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WeWork and Samsung Bite at Apple’s Genius Bar

National  + Weekender  | 

If you have an Apple product, you’ve likely experienced time sitting on the other side of a Genius Bar, casually waiting around for your product’s repair or replacement. As Samsung’s VP of design, Mike McConnell, recently dealt with this while accompanying his wife to Apple, he was inspired to turn the servicing of electronic devices into a pleasant and productive experience.

Collaborating with WeWork, Samsung is testing what it calls “care centers” in WeWork’s locations in Detroit, New York and Miami. In these high-end furnishing workstations, Samsung customers can utilize “tier 1” support requests, like receiving technical help or mailing items for repair.

The symbiotic relationship between the tech company and the co-working company means that people who aren’t WeWork members can take full advantage of the space, remaining productive while sipping on fresh coffee, all the while avoiding the sometimes dreadful experience of having to get technological repairs in a retail environment. WeWork members can benefit, as Samsung Retail Design’s project director Danny Orenstein calls the centers “WeWork spaces on steroids.”

If all goes well, the partnership could expand, as there are 235 WeWork locations and counting. Apple has about 500 stores and introduced the Genius Bar in 2001.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Daniella Soloway

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