The Man Who Created the Apple Store on Why the Strategy Still Works

Ron Johnson, creator of the Apple Store and author of the new book "Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius," examines the strategy behind the iconic Apple Store and how Apple has transformed over more than 50 years. He speaks with Romaine Bostick and Sally Bakewell on "The Close." Johnson begins by reflecting on the long-running debate over whether the internet would kill retail, suggesting that concern was overstated. From there, he draws on his experience building the Apple Store to explain the thinking that shaped its design and operations. The conversation also looks at how Apple itself has evolved over five decades and what that evolution reveals about the company's approach to retail. Johnson's book frames the store as a window into Apple's broader genius, and the interview explores that argument in detail.