Look closer those aren't Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads.
Are you saying that huge Huawei logo didn't give you enough of a clue?
Why would you expect 'Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads' ?
Ah! I think I see where you are going! But NO, they are quite different store aspects but if you want to go down that route, you'll find there is little between an Apple retail Stores and many others that came long before - like FNAC stores which were even one of the very first EU stores to have Apple's store within a store concept. Also. Huawei allows its stores more freedom with design. Hence the Gaudí influence in areas of the Barcelona store.
lol he is actually acting as if that store is not a complete and shameless ripoff. Look at him go!
Look, I don't know who you're trying to fool (other than yourself, of course), but from your own links those stores are *clearly* Apple Store ripoffs. Simply put, no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did. I worked computing retail for years thru HS and college and I know this for a fact. Pics of post-Apple Store from you own links:
...they're even copying the glass walls! And the wood tables, aluminum, etc. If you don't see those as Apple Store copies (even with the Gaudi ceiling variance), then what can we say -- your cognitive dissonance has you locked into a world view to prevent you from seeing what is simply and plainly obvious to anyone without your vested interest in a knockoff brand. Have at it, but be aware of how you're deluding yourself. We are.
Or is it like how after the PC clones copied the aluminum & black look of of MBs -- "It's the only natural evolution!" Riiiight.
Full glass fronts have been the norm for years. These table fittings are common everwhere. Classic Scandinavian 'Ikea' look. Plenty of variants but the same basic styling. It works. I even gave you a pre-Apple example: Fnac! And yes, Fnac even has 'Forum' spaces for demos, presentations, concerts, performances, readings etc. Fnac is designed to be comfortable, though and sells far more than phones, tablets, computers, watches. The overall experience is wildly different but as far as phones, laptops and computers were concerned, it is clear that its approach was the way to go. And probably not even limited to them.
What they don't have are glass staircases. Glass cubes. Glass cylinders. Huge empty spaces.
The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile. In fact, it was one of my few criticisms from the very start. They adhered to a design formula that was lifeless. Huge open spaces. High ceilings. No pick-up and go in the main area. They also lacked geographical and cultural identity. That 'lifelessness' was one of the aspects Apple sought to improve in subsequent changes to that retail formula.
The number one criticism of shopping centres, and from their inception, has been any lack of identity. Walk into one anywhere and see exactly the same shops with exactly the same designs. That, thankfully is beginning to change.
It is ironic that Huawei took Gaudí highlights for its Barcelona store as that is what I wanted for Apple's Barcelona Flagship before they had even announced its creation. And the Huawei store Gaudí hues are not limited to the lighting. They have a huge Huawei logo on a wall made from broken ceramics. It is different. Just touches here and there. Some local identity.
Apple tends to stash its generalistic retail experience out of view. Yes, those third party goods are stashed away in a corner (well away from the entrance) or in a completely different room. In Barcelona PsG it is in the basement area. But there it is. The regular retail experience, in all its glory.
Are there similiraties? Yes. That's because they sell the same kinds of products! Car showrooms spring to mind here.
You are going to get a lot of glass facade. Just like on almost any flagship (or non flagship stores). You are going to get as much daylight as possible. You are going to see big tables. Those tables will be natural in styling (normally wood or simulated wood tops). They will be rectangular or circular. Etc. You will not get a Martha Stewart feel.
These are not Apple ideas. This is universal design language. They have been around forever.
Just like if you walk into an English pub. It's going to be instantly recogniseable as a pub! You can expect certain elements to be there independently of the chain.
Huawei has many retail styles. Its customer service centre in Barcelona is a delight to be in. A very personal and comfortable setting.
It even has an unstaffed store (in Wuhan no less).
Simply put, no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did. I worked computing retail for years thru HS and college and I know this for a fact.
B&O?
When was that photo taken?
When it comes to computing stores, I'll stand by my claim -- no computing stores were doing this before Apple in 2001.
Look closer those aren't Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads.
Are you saying that huge Huawei logo didn't give you enough of a clue?
Why would you expect 'Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads' ?
