Apple Store employees will give you fashion advice

By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor

Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

Apple Watch Edition
Apple Watch Edition
Courtesy of Jason Cipriani

Apple Store retail employees are getting trained on giving fashion advice ahead of the company’s Apple Watch launch next month, 9to5Mac reports. The fashionista crash course comes as part of a larger training process teaching employees how to sell the new device.

Prospective Apple Watch buyers will get 15 minutes of hands-on time with the new device while being guided by an Apple employee. Those employees are being asked to comment on the device’s appearance based on a customer’s outfit, saying things like “you seem to have a fun style. I think the Pink Sport band would make your style perfectly,” or “the white strap looks great on you.”

9to5Mac reports Apple has the following five Apple Watch guidelines for retail employees:

  • Focus on the positive: Discuss why an option is good, not bad.
  • Use past experience: Bring up what previous customers have selected and how decisions were made.
  • Discuss personal style: Talk about how current accessories on the customer fit well with different Apple Watch options.
  • Ask friends and family: If a customer is with someone, involve them in the decision.
  • Leave price alone: Don’t talk about cost of a certain style. A customer may spend more if they like the look.

The Apple Watch goes on sale April 24, with a preview and presale period beginning April 10.

A Fortune survey of analysts found that Apple could sell an average of 22 million devices in 2015.

Apple posted strong earnings in January, reporting earnings of $3.06 per share on revenue of $74.6 billion. Analysts expected the company to report earnings of $2.60 per share on revenue of $67.9 billion.