Update: Apple removed the job listings, but we have screenshots below.
Following our discovery that Apple was looking to hire app engineers to build virtual reality experiences, new job listings give us more insight into its interest in building VR gaming experiences and “cinematic user interfaces” for future Apple products.
Following the recent hire of a former Burberry and Nike social marketing executive to run Apple’s new social media arm, a few job listings on Apple’s website point to an attempt to bolster the company’s retail marketing team. A few of the positions were outlined by ifo Apple Store earlier today and seem to point toward an increased focus on building and maintaining customer loyalty to the Apple brand.
We’ve heard time and again that Apple customers, particularly iPhone users, are among the most loyal, but it seems Apple believes there’s still more to be done in that department. One of these new job listings calls for a “Program Manager — Loyalty, Global Retail Marketing,” which would focus on creating “learning and services strategies” designed to inspire loyalty among Apple’s user base.
Apple has plans to announce at least 30 new Apple stores this year to add to the 400 or so it already has up and running, and today we get tips that it has also started advertising jobs for new locations in Germany and the United Kingdom.
First off is a new U.K. Apple Store located in Trinity Leeds shopping center in Leeds. TechnoDaily pointed us to an announcement from Apple that the new store will open March 21 at 10 a.m. local time.
Apple also appears to have new stores on tap for Munich in addition to job lists going up for the already confirmed Dusseldorf store.
CEO Tim Cook announced plans earlier this year to open 30 new retail locations in 2013, most of which will be located outside of the United States. Apple will also move 20 stores to new, larger spaces during the year and bring the total number of countries with Apple Stores to 13 after launching its first store in Turkey.