Much like crew of the Starship Enterprise, the roles played by employees at Apple Retail stores will be identifiable by the color of their shirts.Now, before you confuse the guys in blue shirts for science officers and those in red for security, we'll explain how it's going to work. According to a post at ifoAppleStore, Geniuses and Creatives will wear dark blue. Specialists will wear light blue, and the Concierge will wear orange.
Also, orange shirts will bear the slogan, "I know people," while the dark blue will read, simply, "Business." Finally, the crew in the back room will wear the traditional black T-shirt, assuming the role of the guy you don't recognize in an away team who's sure to die.
One must imagine that the Concierge will console irate customers by offering them Earl Grey tea "...in my ready room."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-28-2008 @ 5:41PM
Michael Rose said...
Must... resist... urge to address Apple Store staffers as "Ensign Ethnic" and "Ensign Buxom"...
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4-28-2008 @ 5:52PM
hid said...
maybe the managers should wear command pips on their collar.
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4-28-2008 @ 6:01PM
mrman5917 said...
I think this may already be the case. I was at the Apple Store at Victoria Gardens this weekend and I noticed three distinct colored shirts walking around. They had the light blue guys at the front welcoming people and assisting with iPod and iMacs for the most part. Orange shirts in the back at the Geniuses wearing orange. The other ones where wearing a combination of Black and Dark Blue, it looked like there was at least one manager and a few others standing around others in Dark Blue waiting for someone to purchase something or maybe getting ready to train someone.
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4-28-2008 @ 6:24PM
Ryan Carnell said...
This "uniform assignment" is already in effect at the La Jolla/UTC (San Diego) Apple Store...
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4-28-2008 @ 8:35PM
MeatyPi said...
god it makes me want to work there even more now then ever.
4-28-2008 @ 6:27PM
Mike said...
Managers will also be wearing the light blue former concierge shirts. I should also point out there are two different types of dark blue shirts, the geniuses and creatives will wear a dark blue t-shirt that have various witty slogans on the front of them. The business partner, that works with our business customers to find solutions for their business, will also be wearing dark blue, but their shirt is now a polo shirt. On the left sleeve there is an Apple logo that has the word "business" above it.
In addition, the color of our name badge is changing from grey to blue and our new business cards are finally going to have a silver/grey Apple on them instead of that beveled glossy blue one from when OS X first came out.
We had our quarterly meeting yesterday and they put on a fashion show to show off all the new gear.
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4-28-2008 @ 6:34PM
Tournevis said...
At the Laval store two weeks ago, they were already very obviously wearing those exact colours.
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4-28-2008 @ 7:22PM
Brett said...
Already doing this at the 5th Ave store in New York
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4-28-2008 @ 7:26PM
EBone said...
Any chance they can get rid of the t-shirts for a little nicer polo-shirt look for all the employees? I always think the Apple employees in t-shirts look like they should be working at a charity car wash.
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4-29-2008 @ 2:14AM
Mike said...
Ugh, I couldn't even imagine wearing a polo shirt. That doesn't not fit Apple's culture at all, except for the business partner. If you worked at one of the stores you'd understand this.
Polos are what "PC" from the commercials would wear in the summer. Jeans and a short sleeve or long sleeve t-shirt are definitely Apple's style.
If you think we should be wearing polos, you should probably go visit one of Dell's kiosks or stores and look for a computer there. Oh wait, they all closed.
4-29-2008 @ 1:11PM
Brian Allen said...
I remember the Apple Store manager interviewed me while wearing a t-shirt and padded vest during February. It looked like she just came off a hiking trial in Colorado.
They indicated that dress is very important in that it is not to be formal. The personnel staffing representative indicated that I should wear a casual shirt and slacks during the interview.
Image was not store manager's concern or the Lead Genius Trainer assisting her with the interview.
I do think the t-shirt give youthful look to the store, which I expect is what they are going for from the staff.
(By the way, I got the Genius position, but I declined due to the low pay. And hey, I have enough t-shirts in my closet.)
4-28-2008 @ 7:45PM
Rubbinz said...
When will Apple require all their "Geniuses" have an IQ that accurately reflects the title?
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4-28-2008 @ 8:18PM
Maxmatic said...
Why do we care about this?
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4-28-2008 @ 9:09PM
mmendoza27 said...
Actually, I was commenting on pointing this out for TUAW. However, I don't think it would be in my position since we just had our quarterly meeting yesterday. Actually, these shirts are pretty cool. I think the orange looks great and I prefer wearing that over the light blue.
The managers will wear light blue along with the Specialists (they are no longer called Mac Specialists). This was effective today in our store, it just depends on what region and when the quarterly meeting for that store was.
Glad to see this news up and running! Unfortunately, if I want to become a Specialist, I'm going to have to wear that light blue again... the business cards are awesome though!!
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4-28-2008 @ 9:46PM
Doug said...
Some of my worst shopping experiences have taken place at an Apple Store. I am not sure changing the color of the shirts will help. Maybe getting people in the store that no what they are doing would be the better way to go.
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4-28-2008 @ 10:21PM
Shig said...
So Alpha Complex is in Cupertino? That explains everything.
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4-29-2008 @ 12:32PM
Noah Ramon said...
Curious. Steve Jobs wears black. What does THAT mean, Friend Citizen?
At your service!
4-28-2008 @ 10:26PM
(01) said...
Way to mix old-school picture with new-school drink choice...
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4-29-2008 @ 12:39AM
Uncle Mac said...
Hmm, with the old school Star Trek TOS pic I wouldn't want to be a red shirt! LOL Unless maybe I was in the engineering division. ;-)
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4-29-2008 @ 4:03AM
splinter said...
re: experiences at apple stores, ive had nothing but excellent service from apple employees that are obviously flat-out. In particular the regent st store.
Ive rocked up there twice without an appointment on saturday and eventually saw someone, ok i had to cruise around for a while but at least i got seen, and they replaced my machine with a new one on the spot.
can't really ask for anything better than that.
As for t-shirts, i just scored a grey leopard one. Mwahahaa
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