Week 14- Segmenting and Targeting Markets

APPLE DOESN'T TARGET MARKETS, IT TARGETS PEOPLE. 

Targeting people and focusing on the users is what Apple does. They let the consumers decide how and where they will use their products. This is what helps the Apple brand grow as an international company.They focus on individuals and build unusual products for them, and let these individuals determine to their best ability make use of technology. 

Although, most Apple products cost more than the average electronic, the quality of their products could last a lifetime. Apple's segmentation strategy has made the company successful, extremely successful. They have been very mindful in how to sell their products and sold them at the correct prices. They create products for a particular use such as the iPad is for reading, iPod is for listening to music, and the iPhone is for apps.

It's the Holiday's Again...and Christmas is right around the corner....So why wouldn't you want a iPhone?

Week 13- Developing and Managing Products

It just wouldn't be right if Apple didn't come out with something new that will be apart of our everyday lives. Apple continuously launches a new product or feature to add to their line of GREAT PRODUCTS that everyone LOVES! Their steps to developing products that the consumers love are:

DESIGN. CODE. BUILD. INNOVATE

Just that simple..

Take a look at the Apple Evolution 1976-2007

Week 12-Customer Relationship Management

Apple is a company that has an effective strategy to create LOYAL customers

A Store just for Apple: Apple has a  store strictly devoted to Apple products. Apple stores are friendly and everyone is willing to help solve a specific problem. It's a space where not only "Mac-Lovers" can get service but to hang out and enjoy and explore different Apple products.


Education Sales: Apple is all about education. They sell their products to schools and universites which make the classroom more interesting for the students making  it into a showroom.

New Innovations: Although Apple has many products, they can satisfy their customers in many different ways. In the office, the home, and on the go, Apple makes it easy for the customer to stay loyal to a brand they already like.

Products that Deliver: Apple carefully considers on what makes the customer happy. With lots of research and strong designs, they are rated very high for customer satisfaction. Plain and simple and easy to use is what their products say, this makes the customer happy and loyal to their products.

Week 11- Integrated Marketing Communications

Apple has one of the best selling techniques in the business...and it really doesn't require much work. They let the product speak for itself. Allowing the consumers to have a hands on experience is a plus for the company. It didn't require a rocket scientist to figure it out, but it's still a valuable strategy for promotion of products. According to TheeBestLife.com, it shows the Top 10 Reasons Why (Average)People Buy Apple Products. Its actually another blog, but I feel that he touched every point of the question...why Apple???

http://theebestlife.blogspot.com/2008/04/top-10-reasons-why-people-buy-apple.html

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Commerical- Comparing themselves to the iPhone 4

Week 10- Product Concepts

Apple's products excel with excellence when branding and packaging. They know what the customers expect, know that the brand is much more than the logo, how to simplify their message, and be themselves at all times.

Apple's Marketing strategy:

Simplicity: The art on the cover of the box, is a life-size photo of the product inside. With no words or no sell copy, this is what makes the consumer anxious and builds anticipation to get their hands on the product.

Consistency: The packaging and the product are as beautiful, clean, and easy to access as every other Apple product.

Ease of use: The product's controls and user interface are so natural that the consumer can quickly get up to speed and start using the product.

Quality: Instead of looking for ways to save money with a cheap box and paper stock, Apple makes their packages an extension of the product itself.

Week 9- Sales Promotion and Personal Selling

Apple has a lot of loyal consumers. Making sure the consumers stay happy and satisfied with their products, Apple has great offers that keep them coming back. The iPhone 4, which recently hit the market in late June 2010, Apple decided to make this phone twice as better than the previous iPhone's and more affordable to the consumer. Due to the complications and technical issues, it caused the consumers to become very upset with the qualities they were looking for in the phone. Apple took it upon themselves to give free phone cases to reduce the difficulties.

Back to College season is one of the biggest times of the year that Apple can make the most sales. Every college student feels that they must have some kind of computer to studty and help them with their school work. So why not get one of the hottest and coolest computers out? Which would be an Apple. Apple promotes selling the MacBooks by offering a student discount and with the purchase of the computer comes with a brand new iPod Touch. This strategy keeps the consumers loyal to Apple and also satisfied to have a cool gift with purchase.

iPhone 4 -New TV Ad

Week 8- Advertising and Public Relations

Apple promotes their products all over. For the iPhone, it is promoted in Newspapers, on radio, television, the internet, in magazines, etc. Apple has showed great discipline when promoting their products. They know they dont have to try and sell more their products on the desktops of Mac's, iPods, on iTunes, or iPhones to their highest bidders. The company understands the main reason is to provide the users experience that the customers would love.

iPhone is one of the fast developing breakthrough product for mobile advertising. As more people use the iPhone for more things, there are going to be much more ads they would love to see.