Ah! I think I see where you are going! But NO, they are quite different store aspects but if you want to go down that route, you'll find there is little between an Apple retail Stores and many others that came long before - like FNAC stores which were even one of the very first EU stores to have Apple's store within a store concept. Also. Huawei allows its stores more freedom with design. Hence the Gaudí influence in areas of the Barcelona store.
lol he is actually acting as if that store is not a complete and shameless ripoff. Look at him go!
Look, I don't know who you're trying to fool (other than yourself, of course), but from your own links those stores are *clearly* Apple Store ripoffs. Simply put, no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did. I worked computing retail for years thru HS and college and I know this for a fact. Pics of post-Apple Store from you own links:
...they're even copying the glass walls! And the wood tables, aluminum, etc. If you don't see those as Apple Store copies (even with the Gaudi ceiling variance), then what can we say -- your cognitive dissonance has you locked into a world view to prevent you from seeing what is simply and plainly obvious to anyone without your vested interest in a knockoff brand. Have at it, but be aware of how you're deluding yourself. We are.
Or is it like how after the PC clones copied the aluminum & black look of of MBs -- "It's the only natural evolution!" Riiiight.
Full glass fronts have been the norm for years. These table fittings are common everwhere. Classic Scandinavian 'Ikea' look. Plenty of variants but the same basic styling. It works. I even gave you a pre-Apple example: Fnac! And yes, Fnac even has 'Forum' spaces for demos, presentations, concerts, performances, readings etc. Fnac is designed to be comfortable, though and sells far more than phones, tablets, computers, watches. The overall experience is wildly different but as far as phones, laptops and computers were concerned, it is clear that its approach was the way to go. And probably not even limited to them.
What they don't have are glass staircases. Glass cubes. Glass cylinders. Huge empty spaces.
The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile. In fact, it was one of my few criticisms from the very start. They adhered to a design formula that was lifeless. Huge open spaces. High ceilings. No pick-up and go in the main area. They also lacked geographical and cultural identity. That 'lifelessness' was one of the aspects Apple sought to improve in subsequent changes to that retail formula.
The number one criticism of shopping centres, and from their inception, has been any lack of identity. Walk into one anywhere and see exactly the same shops with exactly the same designs. That, thankfully is beginning to change.
It is ironic that Huawei took Gaudí highlights for its Barcelona store as that is what I wanted for Apple's Barcelona Flagship before they had even announced its creation. And the Huawei store Gaudí hues are not limited to the lighting. They have a huge Huawei logo on a wall made from broken ceramics. It is different. Just touches here and there. Some local identity.
Apple tends to stash its generalistic retail experience out of view. Yes, those third party goods are stashed away in a corner (well away from the entrance) or in a completely different room. In Barcelona PsG it is in the basement area. But there it is. The regular retail experience, in all its glory.
Are there similiraties? Yes. That's because they sell the same kinds of products! Car showrooms spring to mind here.
You are going to get a lot of glass facade. Just like on almost any flagship (or non flagship stores). You are going to get as much daylight as possible. You are going to see big tables. Those tables will be natural in styling (normally wood or simulated wood tops). They will be rectangular or circular. Etc. You will not get a Martha Stewart feel.
These are not Apple ideas. This is universal design language. They have been around forever.
Just like if you walk into an English pub. It's going to be instantly recogniseable as a pub! You can expect certain elements to be there independently of the chain.
Huawei has many retail styles. Its customer service centre in Barcelona is a delight to be in. A very personal and comfortable setting.
It even has an unstaffed store (in Wuhan no less).
"no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did"
...no computing stores were doing clean tables of spaced out product. Prove me wrong. Show me computing stores doing it pre-2001. Heck, show me any retailer doing glass-aluminum-wood-table stores. The pics you and I posted are complete, shameless, Apple Store ripoffs. There is absolutely no question.
Look closer those aren't Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads.
Are you saying that huge Huawei logo didn't give you enough of a clue?
Why would you expect 'Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads' ?
Ah! I think I see where you are going! But NO, they are quite different store aspects but if you want to go down that route, you'll find there is little between an Apple retail Stores and many others that came long before - like FNAC stores which were even one of the very first EU stores to have Apple's store within a store concept. Also. Huawei allows its stores more freedom with design. Hence the Gaudí influence in areas of the Barcelona store.
lol he is actually acting as if that store is not a complete and shameless ripoff. Look at him go!
