I just wrote a mild rant today , in which I tried to argue that Apple should mass merchandise Apple logo’d products like T-shirts, hats, cups, ad nauseum, along with its computers and whatnot.

Two questions for the masses: 1) is this a good idea? and 2) what other things do you think Apple should sell?

_________________
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Rodney O. Lain
Mac Observer Columnist, iBrotha’s page at TMO

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: iBrotha on 2001-08-14 22:09 ]</font>

1) Yes

2) The Mac Observer T-Shirts

Brad

1. No
2. More peripherals

Good answers! Good answers!

I think the Apple store should have a small and tasteful collection of T-shirts, but thats it.  No mugs, scarves, watches, etc that have nothing to do with computing.  I would like to see some kind of Apple-fied mousepad.  No bumper stickers either.  That stuff gets kind of cheesy (IMO)

Now that I think about it… they should sell posters. I would love to buy a Kubrick (insert favorite) Think Different poster.

HOM, why did you (originally) say Apple shouldn’t sell branded merchandise…

IMO selling other stuff would clutter thestores. I think they spent a lot of time working on exactly how to layout the stores to maximize the experience of shopping there. If they could do it in a way that didn’t make the store look busy I would go for it. I think that posters would work because someone could ask for one that is already up on the wall.

Tha’s coo. (My favorite line from “Ladies’ Man.” Actually, that’s not my favorite line; I can’t repeat that; this is, after all, a family web site )

I would love to see the Apple Stores sell Apple logo’d stuff.  I would definitely buy something every time I went in, if they were to do so.

Remember the 6-colored logo coffee mugs?  Man, those look AWESOME!  RedLightRunner sells them BTW, if they still have some.  Cool shirts, cool posters, cool mugs.  They could even keep the clutter down by limiting the selection and rotating things out.

I know what redlightrunner sells, I just placed an order with them. 4 T shirts, 2 with the Apple logo and 2 with OS X on them. I think they sell good stuff, pitty is just the pretty steep transportation costs for me.

After I posted last night I remembered that this thread was supposed to be about NON-Apple merchandise.    So I thought I’d come back and add my real 2 cents.   I think they should have at least a couple more 3rd party printers.  And they should have some connectivity peripherals (adapters and such) as well as more cables.  At the MOA store their peripheral department was really lacking badly.  Of course, I’d rather have more software than more of this stuff.  That stuff you can get anywhere.  If a PC user comes into the store I want them to see how much software there really IS for Macs, first and foremost.

Note that this thread is actually about BOTH Apple logo’d stuff AND other merchandise. 

Personally, I am very interested in getting as many opinions as possible on both parts of this thread.

Apple stickers tossed in the bag with every purchase.

I was going to say free, but I could see them turning up all over the mall if that was the case (which could be bad or good, depending on how you look at it )

Stickers?

One of the things I like about macs is their uncluttered attitude. I saw a load of other laptops the other day and they were covered in stickers. My iBook is neat and clean, it does not shout, it just gets on with it work.

Sorry, I am not a fan of excess (except when it comes to food)

My 2 pence….

Will

I don’t know if Apple clothing is appropriate for the Apple store. I agree with the suggestion made earlier that I like the uncluttered look of the store. Of course, if things like clothing and whatnot could be displayed in a classy way without messing with the store aesthetics then I’m all for it. I really like the suggestion that they could sell the ‘Think Different’ posters in the store. They’d be easy to keep behind the genius bar and it’d be cool to say “I want that poster” and have the Genius pull it out for you…

Of course if they did sell clothing, then it’d have to be subtle and classy. I’m thinking inconspicuous logos that are embroidered on. Something like pajama pants with the apple on the back pocket or on a cargo pocket or something. But that’ll always be the dream, as it seems that nobody ever makes pajama pant anything - am I the only one who spends most of his day lazing around the apartment in sleepwear? (ahh, the joys of working out of your home.. )