Apple Kicks Off Two-Day Seminars for Retail Staff, Signaling a High-Stake Initiative for the Launch of Apple Vision Pro in January

By Moon Harper

Dec 11, 2023 04:56 AM EST

Selected retail employees received memos notifying them of their inclusion in the training for Apple Vision Pro. While the AR headset is scheduled to launch in early 2024, the training sessions for retail staff are set to begin next month. These two-day sessions aim to equip employees with the skills to promote Apple's $3,499 head-mounted wearable to potential buyers.

(Photo : Unsplash/ XR Expo)

Apple Getting Retail Staff Ready

Apple is reported to have brought retail employees from each US store to Cupertino, California, for training on using and selling the Vision Pro last October to bring in a few individuals from each store, provide them with information, and then have them go back to train the rest of the staff. At that time, Apple indicated that this training would take place in early 2024, coinciding with the device's expected release.

"High-Stakes Endeavor"

The Apple Vision Pro setup is known to be complex. The training for retail employees aims to simplify it to enhance the overall user experience. Retail employees will receive comprehensive training to improve the Apple Vision Pro user experience, seeking to persuade customers to choose it as their daily device. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the training is considered a 'high-stakes endeavor' due to the complexity of setting up the Apple Vision Pro. Ensuring a positive customer experience is a priority, and employees will be instructed on how to approach customers and adequately fit the headset for each user.

Apple plans to bring in a select group of individuals from each store to receive training on the upcoming Vision Pro device. These trained individuals will return to their respective stores to instruct their colleagues. Initially planned for early 2024, the training sessions are now being scheduled, with the two-day training set to start in mid-January. This is a critical effort because the setup process for the Vision Pro is expected to be intricate, and Apple wants to ensure it is done correctly.

The device needs to be personalized for each user, and a poor fit could negatively impact the user experience. Every step will be carefully managed, including how retail employees approach, interact with customers, and place the device on a user's head.

Despite these training sessions, buying an Apple Vision Pro won't be as simple as ordering online or visiting a store. According to a previous report, these devices will only be accessible through an appointment system, similar to how the first Apple Watch was launched. Additionally, the report mentions that Apple Stores will soon get new equipment for assembling and packaging Vision Pro headsets. Gurman suggests that Vision Pro customers may be encouraged to collect the device at a store, even if they ordered it online.

Regardless, Apple's strategy to market its initial mixed-reality headset is clever, as customers interested in the $3,499 device will likely want to experience it firsthand. The training of employees will play a crucial role in shaping the first impressions of the Apple Vision Pro and determining the headset's initial success.