Report: Apple Recruiting Fashion, Luxury Staffers for Watch’s Store Debut

Apple (AAPL) reportedly believes the upside for its Watch’s spring debut is so high as to warrant hiring retail fashion and luxury specialists, perhaps a clue the vendor intends to take a page out of retail boss Angela Ahrendts’ luxury background.

According to a 9to5Mac report based on internal Apple hiring documents, the vendor right now is recruiting retail staffers sporting experience in fashion or luxury, an indication it could be working on a physical makeover for its stores to prominently showcase its Watch device or, as previously reported, staffing certain locations with specialists to advise customers on product selection.

Apple is said to already be crafting its retail strategy for the Watch with a plan that includes training staffers to help customers try on the Watch in various sizes and bands. Ahrendts reportedly believes that selling the Watch at retail will strengthen Apple’s customer relationships and the overall consumer buying experience.

Might Apple be mulling remodeling certain aspects of its outlets to look more like jewelry stores, such as housing the Watch models in roomy glass cases to be sampled only with the help of a trained consultant? With shoppers asked to consider a variety of Watch designs and styles, along with choices in bands, trying one or more on will doubtless be a fundamental part of the buying experience.

The vendor is said to be on schedule for a spring launch for the Watch. Between now and the Watch’s actual debut, however, Apple still may have considerable work to do to impress the difficult-to-wow fashion world that its new Watch not only is hip and cool but also elegant. Judging by what some of the fashionistas have had to say about the Watch’s design, there’s still ground to cover.

Will fashion leaders iffy on the Watch right now warm to it as the launch date nears? Make no mistake, fashion leaders are right in front in determining how well the Watch ultimately is received in the broader market—not just among IT aficionados and users who can afford $350 Watch in addition to their iPhones, but also among regular folks.