Former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson to launch gadget delivery service, report says
According to a report on Tuesday, former Apple SVP of Retail Ron Johnson is looking to open an on-demand delivery service for electronic devices, a sector currently being explored by the likes of Amazon, Google and others.
Citing people who spoke with Johnson about the project, The Information says the as-yet-unnamed startup will focus on on-demand deliveries, a departure from the retail guru's most recent job as CEO of J.C. Penney.
Johnson has also hired on former Apple employees to help with the new venture, including Vice President of Retail Jerry McDougal, who left the Cupertino company in 2013 to spend more time with his family.
While specific details are unknown, the upcoming service reportedly involves branded eco-friendly vans that are sent out on delivery runs on an on-demand basis. Similarities can be drawn with Uber, which is also experimenting with quick deliveries by way of food orders.
Amazon and Google have been looking for ways to make on-demand delivery services work, but so far their attempts have been largely unsuccessful. The logistics and economic viability of fast deliveries, however, continues to be roadblocks in rolling out a wide network.
Johnson is best known for realizing the Apple Store concept, which has become a major revenue driver for Apple and arguably serves as the face of the company. He left the company in 2011 to take on a position at J.C. Penney, but was fired in April of last year.
Citing people who spoke with Johnson about the project, The Information says the as-yet-unnamed startup will focus on on-demand deliveries, a departure from the retail guru's most recent job as CEO of J.C. Penney.
Johnson has also hired on former Apple employees to help with the new venture, including Vice President of Retail Jerry McDougal, who left the Cupertino company in 2013 to spend more time with his family.
While specific details are unknown, the upcoming service reportedly involves branded eco-friendly vans that are sent out on delivery runs on an on-demand basis. Similarities can be drawn with Uber, which is also experimenting with quick deliveries by way of food orders.
Amazon and Google have been looking for ways to make on-demand delivery services work, but so far their attempts have been largely unsuccessful. The logistics and economic viability of fast deliveries, however, continues to be roadblocks in rolling out a wide network.
Johnson is best known for realizing the Apple Store concept, which has become a major revenue driver for Apple and arguably serves as the face of the company. He left the company in 2011 to take on a position at J.C. Penney, but was fired in April of last year.
Comments
Ronnie Johns Gadget Delivery - Freaky Fast
The thing with Uber is that once they've gotten past the new customer acquisition cost, it's very likely the new customer will use the service more than once and if like me, they'll use it regularly. That's where the payoff is. I know personally, I'm not buying but a couple of tech items a year. Perhaps I'm not the average, but I'm not seeing the business plan playing out well here.
Yeah, how many times a year are you buying a tech gadget AND not standing there in the store taking delivery of it or not buying it online in which case it's delivered pretty quickly. What is the specific purchase context he's trying to solve? Bigger question: aren't you glad Apple isn't in the business of trying to solve such low-margin problems? I'd sell every one of my 6500 shares if Apple announced it was taking on such challenges.
Good. He can run and get my iPhone 6. It's in Louisville.
Or you could go off to the sunset and enjoy your coin. Why does everyone feel the need to prove they can do it on their own?
Because work is fun. Because it's exciting to have goals and reach them. Retirement is depressing for most people with active minds.
I am somewhat skeptical, though. Uber/Lyft work because there are no drivers to hire or cars to buy. This would be different.
There’s a reason some people drop dead when they retire.
Unfortunately no one will be able to crack the on-demad delivery nut until the Beam Me Up Scotty transporter service is established in 2025. That is what Apple should be working on.
Do it on their own or in some cases just do it again ... I couldn't agree more, and it is so often a huge mistake. Many have lost it all when they could have been on a beach but their egos couldn't let go without one more try. Human nature I guess. I think many folk fail to see they were lucky, and in the right place at the right time, the first time around. It's hard to repeat that.
Oh look the sun is setting and the tide is coming in ... Pass the margarita will ya? :smokey:
I don't understand how this is much of an advantage.
Consumer electronics are generally manufactured in Southeast Asia and arrive in the USA via air freight or sea cargo through a handful of ports of entry, then go to warehouses or get forwarded along the distribution channel down to the individual consumer.
Ten pallets of widgets ships from Shenzhen, clears customs in Anchorage, then arrives at Oakland, CA. What difference does it make whether they go to UPS distribution centers or Johnson's gadget delivery service warehouse?
You either have the inventory or you don't. On-demand delivery doesn't speed things up.
On-demand delivery makes more sense when the source is relatively random (and local) and timeliness is of the essence, like a hot meal from a restaurant or a case of cold beer. On-demand delivery doesn't make sense for a 3-ft RCA audio cable, a 128GB SD memory card, or a tube of toothpaste.
I've wondered much the same thoughts. His failure at leading the charge to change up J C P, as he was fain to call it, was a spectacular failure. So much so, it calls into question his whole apparent Apple success.
A very recent testimonial to the power of the "Apple store experience" was being in one two weeks ago to pick up a MacBook I had ordered, together with my wife and her sister. They started looking at the iPad Minis and each ended up buying one. Two years of my explaining the benefits were overshadowed by their being in the store.
Or you could go off to the sunset and enjoy your coin. Why does everyone feel the need to prove they can do it on their own?
because he has not realize the success of the Apple stores had nothing to do with him, except that he was good Indian for Jobs. We all know the entire store idea was Steves and this guy just did what Steve told him to do. I bet he is not evens sure what specifically made it successful. Honestly, I am not 100% sure myself, it may a combination of things. But he is not actually grasping it himself, look at the mess he created at JC Penny.
Because work is fun. Because it's exciting to have goals and reach them. Retirement is depressing for most people with active minds.
"Retirement is depressing for most people with active minds"............and no money to spend satisfying it. There. Fixed it for you.