Angela Ahrendts, the former CEO of Burberry, a global luxury brand that could not have attained its iconic status without Ms. Ahrendts’ ability to define, build, and navigate a “fresh and upmarket” for the company, has recently joined Apple as part of its executive team. Her role is to revamp Apple by assuming the position of the new head of retail. Her experience in the high-fashion industry and her focus on image will definitely result in changes, hopefully positive, on how Apple will be run.
You might ask, “what is the relevance of Ms. Ahrendts’ hire to the high-tech industry?” Well, the answer seems to rest in the convergence of high-fashion and high-technology, in addition to wearable technology. With Ms. Ahrendts on board, Apple seems to have the competitive edge among its peers in terms of image-building and brand-marketing. Transforming Apple into a “luxury lifestyle brand” means providing not only the most hip and fresh design and technology, but also high-end customer service. Certainly, hiring the former CEO of Burberry will bring to the company this image it seeks to build and present to its consumers.
Also, consider the field of wearable technology. This includes smartwatches and Google Glasses, an up-and-coming device that functions as a computer/smart phone in the form eyeglasses. Apple, with Ms. Ahrendts’ vision and experience, which again, includes her remarkable career rebranding Burberry into the success that it is now, is sure to catch up in this new trend of wearable technology.
Given that a week has not yet passed since Apple’s announcement of its newest executive, we can only make predictions as to what Apple’s retail future will hold. With Ms. Ahrendts’ impressive resume and her lead role in retail and e-commerce, Apple’s retail future definitely seems promising.