A Visit to the Apple Store in Soho
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is an innovative media company and our strategy has always been to be where ever our consumers are – in print, on TV, on the web, and at retail stores. And now, I am so proud to say that we’re mobile, too! Last week, I was invited to appear at the fabulous Apple Store in the Soho area of Manhattan to showcase our stunning brand new digital issue of Martha Stewart Living called Boundless Beauty. Created specifically for the iPad, we used all the newest tools and technology, providing a fresh and unique way for readers to experience our magazine. We also demonstrated our cookies app, called Martha Stewart Makes Cookies. This app provides home bakers with all the inspiration, information, tools, and functionality they need, right at their fingertips, including more than 50 recipes, shopping lists, “how-to” videos, timers, and techniques. Because digital was part of our business model from the very outset, the Apple Store was a perfect venue for this event. To download our apps, please visit here.
1 The Apple store in Soho is located in a former US Post Office.
2 The familiar logo - Apple has opened over 323 stores worldwide.
3 The Apple Store employees were dressed in red for the holidays and ready and quite able to assist.
4 A sign announcing my appearance
5 The the central, skylit glass staircase to the second floor of the store where I spoke - you find a diverse group of customers, from hipsters to baby boomers.
6 The Soho store is very spacious and has two floors.
7 There are several kids' stations setup throughout the store.
8 The seats at those stations fill up fast!
9 A vast array of speaker docks developed for iPods and iPhones is on display.
10 The Apple Store is set up very cleanly, with big tables displaying working models of their products.
11 Here is the Genius Bar, where customers can make appointments to get technical support for an Apple product.
12 Geniuses at work!
13 The new iPod touch offering more options than ever!
14 The extremely popular new iPhone 4
15 The new MacBook Air looks really amazing!
16 So thin and lightweight!
17 iPod Shuffles and Nanos of all different colors ready to be gifted this season
18 And the fabulous iPad - get them while they're still in stock!
19 Customers trying out the large-screen iMacs - We use these great computers in my blog studio. Big screens are great for photo editing.
20 There are so many different options for carrying your new Apple laptop!
21 And a rainbow of colors for accessorizing your new iPhone 4!
22 The sign says it all. It's astounding how many different formats the Beatles' music has been heard on.
23 This was the station set up for my appearance, which enabled viewing the iPad up on the big screen.
24 A very no-nonsense stage
25 Another photo op time
26 The whole lecture was filmed and taped for an upcoming podcast.
27 A stern warning!
28 My Date Night companions were my moderators for the evening - Jim and Brendan.
29 As usual, Jim and Brendan were a lot of fun and asked many good questions.
30 Our Chief Creative and Editorial Director, Gael Towey, introduced our digital magazine on the big screen.
31 Our digital magazine cover of Boundless Beauty, was recently rated by Time Magazine as one of the top ten covers of the year.
32 Videos are embedded into the digital magazine, such as this one all about flower arranging.
33 There's a fabulous story about a trip to Alaska, all shot with one photographer and a Canon 5D camera, which can be used for both stills and stunning video.
34 What is the filling in this flaky phyllo dough?
35 Just touch the screen to see what's inside!
36 We also demoed our fantastic cookie app called Martha Stewart Makes Cookies.
37 To select a cookie you want to bake, simply scroll through the cookie runway and touch your choice!
38 By using the reshuffle option, you can narrow down the choices on the cookie runway.
39 Or scroll through our cookie search wheel to mix and match types and flavors until you find just the right cookie.
40 There was ample time for audience Q&A and some very good questions were asked.
41 Some of my people sat in the front row - Susan Magrino, Missy Foristall, Sarah Gormley, and Katherine Nash.
42 Gael took questions from the audience, as well.
43 Can you tell that this audience member is a fan of my dogs? What a great shirt!
44 There were lot's of fans wanting to take pictures of me with their iPhones as I headed out.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Congratulations on the TIME article. I have seen this application "Boundless Beauty"! It looked amazing! http://www.themalemartha.com
Great people surround themselves with other great people! Your company is proving that alot lately! Keep up the good works Martha..and things will be great!!
Dan Viger
Hollis Center, Maine!
Posted by: Dan Viger | December 14th, 2010 at 12:13 am
Boy, when you say Hipsters, the guy in photo 5 looks like he needs some hips to hold his pants up. Or, at least...a belt.
I really like your hair in photo 29.
And, I realy like the entrance to the Apple Store. And, the glass stairs. Just how thick does glass have to be to walk on?
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | December 14th, 2010 at 12:16 am
I just wanted to say that you and your staff have done an AMAZING job with both IPAD apps. I was on vacation this past week and used your cookie app twice for our family Christmas cookie swap. My mother was so excited that I might have to get her an IPAD for her birthday just so she can get your apps. Best wishes to you, your family, and your staff this holiday season. Thank you for all you do.
PS: My Christmas gift this year from my Mom is your magazine!
