What You Can Learn from Apple’s New Retail Honcho

I’ve talked at length around here about how our AGFAM friends (Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft) shape commerce generally and e-commerce specifically. In fact, my recent “Digital Marketing Directions” talk (slides embedded below), looked at the evolution of e-commerce into an always-on, cross-channel world.

So, I noted with particular interest this write-up about Angela Ahrendts’ plan for the future of Apple Retail . The key quote:

“Three weeks into her tenure at Apple, Ahrendts is already reshaping the retail executive team, visiting stores, and holding calls with store managers. Most importantly, she has outlined a three-part vision for the future of Apple retail: an emphasis on China, mobile payments, and completely revamping the end-to-end Apple Store sales experience.”

It seems Apple also sees a world of more connected commerce, integrating online and offline, payments and profiles, to create a holistic view of the customer. You can bet I’ll be watching closely. And I’d suggest you do the same.

Here are those slides I’d mentioned:

If you’re interested in learning even more about the future of e-commerce and marketing via the social, local, mobile web? Register to receive a special report I’ve produced in conjunction with hotel marketing firm Vizergy, “Digital Hotel Marketing in a Multiscreen World.” While it’s targeted specifically at hotel and resort marketers, the lessons apply to just about any business. You can get your free copy of the report here .

Finally, you might also enjoy some of our past coverage of the social, local, mobile web and what it means for your business, including:

• What Your Customers Expect from Mobile and E-commerce in 2014 .
• The Secrets Behind “It’s All E-commerce” for 2014
• Should Marketers Really Trust Google in 2014?
• The Zen of Digital Marketing Strategy
• 7 Steps to E-Commerce Heaven
• Today and Tomorrow: Mobile and The Changing Customer Journey
• Mobile Makes E-commerce Even More “Frictionless”
• Your 2014 Internet Marketing New Year’s Resolutions – Thinks Out Loud Episode 56