Experiencing an Apple manager’s send off speaks volumes for its culture

By Alec Hogg

Got a useful look inside the Apple culture yesterday during a visit to its Regent Street store in London. And it illustrated why it has become the most valuable company on earth.

People wait in line for the opening of the next generation Apple Store in San Francisco. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Trading stopped for five minutes or so as the store’s 400 staff formed a guard of honour down the length of the store. And then cheered and gave the occasional hug to one of their team, a manager called JP.

We later found out that the subject of the adoration is one of the store’s long-time managers. It was his last day before returning to his native Thailand where he’ll be opening a new retail outlet for the company.

Fair enough. But on deeper inquiry, staffers told me it’s not just popular managers who receive this star treatment. Everyone who leaves Apple’s employ, even if they happen to be joining rival Samsung, gets the same warm send off. And for those five or so minutes, customers come second. It’s just the Apple way. Steve Jobs sure knew how to build a great business.

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