Posted by: Alissa | December 14th, 2010 at 4:32 am
iPad does for living, what Martha Stewart does for living well. Bravo Martha. You have conquered yet another piece of technological brilliance. It seems as though those "date nights" with you appear to always have a wonderful outcome.
Posted by: Mitchell Schuller | December 14th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Nice, but some of us don't use iPads...anything coming out for the other types of smart phones and other PC tools out there?
Posted by: Gretchen | December 14th, 2010 at 8:41 am
This is fantastic! You need to spread your gifts everywhere. Inspiration is a blessing to be shared.
Good job!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Posted by: Luciane at HomeBunch.com | December 14th, 2010 at 10:57 am
This is already another success!
Thanks for sharing your gifts, Martha.
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Posted by: Luciane at HomeBunch.com | December 14th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Hi Martha, Since I have an iPad, this blog post is really fun for me to view. I love every part of your 2 apps and enjoy viewing them over and over again. These photos of the SOHO Apple store are fabulous. That store is extremely huge compared to the one I go to at the Southcenter Mall just south of Seattle. Sure would have been fun to be at the SOHO store when you were there filling all those people in on how to use an iPad. It was fun to see Gael Towey and some of your other partners. The photo of that lady wearing a darling shirt with your fantastic dogs pictured on it was terrific! Loved your show yesterday and really laughed when you commented about no more 'thumb printing'! Clever! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | December 14th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Photo 29 is so good. Thanks for dragging many of us kicking, screaming, and holding onto the past into new world of technology. (I still don't understand it)
Posted by: ann | December 14th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
What a beautiful building; Post Offices built during the early 20th century are elegant structures sold for a song and brought to life as community playhouses or an apple store. A place where the masses continue to communicate with each other. Let us help the Post Office to exist and reach people around the Globe sending packages or a treasured postcard or note from the far reaches their travels or circumstance may place them. The Post Office may have stumbled in the race of technology based advancements but click and ship services available on line help to provide excellent customer service. Please support the local post office it is a meeting place the small towns know this; as we become more urbanized a constant in your neighborhood is the clerk at the window or the letter carrier on your route. Thank you for choosing the US postal service when posting a package. Happy Holidays-- stay warm.
Posted by: kathleen | December 14th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | December 14th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Hi Martha,
Considering I have to be practically dragged out of the house to go shopping when I really don’t need anything, I may not have found out about the Apple Store in Town Center Mall had it not been for this blog. You prompted me to Google it and surprise, there it was. I’m not really gadget crazy but who knows what will happen when I get over there and start ‘playing’ around with things such as the iPad for instance. I need to see how things work and how much it will cost me and if I can use it with my router, etc. before I will even think about buying it so I guess I’ll pay them a visit - soon. The one in Soho is really nice and I can see why all ages like to hang out there and try things out. More stores need to have working models of their products.
~
Thanks for keeping us on top of things - I’m always learning something new from you and I don’t mind showing off my ‘Martha knowledge’ either such as when I watch Jeopardy. I think it was last night when it was vowel-less vegetables and when I answered jicama, arugula and radicchio without batting an eye, I got a surprised look from my sister who is kitchen clue-less. Actually, eleven years ago I didn’t know what they were either - sometimes I can’t believe all the things I’ve learned from you! Trish
Posted by: Trish | December 14th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
I downloaded both the digital magazine and the cookie app to my iPad. I'm still discovering new content. They are very rich and a high standard and so much fun to use! As usual, your team has done an impeccable job. They are lovely media products.
Posted by: Lisa Westbrook | December 15th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
I'm a trustee with Franklins Royal Governors Mansion, located in Perth Amboy N.J.. We are in the middle of an all volunteer restoration project to save this piece of American and English history. If you could mention our ongoing effort to save the Mansion, I'm certain the funds to continue the restoration will be achieved.
Built in 1762, and home to William Franklin, (Benjamin Franklins son) while he was the Royal Governor of New Jersey. The famous argument between Benjamin, and his son William about joining the Continental Congress, which would lead directly to Williams arrest happened in the Mansions drawing room. This is also the (only) Royal Governors Mansion, from the original 13 colonies left in our country all others are only replicas.
If you ever in the erea and would like a private tour, please feel free to contact me.
Posted by: Mr. Hogan | December 16th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Hi, Martha. You are such a wonderful person! I watch your show daily. I have eight children, your show helps me save money and gives me lots of ideas to share with my children. Your reciepes are absolutely wonderful! I'm into cooking and crafts. The birch Christmas tree stands on your show today was a very neat idea. I live where their is a lot of birch trees. Your show is the greatiest and I will continue to my faithful viewing of your show. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Diana Shields | December 16th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Love the Martha iphone app. Also want to suggest to anyone waiting in a group or before the Super Bowl, another great people app is Ultimate Ice Breaker. Food & fun!
Posted by: liz | February 4th, 2011 at 2:56 pm