Tim Cook says visiting a bustling Apple retail store on rough days is "like Prozac"
Apple CEO Tim Cook joked Tuesday that, whenever he starts feeling his energy sag, he visits one of the company's bustling retail stores -- which he's dubbed the 'face of Apple' -- to help lift his spirits.
Cook made the comment in the course of his keynote interview at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. Asked about the company's retail strategy, Cook called Apple's stores the face of the company, and more than simple retail outlets.
"I'm not sure store is the right word any more, they are the face of Apple for almost all of our customers," he said. "They don't think about Cupertino, they think about the local Apple store."
"There's no better place to discover, explore and learn about our products than in retail," he added. "Our team members there are the most amazing, awesome, incredible people on earth. It's the best retail experience, it's an experience where you walk in and instantly realize it's for the purpose of serving, not selling."
Cook acknowledged that he's privileged in not having to face too many bad days at Apple's helm, but on the rare occasions where he's feeling a bit down, his solution is often a trip to the Apple Store.
"If I ever feel like I'm dropping down to a level that's below excited, I go to the Apple Store," he said. "It's like a Prozac!"
Cook further explained that Apple plans to move some retail locations into bigger spaces over the course of 2013, as some of its stores aren't big enough to handle their current traffic levels.
"Last quarter we welcomed 120 million people in our stores. It's so huge that some of our stores aren't big enough. We're closing 20 of our stores and moving them and making them larger this year."
Apple will also add 30 new stores this year, including its first in Turkey. The new retail openings, Cook said, will be disproportionately outside the United States.
Apple's physical retail outlets, once derided by skeptical industry observers as an impractical expansion, have become a focus of media speculation, with new additions regularly opening to large crowds and anticipation. Cook said the average store did more than $50 million in revenue last year, and he credited Apple's retail operations with a good deal of the runaway success of the iPad.
"One thing that's not well understood ... I don't think we would have been nearly as successful with iPad if it weren't for our stores," he said. "The tablet was ingrained in [consumers'] minds as this heavy thing the Hertz guy held. But our store is the place to go and discover and try it out and see what it can do.
"I don't think the launch would have been nearly as successful without stores that welcome people in at ten million a week and show this," he added. The stores "give Apple an incredible competitive advantage."
Cook made the comment in the course of his keynote interview at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. Asked about the company's retail strategy, Cook called Apple's stores the face of the company, and more than simple retail outlets.
"I'm not sure store is the right word any more, they are the face of Apple for almost all of our customers," he said. "They don't think about Cupertino, they think about the local Apple store."
"There's no better place to discover, explore and learn about our products than in retail," he added. "Our team members there are the most amazing, awesome, incredible people on earth. It's the best retail experience, it's an experience where you walk in and instantly realize it's for the purpose of serving, not selling."
Cook acknowledged that he's privileged in not having to face too many bad days at Apple's helm, but on the rare occasions where he's feeling a bit down, his solution is often a trip to the Apple Store.
"If I ever feel like I'm dropping down to a level that's below excited, I go to the Apple Store," he said. "It's like a Prozac!"
Cook further explained that Apple plans to move some retail locations into bigger spaces over the course of 2013, as some of its stores aren't big enough to handle their current traffic levels.
"If I ever feel like I'm dropping down to a level that's below excited, I go to the Apple Store," said Cook. "It's like a Prozac!"
"Last quarter we welcomed 120 million people in our stores. It's so huge that some of our stores aren't big enough. We're closing 20 of our stores and moving them and making them larger this year."
Apple will also add 30 new stores this year, including its first in Turkey. The new retail openings, Cook said, will be disproportionately outside the United States.
Apple's physical retail outlets, once derided by skeptical industry observers as an impractical expansion, have become a focus of media speculation, with new additions regularly opening to large crowds and anticipation. Cook said the average store did more than $50 million in revenue last year, and he credited Apple's retail operations with a good deal of the runaway success of the iPad.
"One thing that's not well understood ... I don't think we would have been nearly as successful with iPad if it weren't for our stores," he said. "The tablet was ingrained in [consumers'] minds as this heavy thing the Hertz guy held. But our store is the place to go and discover and try it out and see what it can do.
"I don't think the launch would have been nearly as successful without stores that welcome people in at ten million a week and show this," he added. The stores "give Apple an incredible competitive advantage."
Comments
*Shares of Eli Lilly and Co. rise in wake of Apple chief's recent remarks*
Prozac is now THE antidepressant to take.
Unparalleled User Experience.
INSANELY great.
BREAKING: TIM COOK IS DEPRESSED. STOCK TO PLUMMET.
Apple will also add 30 new stores this year, including its first in Turkey.
Hey, look. Proof that the Turkey deal happened and that Apple will be adding billions to revenue this quarter. Why isn't this getting its own report?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
BREAKING: TIM COOK IS DEPRESSED. STOCK TO PLUMMET.
Hey, look. Proof that the Turkey deal happened and that Apple will be adding billions to revenue this quarter. Why isn't this getting its own report?
because that's positive news...
I've said it before...I've stopped going into Best Buy's because it is like stepping back into 1990...all the blue-gray plasticky crappy electronics. Same reason I never go into a Radio Shack which is even more horrible than Best Buy.
Apple stores are a breath of fresh air. I get to go in, look and hold any new product, whether it's the iP5, new mini iPad or the new iMac and use them too. Just brilliant!
New psychiatric treatment: send them to an Apple Store.
Disclaimer : perhaps because it is so busy...
Quote:
Originally Posted by haar
a trip to the Square one Apple store in mississauga to experience the meaning of being ignored, and where half the employees look Crumpled...
Disclaimer : perhaps because it is so busy...
I live in sauga.
Whenever I go to the Square One location, the place is always rammed.
The Sherway location is usually the same.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
BREAKING: TIM COOK IS DEPRESSED. STOCK TO PLUMMET.
Not to mention, he's a guest of Michelle Obama tonight at the speech? Maybe cozying up to the Administration since the stock has dropped??
BREAKING: APPLE SEEKS BAILOUT FROM OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610
Prozac is now THE antidepressant to take.
Unparalleled User Experience.
INSANELY great.
NO, Tim Cook was saying instead of taking Prozac he goes to an Apple Store. So he doesn't need to take Prozac.
You're not the only one who feels that way. I completely stooped shopping big box stores, Best Buy in particular. I used to go to Best Buy every week over 10 years ago, but I haven't set foot in one in ages. And their service has gotten worse. If I had to buy non-Apple stuff, I get it online.
He should go to the Apple stores i have been to!! They are the worse stores in the world. A 50 year old white male can't get waited on unless your on fire. Then you would be lucky to get a cup of water!!
I HATE going in there!! No one wants to help you and when you finally get help you get passed around to 4 or 5 other employees none who want to help you because you don't have an appointment.
I'm sorry, I didn't know last week my phone was going to break and I was going to need it for work.
and forget about going in there to just buy something. Without a centralized place to check out you just walk around with your product in your hand until they are ready to close and you are the only customer left!!
And I am a true Apple fan having owned nothing but Apple computers since 1982!!
But their store design is really awful!!
Originally Posted by captmark20
Without a centralized place to check out you just walk around with your product in your hand until they are ready to close and you are the only customer left!!
Shoulder taps are socially acceptable in situations without cash registers and lines thereto.