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As early reports indicated, Apple stores will reportedly be getting a facelift ahead of the Apple Watch launch date to accommodate new, fashion-y customers. According to the Wall Street Journal, sources have confirmed that Apple will redesign its stores to include a by-appointment-only space where customers can try out the new Watch before buying.
A Buzzfeed News report outlines the problems with the current store setup. Kathleen Jordan, a leading retail designer who worked on Apple's initial store design with Steve Jobs and Ron Johnson, told Buzzfeed News that a luxury product needs the proper luxury setting to be sold in. "The problem with Apple Stores is they're packed, there's boatloads of people, the people are dressed very casually, and for your Apple dudes, your brand-loyal customer, that's fine," Kathleen Jordan told Buzzfeed News. "But for the people that are brand-agnostic but are watch shoppers, they're going to need that shop-in-shop, they're going to need that set-aside quieter environment where somebody can walk them through all the details... because it's an investment."
To a certain degree, Apple has already addressed this issue by partnering up with leading fashion retailers across the globe both in boutique retail and department stores. Each will sell the swankier watches in sectioned-off, elite corners of the floor. Changes to core Apple stores remain to be seen; however, upgrades will probably start to roll out close to the pre-order date of April 10.