Samsung hires Apple Store designer for its own retail efforts
Samsung is said to be planning its own Apple-like retail push across the U.S., as the company recently hired an ex-Apple senior store designer, according to a new report.
Installation showing a sample Samsung Experience Shop at Best Buy. Courtesy of Samsung.
The alleged hiring of Tim Gudgel from Apple to Samsung's U.S. telecom unit is part of a "deeper investment in U.S. retail," two sources reportedly told Katie Benner and Jessica E. Lessin of The Information. Gudget is said to specialize in store design and planning, and previously worked for Gehry Partners.
Gudgel's public LinkedIn profile makes no mention of Samsung, but it does mention his previous employment with Apple. The architecture and planning expert is a graduate of Washington State University.
Samsung's existing retail plans involve nearly 1,500 mini-stores at Best Buy locations throughout America. Dubbed "Samsung Experience Shops," the designated floor space is similar to Apple's own mini-stores that have been found in Best Buy locations for years.
Samsung's apparent interest in entering the retail game brings it in the footsteps of another key Apple rival, Microsoft, which began opening its own stores to push hardware and software from the Redmond, Wash., company in 2009. Microsoft's own strategy has borrowed heavily from Apple, giving the stores a similar look and even choosing to be located in close proximity -- often the same mall -- as an existing Apple Store.
Though it does not have its own shops yet in the U.S., Samsung does have retail presences elsewhere across the globe. Last year, the South Korean company was criticized for opening a location in Australia that some said appeared very similar to Apple's own store floor plans.
And in 2011, a Samsung shop within a Euronics retail location in Italy was criticized for stealing Apple's own iOS application icons, including the App Store, for a wall display. However, those icons were put on display by Euronics and not by Samsung itself.
Installation showing a sample Samsung Experience Shop at Best Buy. Courtesy of Samsung.
The alleged hiring of Tim Gudgel from Apple to Samsung's U.S. telecom unit is part of a "deeper investment in U.S. retail," two sources reportedly told Katie Benner and Jessica E. Lessin of The Information. Gudget is said to specialize in store design and planning, and previously worked for Gehry Partners.
Gudgel's public LinkedIn profile makes no mention of Samsung, but it does mention his previous employment with Apple. The architecture and planning expert is a graduate of Washington State University.
Samsung's existing retail plans involve nearly 1,500 mini-stores at Best Buy locations throughout America. Dubbed "Samsung Experience Shops," the designated floor space is similar to Apple's own mini-stores that have been found in Best Buy locations for years.
Samsung's apparent interest in entering the retail game brings it in the footsteps of another key Apple rival, Microsoft, which began opening its own stores to push hardware and software from the Redmond, Wash., company in 2009. Microsoft's own strategy has borrowed heavily from Apple, giving the stores a similar look and even choosing to be located in close proximity -- often the same mall -- as an existing Apple Store.
Though it does not have its own shops yet in the U.S., Samsung does have retail presences elsewhere across the globe. Last year, the South Korean company was criticized for opening a location in Australia that some said appeared very similar to Apple's own store floor plans.
And in 2011, a Samsung shop within a Euronics retail location in Italy was criticized for stealing Apple's own iOS application icons, including the App Store, for a wall display. However, those icons were put on display by Euronics and not by Samsung itself.
Comments
One thing Samsung didn't copy is replacing faulty handsets on the spot, they send them off for repair and have no loan phones available at the Sydney store.
I went in there and told them I was bored with my iPhone 5 and what would they suggest, which was the S4, so I pulled my S4 out of my other pocket and asked if that's all they've got because it was even more boring.
The look on the speechless face, priceless as I left the store.
I wonder if their tables will look like this:-
Microsoft stores, take two.
(Maybe Samsung's stores will sell refrigerators too!)
Instead of a genius bar, they'll have a copy cat lounge.
But green is the quintessential color for envy.
I'll just leave this here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111115140541AAAej2X
That's actually not a bad name for a real lounge.
I don't see any of the Hyundai's as copying from Mercedes. I think inspired is a much better term to use here over copy or clone, but I'd say influenced is more accurate since I prefer to reserve inspired when it produces a creative impulse, not just a financial one.
For a real example of a coping I'd look to Shuanghuan's clone of the BMW X5: http://www.autoevolution.com/news-image/bmw-loses-x5-clone-lawsuit-2772-1.html
How can such large, successful companies have no clue about what their customers (or their potential customers) want?
I really don't see a problem with this. It's one thing to blatantly copy someone's else IP to make a direct product but to hire someone that helped create a great retail model for a competitor is fair game. In fact, I'd say it's a brilliant move in the right direction. Now if Samsung can actually realize they need to treat their customers in the short and long run by sweeting the details even if means additional costs they will begin to comprehend why Apple has the following they have.
Even if in of itself a legitimate and common business move, it simply acknowledges in formal terms what critics have been saying all along about the culture of Samsung.
Culture can be learned and changes all the time. What Samsung (and many other companies) need to do is to stop focusing on the result and start focusing on the essence that achieved the result. They at least seem interested in this with that report from months ago about Samsung interviewing those waiting in line at Apple Stores so perhaps the end result will be positive. I applaud Samsung (and any other company or person) that is at least trying to improve themselves no matter how badly they miss the mark.
Loving some of the replies in this thread. Clever (and perceptive) folks.
That is a theater copying the background paintings, but trying to do another play in front of audience.
No rectangles though ....