Segmenting and Targeting Markets Post 1& 2

Post 1:
The core target market for Apple products are young adults and teenagers for both male and female, primarily in USA, Canada, Europe and Asia. Macs also sell to creative types like photographers, videographers, writers, musicians, artists, etc.Apple's market segmentation is characterized in age, gender and desire for image and creating product desirability mainly to everyone. Apple's products are targeted from middle to high class consumers.

Post 2:
Apple's largest target marketers are Ipod consumers. Apple has exceeded its self-imposed goal of a one percent world cellphone market share by the end of 2008. The study shows that the iPhone represents 1.1 percent of the entire world cellphone market. Apple’s iPhone currently ranks third in global smart phone sales behind only Nokia and RIM. Apple’s iPhone seen the largest gain year-over-year. Apple held firmly in third place in 2008 with over 4 million iPhones sold in that period which accounts for 10.7 percent of global smartphone sales. In comparison, Apple sold a little over 1.9 million iPhones in 2007 which at the time gave Apple a 5.2 percent marketshare.

Apple in the Market Post 1 & 2

Post 1:
Apple has always been into attracting consumers in any way possible. From building an incredible amount of buzz, to having people buy their products, Apple can be considered a small business world. They have has come up with a new application called Mas OS X Download. Mac OS X Downloads lets users test drive and download the new applications that integrate the latest Mac technology. Featured apps are categorized for easy browsing making it easier for users to find what they are looking for.

Post2:
Apple has its own rules on how to market to the people. First, get a charismatic CEO to represent the company and its products like Steve Jobs. Secondly, create a unique customer experience. Apple’s unique customer experience is one of the biggest achievements of their marketing department. Thirdly, its important to be pretty. Apple is very unique when packing their products making it look very pretty from the box to its package inside. Also, people love big photos. Apple believes “a picture is worth a thousand words." A big and beautiful picture brings out more excitement. Also, keep your message simple. Apple believes in that "simple messages are easier to understand, easier to remember, and easier to share." And finally, always stay one step ahead. Apple has made products that have made people wanting more and a good example of that is ipod.

Consumer Decision Making Post 1 & 2

Post 1:
Apple’s goal is to provide customers with the best possible user experience. The best example of this is the current iPhone. Everyday, Apple is trying to figure out a way to how they could make its features and applications more easier and reliable for consumers. The App Store has been a great sucess for Apple. Just over a year since opening, the App Store offers over 65,000 iPhone applications, and customers have downloaded over 1.5 billion applications.

Post 2:
Apple believes that there are four different views related to consumer decision making process and behaviour. First is economic view. This refers to the fact that consumers are primarily facing imperfect competition and they are always expected to make rational decision on the basis of assumptions, they are aware of all product alternatives, they can rank benefits and limitation of each alternative and are able to identify one best alternative. The second is Passive View. Its suggests that consumers are irrational and impulsive as they are submissive to self-centered interests of marketers and got influenced by marketing tools. Third, Emotional View which is related to perceive consumer’s decision making based on their emotional association or feeling about some products and services. Fourth is Cognitive View. This is where consumers are actively searching for the products and services that can fulfil their need.

Global Vision Post 1 & 2

Post 1:
Apple has their next million dollar idea: The Enterprise Mobility iCloud. This application will allow hundreds of millions of mobile workers with enterprise data and information through their mobile device. CIO's of major companies will definitely benefit from this new technonlogy.This advanced technology will influence "business models, revenue flows, and the future direction of enterprise IT." This application is made to work as easy as using your destop. It is also being made so that it can be used not only for iPhone users but other mobile devices such as Nokias', LGs' and Samsungs' etc.


Post 2:
Apple has come up with a "Developer Program." Once iPod sales began rising in 2003, the company worked with makers of portable speakers, music-player cases, and other add-on gadgets. Since BMW first added an optional iPod connector in the glove compartment of many of its 2004 models, carmakers including Chrysler, Ford, and Honda have also followed its same steps. In 2008, General Motors Corporation's Cadillac CTS came out with a center console that features the iPod's "rotate and click" interface. Apple is trying to improve their portable speaker development to incorporate them in other model vechile. This will make vechile owners with these types of vechiles consume ipods and enlarge Apple's profit.