Look, I don't know who you're trying to fool (other than yourself, of course), but from your own links those stores are *clearly* Apple Store ripoffs. Simply put, no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did. I worked computing retail for years thru HS and college and I know this for a fact. Pics of post-Apple Store from you own links:
...they're even copying the glass walls! And the wood tables, aluminum, etc. If you don't see those as Apple Store copies (even with the Gaudi ceiling variance), then what can we say -- your cognitive dissonance has you locked into a world view to prevent you from seeing what is simply and plainly obvious to anyone without your vested interest in a knockoff brand. Have at it, but be aware of how you're deluding yourself. We are.
Or is it like how after the PC clones copied the aluminum & black look of of MBs -- "It's the only natural evolution!" Riiiight.
Full glass fronts have been the norm for years. These table fittings are common everwhere. Classic Scandinavian 'Ikea' look. Plenty of variants but the same basic styling. It works. I even gave you a pre-Apple example: Fnac! And yes, Fnac even has 'Forum' spaces for demos, presentations, concerts, performances, readings etc. Fnac is designed to be comfortable, though and sells far more than phones, tablets, computers, watches. The overall experience is wildly different but as far as phones, laptops and computers were concerned, it is clear that its approach was the way to go. And probably not even limited to them.
What they don't have are glass staircases. Glass cubes. Glass cylinders. Huge empty spaces.
The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile. In fact, it was one of my few criticisms from the very start. They adhered to a design formula that was lifeless. Huge open spaces. High ceilings. No pick-up and go in the main area. They also lacked geographical and cultural identity. That 'lifelessness' was one of the aspects Apple sought to improve in subsequent changes to that retail formula.
The number one criticism of shopping centres, and from their inception, has been any lack of identity. Walk into one anywhere and see exactly the same shops with exactly the same designs. That, thankfully is beginning to change.
It is ironic that Huawei took Gaudí highlights for its Barcelona store as that is what I wanted for Apple's Barcelona Flagship before they had even announced its creation. And the Huawei store Gaudí hues are not limited to the lighting. They have a huge Huawei logo on a wall made from broken ceramics. It is different. Just touches here and there. Some local identity.
Apple tends to stash its generalistic retail experience out of view. Yes, those third party goods are stashed away in a corner (well away from the entrance) or in a completely different room. In Barcelona PsG it is in the basement area. But there it is. The regular retail experience, in all its glory.
Are there similiraties? Yes. That's because they sell the same kinds of products! Car showrooms spring to mind here.
You are going to get a lot of glass facade. Just like on almost any flagship (or non flagship stores). You are going to get as much daylight as possible. You are going to see big tables. Those tables will be natural in styling (normally wood or simulated wood tops). They will be rectangular or circular. Etc. You will not get a Martha Stewart feel.
These are not Apple ideas. This is universal design language. They have been around forever.
Just like if you walk into an English pub. It's going to be instantly recogniseable as a pub! You can expect certain elements to be there independently of the chain.
Huawei has many retail styles. Its customer service centre in Barcelona is a delight to be in. A very personal and comfortable setting.
It even has an unstaffed store (in Wuhan no less).
The excuses are endless. Who cares that Apple uses wood. Seriously, Huawei copied and that's the end of that.
You're like the iKnockoff users who claim their knockoff iPhones are originals because Apple didn't invent the rectangle.
"The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile."
Yet knockoff Apple companies like Huawei and Samsung copied these designs. iPhone was also "sterile" before everyone removed buttons and copied. We can go on forever but you'll never acknowledge reality.
Look closer those aren't Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads.
Are you saying that huge Huawei logo didn't give you enough of a clue?
Why would you expect 'Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads' ?
Ah! I think I see where you are going! But NO, they are quite different store aspects but if you want to go down that route, you'll find there is little between an Apple retail Stores and many others that came long before - like FNAC stores which were even one of the very first EU stores to have Apple's store within a store concept. Also. Huawei allows its stores more freedom with design. Hence the Gaudí influence in areas of the Barcelona store.
lol he is actually acting as if that store is not a complete and shameless ripoff. Look at him go!
