Sony opens idyllic new retail store in Nagoya, Japan

We heard back in January that Sony was looking to reface itself somewhat by introducing a minty fresh retail look that takes a note or two from the Apple and Microsoft shops already in existence, and for those lucky enough to find themselves in Nagoya this weekend, you can check it out in person. March 13th marked the opening of the all new Sony Store Nagoya, and with an ample of amount of glass, white demo stands and black overhead signs, it's certainly one of the more seductive retail shops that we've seen. We'd bother knocking Sony for following instead of leading, but considering just how far the brand has fallen over the past couple of years, we're just stoked to see it putting forth an effort to turn things around.

[LAY Posted Mar 14th 2010 12:14PM]

@Wesscoast

"And the whole point of this post is that....

duh duh duh!... Sony is revamping their stores to... imitate Apple.

*facepalm"

Ok..

Should we shoot the employees?

Burn it to the ground?

File a lawsuit?

What the hell do you want civilization to do about the egresses crime? Certainly Sony has no business remaking their retail store in any way they see fit because heaven forbid it offends the sensibilities of people?

I wonder how we dealt with the proliferation of Department Stores years ago? God knows all of those sucka-retailers ripping off Sears just brought down all of society didnt they?

Oh why could they not "lead" and invent a store completely different than that!?!

[JW Posted Mar 14th 2010 12:51PM]

@Wesscoast
Apple invented glass on buildings?

[RedChaos Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:59PM]

@LAY

Did you realize that people don't read your comments anymore since they are mostly all biased. Most of the comments you posted in the past week show that you are an Apple fanboy. I like Apple and their company (I own an iPod Touch 8GB 2ng gen, 32GB 3rd gen, and a MacBook Pro) but that doesn't mean that other companies suck.

It is normal for companies like Sony to "copy" Apple's store style since Apple's stores succeeded. You'd have to be stupid to keep the old design if you can clearly see that your "neighbor's" design is much more successful.

[LAY Posted Mar 14th 2010 4:02PM]

@RedChaos

Ok...Wha?

[JW Posted Mar 14th 2010 11:20PM]

@RedChaos
He's kinda the opposite

[insky Posted Mar 14th 2010 11:28PM]

@RedChaos
I'd also like to know where you're detecting this Apple fanboyism...Because I can't smell it at all.

[Sogeking Posted Mar 15th 2010 12:16AM]

@insky
It's because we didn't kneel when Apple was mentioned.

[onlymyrailgun Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:06AM]

@RedChaos
I'd give you +100 for epic sarcasm, but I detect a whiff of sincerity in that post. So there's a +1 for being funny, lol.

[XChrisX Posted Mar 14th 2010 10:54AM]

Sony used to be a pretty legit brand but now outside of their digicams and Playstation I doubt I'll be owning any sony products anytime soon. Even then I own a canon camera :P Not sure how this will differ from their Sony Style stores.

[Pingles Posted Mar 14th 2010 11:15AM]

I wonder why the signs over the aisles aren't in Japanese?

[kabloink Posted Mar 14th 2010 11:19AM]

I think it's still missing something. Hmmm.

Ahh, it's missing a repair area, perhaps called a Guru Desk, where customers discover their warranties are voided due to overly sensitive moisture sensors.

[jaffreywali Posted Mar 14th 2010 11:37AM]

@kabloink

At my local Sonystyle we have a Sony backstage area. They have a couple of legit folks there. FWIW. I own 4 vaios. a TP series HTPC, an LT series all in one, a vaio x netbook and a vaio FW notebook. Add to that 2 Sony ereaders and a Sony alpha dslr 300 with zeiss zoom lens. All bought at my local Sonystyle store. All work well and bought after careful research v the competition at the time.

So while I like and buy Sony hardware, I'll admit that the Apple store experience is superior. The sales guys are just better and they do a better job with presenting their stuff.

[shizzledmg Posted Mar 14th 2010 11:41AM]

Ah i see, the Apple Store concept for computers, gadgets and software!

Can't wait to get my hands on a Sony vaioPad.

[Ed T Posted Mar 14th 2010 1:11PM]

@shizzledmg

Me too! I can't wait -- they say it will have a slot for minidiscs and memory sticks!

Mine is on pre-order. After the magic unicorn delivers all the Couriers, he promised to put a Vaiopad under my pillow.