Steve Jobs explains the Apple Store

Week 7- Retailing

Walking into the Apple Store is like taking on a new adventure into Electronic World. The scene is bright and the atmosphere is very calm. All of their products are hands on and there is no limit to what you can do. From MacBooks, iPods, iPhones, iPads, even Apple TV, the Apple store beats them all. The customer service is great and all employees show a great interest in the consumers concerns. Apple's promotion strategy shows that the company put a lot of planning and hard work into it because the sales and outcome of it all are magnificent. They pick the perfect locations for all of their stores which is usually a popular shopping area. e.g. Soho, 5th ave, 14th St. Apple continues to stay on top of the market with all the new gadgets, as long as the consumer is happy, Apple is happy. 

Consumer Decision Making

Apple studies on consumers buying habits for better iAds. They're taking notes on the consumers every move to study their buying habits. Apple is considering over the data of its 150 million iTunes users to figure out how to pit their iAds up against big competition like Google. Apple hopes that by examining the habits of consumers, they may be able to gain an advantage in the market by how well they target specific demographics. The company will analyze the music, videos, and apps that customers are obtaining from iTunes, App Store and iBooks to determine a profile that will better advertise to those types of consumers based on what they're purchasing.

Global Business

Product & Promotion

Usually when a company is promoting a new product they will advertise it in a newspaper, in a magazine or on television. Apple show a view of advertising in a different way. Just like iPhone's first commerical. Apple decided to promote both their brand and Artists at the same time. By doing so they chose to show all features and advantages that the iPhone had and played the music of upcoming artists through iTunes. iTunes is a computer application that enables users to download music from the internet and create playlists. iTunes is a application that is already apart of the iPhone where the user can listen to music and watch videos just like on their iPod.

iPhone Commercials

Week 4- The Marketing Enviroment

Since iPhone targets consumers like students, professionals, health care workers, corporate users and entrepeneurs that want to communicate, store information and have entertainment on the go, the iPhone shows that it had way more to offer. Not only is the iPhone one of the hottest phones to have but it is also the top and fastest selling phone. It has features from many other cell phones all together in one.
What attracts the consumers to buy the iPhone is;

1. The modern looking  touch screens that can't be duplicated by any other mobile phones.

2. It is easy to use. The all touch screen phone can accomplish so many things in one single touch.

3. Apple made sure that iPhone are compatible with other Apple products such as iTunes, Apple TV and many other Apple software.

4. The irresistable price, it's so afforable now. Now at $199 for a new two year agreement, no one could even resist on passing up on buying one of the new "IT" phones.

Corporate Irresponsiblity

Cablevision Optimum Service

Optimum is supposed to have Better Television, Faster Internet, and Smarter Phones Services. But most people are complaining about either 2 of the 3. TV's aren't clear as the optimum serivice says its supposed to be. Some have static and freezing. The Internet serivice sucks most of the time. One minute the service will be up and running then the next your waiting for a signal or waiting for a website to finish loading. Last but not least the Phone service can be sometimes worst than a dropped call on your cell phone. Some house phones just completely cut out saying not available or giving complete silence (no dial tone). Cablevisions optimum service needs to step up all of their technical difficulties and stop lying to their customers.

Country of Origin

Shirt- China
Leggings- USA
Rain Boots- Italy

Week 3- Ethics

Apple is committed to ensure the greatest and highest standards of social responsiblity wherever their products are made. By doing so, they make sure that the suppliers treat the workers with most respect and use enviromentally responsible manufacturing processes.

Apple's suppliers highest standards of ethical conduct include:
 Corruption, Extortion, or Embezzlement: This is strictly prohibited within the Apple company.They should'nt engage in it in any shape or form and engaging in it will immediately result in termination from the company.

Disclosure of Information: Disclosing all information regarding business activities, financial situations, structure, and performance in Apple.

No Improper Advantage: Not offering or accepting bribes.

Fair Business, Advertising, and Competition: Defending and supporting fair business standards in sales, competition and advertising.

Community Engagement: Suppliers are inspired to get the community engaged to help the growing social and developing for the company in which they operate.

Protection of Intellectual Property: Apple suppliers must respect the protection of Intellectual Property by protecting and keeping customers information safe, and transfer technology and know how it must be done.

Week 2- Strategic Planning

iPhone's masterplan is to target consumers that like to have entertainment on the go. Those that need to store important information  or just want to communicate. Apple's target segments consists of corporate users, entrepreneurs, professionals, students, and health care workers. Few people want video, internet, and PDA features in one device because of the high prices. Since the smart phone market is low compared to the general phone market, the market will increase rapidly in coming years due to lower prices and greater power.