Social Responsibility, Ethics, and the Marketing Environment Post 1 & 2

Post 1:
Apple Inc. is devoted to ensuring its highest standards of social responsibility. They are committed to ensuring that their suppliers meet the standards outlined in their "Supplier Code of Conduct." This Code recognizes standards such as International Labour Organization Standards (ILO), Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Social Accountability International (SAI), and the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). Apple is committed to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and dignity and that all manufacturing products are "environmentally responsible." All workers are obligated to work in full compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations in the country in which they operate.


Post 2:
The highest standards of ethical conduct are expected from Apple suppliers. Such ethical conduct include but are not limited to Corruption, Extortion, Embezzlement, Disclosure of Information, Fair Business, Advertising, and Competition, Whitleblowing Protection and Anonymous Complaints.

At Apple, having a safe environment for all workers and consumers is very important. Some ways to provide a safe environment are to have Hazardous Substance Mgmt. and Restrictions, Wastewater and Solid Waste Emissions, Air Emissions, Environmental Permits and Reportings, and Pollution Prevention and Resource Reduction.

Strategic Planning Post 1 & 2

Post 1:
Many people never thought that Apple Computer Inc. was in a desperate financial need at one point. Gilbert F. Amelio, Apple's chairman and chief executive, gave a public strategy speech. He addressed an audience of 4,000 Apple software developers, customers and analysts assembled at the San Jose Convention Center in California stating that Apple will comeback from its financial need. He also mentioned that it would take several small steps in the journey for Apple to come back up. Rebuilding the company would mean refocusing on clearer, and less diverse group of products. Such products included the Macintosh computer line, an information appliance business for products priced at less than $1,000, its printers and monitors, and a new organization devoted to alternative platforms. While trying to keep its promise, Apple's stock fell 18.8 cents, closing at $27.063 in NASDAQ trading. The company announced that it would begin a $20 million program to support the outside developers who create software for Apple's products. Gilbert F. Amelio announced that "it would either go on to fulfill its destiny of "changing the world" or "decline into irrelevancy."


Post 2:
Apple has also set a set of goals they plan to reach for the 2010-215 period. Apple's strategic plan intends to guide research and development investments. To get where they want to get, Apple has listed the issues they need to resolve."

1. Developing apple and pear product quality in order to meet and exceed consumer preferences, maximize returns and avoid damaging inconsistencies that will erode the industry’s market share

2. Working more actively with industry supply chains to increase their efficiency and competitiveness

3. Preparing for imports and seeking to grow export markets.

4. Taking a proactive approach to environmental and social issues.

5. Building on the momentum for productivity improvement to achieve international competitiveness

6. Reinforcing consumer preference for apples and repositioning pear products through innovative marketing approaches."

Developing a national plan provides a mechanism to develop a unity of purpose across the industry in responding to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Where Company stands today Post 1 & 2

Post 1:
Apple has about 35,000 employees worldwide and had worldwide annual sales of $32.48 billion in its financial year which ended September 29, 2008. Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world in 2009. In January 2006, Apple's market capitalization surpassed Dell. One of Apple's co-founder, Steve Jobs, announced that Apple would begin producing Intel-based Mac computers in 2006. By August 7, 2006 Apple had transitioned the entire Mac product line to Intel chips, over one year sooner than announced.


Post 2:
On April 29, 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple was building its own team of engineers to design microchips. During this period, Apple was very sucessful in its stock price. Between early 2003 and 2006, the price of Apple's stock increased more than tenfold, from around $6 per share to over $80. Right after the announcement of introducing the Iphone and Apple TV, the next day, Apple shares hit $97.80. This was an all-time high at that point. In May, Apple's share price passed the $100 mark. Apple recorded its best non-holiday quarter during the recession with a revenue of $8.16 billion and a profit of $1.21 billion.