Look, I don't know who you're trying to fool (other than yourself, of course), but from your own links those stores are *clearly* Apple Store ripoffs. Simply put, no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did. I worked computing retail for years thru HS and college and I know this for a fact. Pics of post-Apple Store from you own links:
...they're even copying the glass walls! And the wood tables, aluminum, etc. If you don't see those as Apple Store copies (even with the Gaudi ceiling variance), then what can we say -- your cognitive dissonance has you locked into a world view to prevent you from seeing what is simply and plainly obvious to anyone without your vested interest in a knockoff brand. Have at it, but be aware of how you're deluding yourself. We are.
Or is it like how after the PC clones copied the aluminum & black look of of MBs -- "It's the only natural evolution!" Riiiight.
Full glass fronts have been the norm for years. These table fittings are common everwhere. Classic Scandinavian 'Ikea' look. Plenty of variants but the same basic styling. It works. I even gave you a pre-Apple example: Fnac! And yes, Fnac even has 'Forum' spaces for demos, presentations, concerts, performances, readings etc. Fnac is designed to be comfortable, though and sells far more than phones, tablets, computers, watches. The overall experience is wildly different but as far as phones, laptops and computers were concerned, it is clear that its approach was the way to go. And probably not even limited to them.
What they don't have are glass staircases. Glass cubes. Glass cylinders. Huge empty spaces.
The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile. In fact, it was one of my few criticisms from the very start. They adhered to a design formula that was lifeless. Huge open spaces. High ceilings. No pick-up and go in the main area. They also lacked geographical and cultural identity. That 'lifelessness' was one of the aspects Apple sought to improve in subsequent changes to that retail formula.
The number one criticism of shopping centres, and from their inception, has been any lack of identity. Walk into one anywhere and see exactly the same shops with exactly the same designs. That, thankfully is beginning to change.
It is ironic that Huawei took Gaudí highlights for its Barcelona store as that is what I wanted for Apple's Barcelona Flagship before they had even announced its creation. And the Huawei store Gaudí hues are not limited to the lighting. They have a huge Huawei logo on a wall made from broken ceramics. It is different. Just touches here and there. Some local identity.
Apple tends to stash its generalistic retail experience out of view. Yes, those third party goods are stashed away in a corner (well away from the entrance) or in a completely different room. In Barcelona PsG it is in the basement area. But there it is. The regular retail experience, in all its glory.
Are there similiraties? Yes. That's because they sell the same kinds of products! Car showrooms spring to mind here.
You are going to get a lot of glass facade. Just like on almost any flagship (or non flagship stores). You are going to get as much daylight as possible. You are going to see big tables. Those tables will be natural in styling (normally wood or simulated wood tops). They will be rectangular or circular. Etc. You will not get a Martha Stewart feel.
These are not Apple ideas. This is universal design language. They have been around forever.
Just like if you walk into an English pub. It's going to be instantly recogniseable as a pub! You can expect certain elements to be there independently of the chain.
Huawei has many retail styles. Its customer service centre in Barcelona is a delight to be in. A very personal and comfortable setting.
It even has an unstaffed store (in Wuhan no less).
The excuses are endless. Who cares that Apple uses wood. Seriously, Huawei copied and that's the end of that.
You're like the iKnockoff users who claim their knockoff iPhones are originals because Apple didn't invent the rectangle.
"The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile."
Yet knockoff Apple companies like Huawei and Samsung copied these designs. iPhone was also "sterile" before everyone removed buttons and copied. We can go on forever but you'll never acknowledge reality.
Look closer those aren't Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads.
Are you saying that huge Huawei logo didn't give you enough of a clue?
Why would you expect 'Macs, iPhones, AirPods or iPads' ?
Ah! I think I see where you are going! But NO, they are quite different store aspects but if you want to go down that route, you'll find there is little between an Apple retail Stores and many others that came long before - like FNAC stores which were even one of the very first EU stores to have Apple's store within a store concept. Also. Huawei allows its stores more freedom with design. Hence the Gaudí influence in areas of the Barcelona store.
lol he is actually acting as if that store is not a complete and shameless ripoff. Look at him go!