[hellojoaquin Posted Mar 14th 2010 11:51AM]

I'm telling you.
Most Americans are suckers for simple commercials, contemporary stores, and branded napkins.

[soccerpro100cn Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:02PM]

@hellojoaquin as are europeans... so i don't see your point. want proof? go to any apple store grand opening in europe and you'll see just as many apple fans lined up at 5 am for the doors to open as you'll see in the states.

[hellojoaquin Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:06PM]

@soccerpro100cn
Okay. Okay.
Western consumers!
No need to get all defensive.

[Agent007 Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:12PM]

I wanna go to Japan and play Pichinko all day.

[JustThatNerdyGuy Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:50PM]

reminds me of a huge white store we have in London....iWonder which one

[Blocparty Posted Mar 14th 2010 4:07PM]

Easy: Sony takes notes...Microsoft took notes and Apple makes the rules.Period.

[malexandria1 Posted Mar 14th 2010 5:35PM]

Anyone know the latest on Microsoft stores? The PC Buying experience is so horrible, compared to purchasing an Apple store. The Best Buy computer section is always a mess - laptops are dirty, password protected so you can't use them, and others have boot errors on full display. Target, Walmart, etc. don't even turn them on.

By comparison you walk into an Apple store, it's a sterile environment and I hate all the smug ass "geniuses" who work there. But everything looks good, screams "Come on touch me, play with me, buy me. You know you want to..." You don't have to jump through hoops to demo anything.

When I walk into a store selling PCs, I want to be able to play around on the internet, check out the quality of the display, see if I notice launching Office is faster with an i5 chip, etc. The laptops should have games and movies running on them....

[onlymyrailgun Posted Mar 15th 2010 2:14AM]

@malexandria1
If the PC buying experience is so horrible, I think it would be partially attributed to two things.

1. Too many different models to choose from, even from a single company (Sony). Not exactly a bad thing, but is a factor.

2. They all have these complicated model numbers. I can't even remember the laptops I've owned or used in the past. And when I want to look up one my friends have bought or are planning to, I have to turn Google inside out to reach the model with the correct numbers and letters.

[malexandria1 Posted Mar 15th 2010 6:41AM]

@onlymyrailgun

I agree, there are numerous choices which is why I like PCs more than Macs - even though I own one. But that's no excuse for making the purchasing experience so hard.

How hard is it to set up displays that says gaming, productivity, entertainment, portability and put related laptops there and then create a great user friendly showcase for what PCs can do in those areas? Instead of having a dusty netbook that's turned off next to a 16 inch laptop that has booting problems?

[wetworker Posted Mar 14th 2010 5:53PM]

I wonder sometimes if these giz people ever venture outside of the apple world and do some research on other brands, Sony has had stores for more than a decade now. look up SonyStyle!! their free catalog with all the sweet gadgets was off the chain.

[Ariel Bender Posted Mar 14th 2010 7:58PM]

@wetworker: I wonder about the cognitive abilities of the people that comment on Apple. Apple is universally accepted by anyone who is anyone as one of the best marketers of this time or any other. Whether or not you choose to buy their products, for whatever reason, is another case entirely. So what Sony had stores for more than a decade? Were you at a Sony Store ten years ago? If you were, then you know what a total failure of an experience it was, and still is. Every time I go to a Sony Store, I ask myself two questions: Why is this store open, and how do they pay their rent?

[azizrahmancom Posted Mar 14th 2010 10:53PM]

I cant wait to see the UK version of the store, the one in Manchester is close to re-open again, im hoping it looks like this!!!

Aziz
http://www.azizrahman.com

[jmanc Posted Mar 15th 2010 3:02AM]

love sony, don't love the sonystyle stores. employees hovering around in blacksuits and ear pieces asking you if you need help with a stern voice the moment you touch something. it's like they hired the secret service. was playing with that tiny OLED TV that costs 2 grand and I was sure they were about to draw their weapons.

I like the apple store experience with the loud music, bright lights, noisy kids checking their facebook on all the computers and unusually perky staff who appear as if they took a load of uppers driving to work in thier scionb.

[realar Posted Mar 15th 2010 7:40AM]

@jaffreywali

Sony makes way too many versions of their products, For example you might see six different types of DVD/CD recorders/players, Cameras, TV's or computers. They could remove at least 70% of their product range, Focus on a core set and make more money from it.

Why the hell does Sony still make clock radios.