Have you ever walked into an Apple store and noticed their fixtures or their display? There are white walls, a clear glass entrance, white tables, and very little furniture. There is nothing special to the layout. I expected a bit more creativity from a company who’s stock is worth $120 and owns a majority share of the phone, tablet, laptop and desktop industries. Take a look at their products. They are also very simple looking. Whether it be their packaging, their marketing and even their website layout, Apple’s image can be described by one word; simplicity. Steve Jobs, the late genius that created the technology giant that Apple is today, once said, “that’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.”
Jobs was not the only person who believed in the importance once simplicity. One of the greatest minds of all time, Albert Einstein, said, “Out of the clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” Coco Chanel, a fashion goddess, believed that “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” The great Leonardo Da Vinci declared, “Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.”
Simplicity is an aspect of life that humans crave. We do not like complications. We avoid difficult situations, problematic people, perplexing ideas and intricate products. This is why Apple is so appealing to consumers. They create simple products with simple systems that are customer friendly. Their products are stored in simple packaging and are bought in simple stores where customers can easily find what it is that they are looking for.
So what can a local business learn from a giant like Apple? How can a hotel, a pharmacy, a lounge, or an accounting firm apply simplicity to their working areas?
Companies, big and small, must use a keen eye and put a lot of effort into creating the optimal working environment. The way that they display their stores, restaurants, lobbies, etc., must be beautifully designed and easy on the eye. There are many fixtures, mannequins and accessories that companies can use to decorate their spaces. Beautiful retails store supplies in Canada and the United States help all kinds of business find a way to express themselves.
A great way to attract new customers, and retain established ones, is to allow for a customer to enjoy every step of the buying experience. This experience begins the moment when a customer walks into a business’ establishment. It continues with the interactions that they have, whether with employees or sales people, and does not end, even after they have left the institution. The support that is given after a sale, or after a service has been rendered, has a huge influence on a customer’s perception of the company involved.
Simplicity, beauty and reliability are what make great products and even greater companies.