Look, I don't know who you're trying to fool (other than yourself, of course), but from your own links those stores are *clearly* Apple Store ripoffs. Simply put, no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did. I worked computing retail for years thru HS and college and I know this for a fact. Pics of post-Apple Store from you own links:
...they're even copying the glass walls! And the wood tables, aluminum, etc. If you don't see those as Apple Store copies (even with the Gaudi ceiling variance), then what can we say -- your cognitive dissonance has you locked into a world view to prevent you from seeing what is simply and plainly obvious to anyone without your vested interest in a knockoff brand. Have at it, but be aware of how you're deluding yourself. We are.
Or is it like how after the PC clones copied the aluminum & black look of of MBs -- "It's the only natural evolution!" Riiiight.
Full glass fronts have been the norm for years. These table fittings are common everwhere. Classic Scandinavian 'Ikea' look. Plenty of variants but the same basic styling. It works. I even gave you a pre-Apple example: Fnac! And yes, Fnac even has 'Forum' spaces for demos, presentations, concerts, performances, readings etc. Fnac is designed to be comfortable, though and sells far more than phones, tablets, computers, watches. The overall experience is wildly different but as far as phones, laptops and computers were concerned, it is clear that its approach was the way to go. And probably not even limited to them.
What they don't have are glass staircases. Glass cubes. Glass cylinders. Huge empty spaces.
The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile. In fact, it was one of my few criticisms from the very start. They adhered to a design formula that was lifeless. Huge open spaces. High ceilings. No pick-up and go in the main area. They also lacked geographical and cultural identity. That 'lifelessness' was one of the aspects Apple sought to improve in subsequent changes to that retail formula.
The number one criticism of shopping centres, and from their inception, has been any lack of identity. Walk into one anywhere and see exactly the same shops with exactly the same designs. That, thankfully is beginning to change.
It is ironic that Huawei took Gaudí highlights for its Barcelona store as that is what I wanted for Apple's Barcelona Flagship before they had even announced its creation. And the Huawei store Gaudí hues are not limited to the lighting. They have a huge Huawei logo on a wall made from broken ceramics. It is different. Just touches here and there. Some local identity.
Apple tends to stash its generalistic retail experience out of view. Yes, those third party goods are stashed away in a corner (well away from the entrance) or in a completely different room. In Barcelona PsG it is in the basement area. But there it is. The regular retail experience, in all its glory.
Are there similiraties? Yes. That's because they sell the same kinds of products! Car showrooms spring to mind here.
You are going to get a lot of glass facade. Just like on almost any flagship (or non flagship stores). You are going to get as much daylight as possible. You are going to see big tables. Those tables will be natural in styling (normally wood or simulated wood tops). They will be rectangular or circular. Etc. You will not get a Martha Stewart feel.
These are not Apple ideas. This is universal design language. They have been around forever.
Just like if you walk into an English pub. It's going to be instantly recogniseable as a pub! You can expect certain elements to be there independently of the chain.
Huawei has many retail styles. Its customer service centre in Barcelona is a delight to be in. A very personal and comfortable setting.
It even has an unstaffed store (in Wuhan no less).
"no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did"
...no computing stores were doing clean tables of spaced out product. Prove me wrong. Show me computing stores doing it pre-2001. Heck, show me any retailer doing glass-aluminum-wood-table stores. The pics you and I posted are complete, shameless, Apple Store ripoffs. There is absolutely no question.
You are only lying to yourself here, guy.
I already have. Twice!
Again -- Fnac.
Ever since the first store opened in Barcelona (mid mineties). Fnac is French BTW. I spent 20 years visiting fnac stores various times a week!
I didn't document my trips photographically of course.
Back then the exact same concept was used for other CE goods. Things like headphones. Then the digital camera boom. MP3 players. Then smartphones, tablets, etc.
Right down to the fittings I described further up and through subsequent refits.
The biggest difference with Apple Stores was in what I also described. Space.
Apple had such a limited product spread that it could play with all that space it was renting.
Basically, and this is why I mentioned car showrooms further up, Apple Stores were more like showrooms. Product galleries. You couldn't pick up a iPhone box and take it to check out.
