Linked: Retail Therapy

via McSweenys:

I’d noticed that in my store, only Managers, Creatives, and Geniuses have their face on their employee key cards. Everyone else’s card is white. How do you get your face on your key card? You get it by visiting Cupertino.Managers, Creatives, and Geniuses, the senior positions in the store, are flown on the company’s dime to Cupertino for training, Apple finishing school, if you like. You’re paid salary to take classes and partake in tradition. It makes the pilgrimage seem that much more of a reward.

I do totally know the feeling. In a few years, I’ll post my employee key cards which you can only get by going to Cupertino. I have the files but can’t share them at this time. They are truly a big deal both for fans of the company and the remote employees. They mean basically nothing but it’s a rite of passage and is a big moment for all of us that ever worked for that fruit company.