“The Apple Watch is here at last — and the fashion retail world is getting firmly behind it,” Kari Hamanaka and Miles Socha report for Women’s Wear Daily. “Apple Watch will be available to preview at Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Isetan in Tokyo and Selfridges in London on April 10. It is understood those doors will host shop-in-shops in high-visibility locations custom-designed to support high service quotients, with Selfridges putting the smartwatch in its Wonder Room, Isetan on its ground floor and Galeries Lafayette on its first floor amid European brands. The size of the installations could not be learned, but are to incorporate bespoke tables that display the watches under glass with special lighting and animations. Sales specialists are to assist customers in discovering and trying on different models, also ensuring the setup so they are fully operational when they leave the shop.”
“In tandem with the April 24 launch, select specialty stores will sell individually chosen selections of the Apple Watch: Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Maxfield in Los Angeles and The Corner in Berlin. It is understood 10 Corso Como in Milan will also get the product at a later date,” Hamanaka and Socha report. “In addition, Hong Kong-based specialty retailer Lane Crawford is to preview the Apple Watch in its personal shopping Platinum Suites from April 10 in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu locations.”
“‘The experience of shopping for an Apple Watch is a deeply personal one. The department stores and specialty stores that we’re working with are some of the best in the world at offering such experiences, so it was natural for us to see our product there,’ said Paul Deneve, Apple’s vice president of special projects who joined the tech company after years helming fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Nina Ricci. ‘Given the very focused distribution that we’ve pursued for this launch, every door that sells Apple Watch will provide a unique experience for every customer that walks in,'” Hamanaka and Socha report. “Leveraging Deneve’s deep relations with international retailers, Apple started its charm offensive with the fashion community in September, when it unveiled the smartwatch at Colette, later hosting a dinner for retail, luxury and editorial elite at Azzedine Alaïa’s Marais headquarters.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Anything that helps to alleviate the coming worsening of the Apple Retail Store crush is very welcome indeed.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Sarah” for the heads up.]
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Incensed over the $17,000 Apple Watch Edition? You must be poor – March 9, 2015
Apple enters luxury market with $17,000 Apple Watch Edition – March 9, 2015
In smartphones, it’s Apple’s luxury or Android’s rock bottom – February 2, 2015
Apple takes top luxury gifting spot in China – January 29, 2015
It’s time to think of Apple as a global luxury brand – November 29, 2013
Apple hires former Yves Saint Laurent CEO for ‘special projects’ – July 2, 2013
Plaything for the rich. Nothing more.
Is your life so small that you have to troll this site? We get it now: you hate Apple and everything it stands for. Excellence is not a virtue you aspire to.
He has to troll this site, there is NO ShameScam ‘Edition’ watch. 😀
Has asshat, I’ve been on this site much longer than you and am not a troll. Go read past history. With this release Apple has LOST ITS WAY, as a once great computer company. Stop sucking the Koolaid and open pull your head outta your ass.
As an AAPL stockholder, I can think of no better demographic from which to profit.
No kidding. We know Apple can make a profit on the guts of the Watch at $350. I can only assume these high end outlets are getting a bigger slice of the pie, and the gold content of the Edition is significant, Apples margins are still staggering. We’re speaking thousands of dollars per device.
*shrugs* Everyone wants playthings. Stop hating.
What dumpster did you crawl your way out of?
Think of my 1 star vote as me kicking you.
That reminds me, with the fashion world’s interest in Apple and the watch there should be women posters visiting here. Oh gosh, we’ll have to be on our best behavior.
Glenna, I hope you can help us….
Well this site is certainly frequented by a mixture of readers — investors, artists, programmers, business owners, retired warriors, etc. Maybe more Glamour readers will be attracted here, as you suggest, and contribute a touch of elan to help balance the swagger.
As an elan-challenged swaggering programmer, I’d have to agree.
If the Gold Edition watches sell well, will they be followed by Silver and Platinum Edition watches? Let’s start the rumor here and now! 😀