That was the front line experience. You had to 'order' the phone through staff and they would pull it out of the back room. Everything else was pushed to the back of the store.
In fact, even the staffing has a lot in common with Fnac. Fnac staff did not receive commissions. They were young and knowledgeable. It wasn't that hard find someone to talk to resolve doubts.
The people selling books were book readers themselves. The people selling cameras were real photography enthusiasts. Long before the Apple Retail experience, fnac had its own retail experience. Apple's goal was to put the consumer centre stage (as it should be) but that wasn't anything novel. Fnac built the entire shebang around that one root concept.
Fnac wasn't selling only CE goods though so the store experience as a whole was quite different. Books and CD/DVDs require different elements. It was focused on the cultural side of things. Hence the press kiosk, Café, forum and lots of seating to pick up a book and read undistracted. No noisy hard flooring. Headphones for you to listen to CDs.
You would never walk into Fnac store and compare it to an Apple Store but the CE areas had ALL of the points you mentioned.
Apple even chose Fnac to host its first stores within a store and apart from the signage you wouldn't have noticed much of a difference back then.
The conceptual side isnt new. The materials aren't new. The staffing isn't new. The experience isn't new. Retail is one of the most studied areas for consumer experience for a reason.
Depending on what you are actually selling, there will be more or less similarities between one establishment and another, which is why car dealerships look quite similar.
It's also why some Huawei flagship stores share similarities with stores like the Apple stores - they are selling the exact same 'star' products! The exact same services!
Of course there are plenty of differences too, if you would just open your eyes to them. First, Huawei sells far more products than Apple and partners with far more companies.
Its HiLink system includes thousands of products. It is also an ICT company. You will therefore see interactive setups that have all this working together. You might see a representation of a typical living room equipped with 5G, IoT products etc.
But one thing is retail flagship stores and another is Experience Stores. Again, you will see differences. The Barcelona experience store is a far cry from the retail flagship store. This is the Milan Store which is a far cry from the Barcelona store (and any Apple consumer space).
Simply put, no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did. I worked computing retail for years thru HS and college and I know this for a fact.
B&O?
When was that photo taken?
When it comes to computing stores, I'll stand by my claim -- no computing stores were doing this before Apple in 2001.
Comments
Perhaps you haven't seen many stores.
Full glass fronts have been the norm for years. These table fittings are common everwhere. Classic Scandinavian 'Ikea' look. Plenty of variants but the same basic styling. It works. I even gave you a pre-Apple example: Fnac! And yes, Fnac even has 'Forum' spaces for demos, presentations, concerts, performances, readings etc. Fnac is designed to be comfortable, though and sells far more than phones, tablets, computers, watches. The overall experience is wildly different but as far as phones, laptops and computers were concerned, it is clear that its approach was the way to go. And probably not even limited to them.
What they don't have are glass staircases. Glass cubes. Glass cylinders. Huge empty spaces.
The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile. In fact, it was one of my few criticisms from the very start. They adhered to a design formula that was lifeless. Huge open spaces. High ceilings. No pick-up and go in the main area. They also lacked geographical and cultural identity. That 'lifelessness' was one of the aspects Apple sought to improve in subsequent changes to that retail formula.
The number one criticism of shopping centres, and from their inception, has been any lack of identity. Walk into one anywhere and see exactly the same shops with exactly the same designs. That, thankfully is beginning to change.
It is ironic that Huawei took Gaudí highlights for its Barcelona store as that is what I wanted for Apple's Barcelona Flagship before they had even announced its creation. And the Huawei store Gaudí hues are not limited to the lighting. They have a huge Huawei logo on a wall made from broken ceramics. It is different. Just touches here and there. Some local identity.
Apple tends to stash its generalistic retail experience out of view. Yes, those third party goods are stashed away in a corner (well away from the entrance) or in a completely different room. In Barcelona PsG it is in the basement area. But there it is. The regular retail experience, in all its glory.
Are there similiraties? Yes. That's because they sell the same kinds of products! Car showrooms spring to mind here.
You are going to get a lot of glass facade. Just like on almost any flagship (or non flagship stores). You are going to get as much daylight as possible. You are going to see big tables. Those tables will be natural in styling (normally wood or simulated wood tops). They will be rectangular or circular. Etc. You will not get a Martha Stewart feel.
