys and PC World, are well known in the UK as a major tech retailer, but also one of the worst shopping experience in the UK. They have huge stores but very few staff, so shopping there is like a scene out of some ghost story - lots of lost shoppers wandering around in the vague hope that someone will serve them. Even if you are "lucky" enough to collar a member of staff their technical knowledge tends to be nil, or sometimes even negative (they think they know about the products but all their facts are wrong). They are probably the country's leading seller of printers, but a couple of years ago they decided to stop selling computer paper! I think it just didn't return enough for the space it took up, but without paper the printers were useless. I think they now sell paper again.
I do hope he's not going to turn the Apple Stores into white and light wood versions of Currys/PC World.
Yes, Currys, Dixons and PC World have always sucked big time. I remember when PC World started carrying Macs and thinking it was doing the Apple brand a dis-service. The Macs looked filthy and dishevelled and the staff would always point you away towards a PC.
But having said that... we are all comparing to the Apple stores. Are there, or were there, any god tech shopping experiences around before the Apple stores? I remember having no qualms about using Dixons or Currys because there really was nothing much better. Not sure if there is today.
Yeah, I can see the memo:
"Dear (name). You are scheduled for your New Hire Press Release photo on (date). We understand that most new hires come from a typical corporate culture, so this is a reminder to: Welcome to Apple!"
Think what you will. You're wrong, but think what you will.
Apple doesn't have a dress code. Doesn't seem to affect them in any way whatsoever.