These are not Apple ideas. This is universal design language. They have been around forever.
Just like if you walk into an English pub. It's going to be instantly recogniseable as a pub! You can expect certain elements to be there independently of the chain.
Huawei has many retail styles. Its customer service centre in Barcelona is a delight to be in. A very personal and comfortable setting.
It even has an unstaffed store (in Wuhan no less).
https://syncedreview.com/2020/01/11/robot-arms-selling-huawei-phones-in-new-unmanned-store/
When it comes to computing stores, I'll stand by my claim -- no computing stores were doing this before Apple in 2001.
"no other CE company was doing nice clean tables with interspersed product like the now-classic look until Apple did"
...no computing stores were doing clean tables of spaced out product. Prove me wrong. Show me computing stores doing it pre-2001. Heck, show me any retailer doing glass-aluminum-wood-table stores. The pics you and I posted are complete, shameless, Apple Store ripoffs. There is absolutely no question.
You are only lying to yourself here, guy.
The excuses are endless. Who cares that Apple uses wood. Seriously, Huawei copied and that's the end of that.
You're like the iKnockoff users who claim their knockoff iPhones are originals because Apple didn't invent the rectangle.
"The original and predominant Apple Retail styling is sterile."
Yet knockoff Apple companies like Huawei and Samsung copied these designs. iPhone was also "sterile" before everyone removed buttons and copied. We can go on forever but you'll never acknowledge reality.
Again -- Fnac.
Ever since the first store opened in Barcelona (mid mineties). Fnac is French BTW. I spent 20 years visiting fnac stores various times a week!
I didn't document my trips photographically of course.
Back then the exact same concept was used for other CE goods. Things like headphones. Then the digital camera boom. MP3 players. Then smartphones, tablets, etc.
Right down to the fittings I described further up and through subsequent refits.
The biggest difference with Apple Stores was in what I also described. Space.
Apple had such a limited product spread that it could play with all that space it was renting.
Basically, and this is why I mentioned car showrooms further up, Apple Stores were more like showrooms. Product galleries. You couldn't pick up a iPhone box and take it to check out.
That was the front line experience. You had to 'order' the phone through staff and they would pull it out of the back room. Everything else was pushed to the back of the store.
In fact, even the staffing has a lot in common with Fnac. Fnac staff did not receive commissions. They were young and knowledgeable. It wasn't that hard find someone to talk to resolve doubts.
The people selling books were book readers themselves. The people selling cameras were real photography enthusiasts. Long before the Apple Retail experience, fnac had its own retail experience. Apple's goal was to put the consumer centre stage (as it should be) but that wasn't anything novel. Fnac built the entire shebang around that one root concept.
Fnac wasn't selling only CE goods though so the store experience as a whole was quite different. Books and CD/DVDs require different elements. It was focused on the cultural side of things. Hence the press kiosk, Café, forum and lots of seating to pick up a book and read undistracted. No noisy hard flooring. Headphones for you to listen to CDs.
You would never walk into Fnac store and compare it to an Apple Store but the CE areas had ALL of the points you mentioned.
Apple even chose Fnac to host its first stores within a store and apart from the signage you wouldn't have noticed much of a difference back then.
The conceptual side isnt new. The materials aren't new. The staffing isn't new. The experience isn't new. Retail is one of the most studied areas for consumer experience for a reason.
Depending on what you are actually selling, there will be more or less similarities between one establishment and another, which is why car dealerships look quite similar.
It's also why some Huawei flagship stores share similarities with stores like the Apple stores - they are selling the exact same 'star' products! The exact same services!
Of course there are plenty of differences too, if you would just open your eyes to them. First, Huawei sells far more products than Apple and partners with far more companies.
Its HiLink system includes thousands of products. It is also an ICT company. You will therefore see interactive setups that have all this working together. You might see a representation of a typical living room equipped with 5G, IoT products etc.
But one thing is retail flagship stores and another is Experience Stores. Again, you will see differences. The Barcelona experience store is a far cry from the retail flagship store. This is the Milan Store which is a far cry from the Barcelona store (and any Apple consumer space).
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