Ch. 7 - Business Marketing

Apple is now apart of the business world in everywhere. There phones are used as business phones for companies, Mac computers and laptops are used by producers, pilots among other people, iPad's are used in business meetings, interview and more.

 

 Their goods are marketed all over world. Apple.com is used as a means of advertising and selling there products to businesses. There products have big sales throughout the year bringing in revenue with a percentage being of business organizations. Apple builds a relationship with retailers such as best buy and target who buy their products for resale. They also have their retail stores who are normally overcrowded with people. http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue/ 

Apple also does a lot or business marketing through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. https://www.facebook.com/AppStore

 This type of marketing is called Relationship marketing. Apple Inc. also has strategic alliances with other companies who cooperate with them such as the place in which Apple get their material to design their phone and the big retailers who sell their products. Apple tries to build a good relationship with other cultures because these countries can be a good sale towards the company’s profit.  

Apples major categories of business customers would be the regular person who is interested in a computer for business use such as a celebrity, producers among other people. They would have the rich, seniors, resellers and tourist just to name a few.  Apple Inc. products are also used in institutions such as hospitals, colleges and universities.  A Mac book pro maybe used by the school building supervisor to order things online for school purposes. The demand for their products in the business markets rises and fluctuates at times. The demand for their product is big but not as demanding as a customer using these products for personal use. The differences between the customers and the business market customers are they buy more products when purchasing their goods such as buying a mac book pro for seven executives in the office. Although they have fewer customers they do purchase more when buying. Apple inc. falls into the major equipment types of business products and are judged by evaluative criteria by business officials by the quality, price and service. Customer service Is very important to these buyers as their looking for the right Apple product to suit their business needs. They also have a website to help you base on your companies needs http://www.apple.com/retail/business/

Chapter 8:Segmenting and Targeting Markets

Apple inc has one of the largest market out their for technology devices. Their market segment which is filled with customers and organizations who want their needs to be fulfilled with a technology pack apple device.

 For people It's all about the phone and the good features and quality it offers. For organizations such as At&t and Sprint uses Apple cell phone devices for sale to meet there customer needs and their revenue for a profit at the end of the year.

 1. People at a Sprint store waiting in line when the Iphone 4 was just coming out.

 Apple also practice market segmentation when they first started off with Mac computers in the 90s then in mid 2000 they started to have cell phones then iPod then iPad and knowing they still have more to come. Apple segment bases targets group of all age from youth to senior adults. For youth their iPads are use to play educational games even in a stroller heading to the supermarket.

 For teens it is used for games, reading a book among different type of things. For the adults and senior adults it is used as entertainment, reading, sending email among other things. 

Apple build It's technology to suit every age group needs. Age also comes in with demographic segmentation. Demographic segmentation gender wise apple suit every gender from the female for the slick design of their product women deem as sexy  and the males with the features their product offers. 

Apple income wise comes in with middle to high class people and is use in all ethnic groups. Apple Inc. Characteristics are very big when it comes to demographics, locations and meeting ethnic group needs. Apple computers are very big in the music industry as they are used to produce songs, Dj in parties and are harder to catch a virus which will damage important music files. 

In psychographic segmentation their personality, motive, lifestyle and geodemographic segmentation is to suit the middle to high class consumer and customers. Reason why I say this is because you have to have money in order to buy their devices. For the middle and high class these psychographic segmentation compliments each other as they try to suit the need of everyone in these classes.

Chapter 11: Apple Development and Managing Products

                              

Throughout the year Apple Inc. introduce new products to their customers and consumers. Apple uses many different categories of new product to suit and catch peoples needs and wants. Just to name a few they use New to the World, Addition to existing line, Improvements or revisions of existing products and lower price products to name a few.Apple developing process would start off with the designers designing the product which would be the research and development department. The ability to suit their customers needs Apple focuses on and so Idea generation would come from their employees, research and development among other things. Apple even has a website where you can get help to generate ideas with the Idea Generation app. It is compatible on with any Apple device that uses IOS 5.0 or later.  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ideas-idea-generation-assistant/id501342441?mt=8 and https://developer.apple.com/

   
Idea screening would be used to test the if the product will  suit the needs of their customers and be successful in their field of products they manufacture. This would be like a start up form in the Apple process where Adam Lashinsky who wrote How America’s Most Admired–and Secretive–Company Really Works speaks about this process. Lashinsky then goes on to say that after this process they would do the New product process written on a document that shows what each department responsible is for the completion of the product. He also points out that Apple Inc. review products every Monday to see which one will take the world by a storm. They put people in charge of the production process which is done in China and where they design, build and test the product repeated. Doing a business analysis on these devices would be required. They would then be displayed in their conferences that are help to see the reaction of their already big customer group and to catch the eyes of their consumers to become customers.  Commercialization would then be used to ship the products all over the world, train staff for the release dates among other things. This release date is very important to all Apple Inc executives to employee's as these dates are one of the things that brings in customers and profit to the company.

Ch. 16 -Integrated Marketing Communications

Apple provides promotion for their company in many different ways such as advertising their product on television, radio shows, internet and much more.  Apple uses different promotional strategy such as public relations, personal selling and sales promotion. It is seen to its consumers as a competitive advantage as it is perceived to these consumers a s superior to their competitors.  Apple markets its products through both categories of communication, interpersonal and mass communication. Apple interpersonal communications deals with having their retail stores in different areas that people upfront and personal with their technology and you’ll also have a chance to speak to a representative.  They also use mass communication to promote their product thoroughly with repeated ads on the television and even in the papers such as the New York Times, Daily News just to name a few. They also use the internet as advertising there products. Apple use Informing as a form of task of promotion where they stimulate interest in their products. They also use persuasive promotion to stimulate puchase or an action. Reminding promotion keeps the product in the forefront to make people know whatever time of year it is their product is still the best.

Siri by apple made Iphone 4 to Iphone 4s a hit with all the help it provides. This persuade Apple customers to stick to Apple

 

Ch. 10 - Product Concepts

Apple inc. uses Shopping consumer products throughout their company. These are expensive products that you can find a the Apple store, retail stores among other small businesses. Apple has different product lines in ways such as creating a smaller Ipad called the Ipad mini which is more smaller and less affordable than its replica Ipad, which is much more larger in size.

The Large Ipad. Prices start at $499

 

 

This Ipad mini is small. It can even fit in your jacket pocket. This makes it more convenient for travel.

 Apple has many different variety of product mixes. They have things such as their white headphones, Ipad and Iphone cases, Mac laptop keyboard casing to place over your keypads, case to store your phone,ipod and Ipad touch as you exercise.

 

Because of planned absolescence there is always a change in the Apple products as they introduce new forms of technology. The Iphone 1 and 2 you would find obselete while a small amount of people have the 3, while most people have either the 4 or 5.

Apple branding started off with a man under a Apple tree then after the years changed to be a single apple. This brand just by the look of the  symbol or the logo you can know it is a Apple Product. This Apple brand falls under Apple Mark. The pictures below shows the different Apple Logo's they started off with up to the current logo.

 It is also classified as a global brand as its sales in places such as Europe and China are very big. The consumers loyalty towards Apple brand is heavily attached. For instance the Apple Iphone are loved by their consumers and have sticked to their brand over the years regardless of any disadvantage they'll have with the phone.

Ch. 18 - Apple Sales Promotion and Personal Selling

Apple Inc. Sale promotions are given to customers and offered to consumers who have the interested of buying an Apple device. They use things such as Rebates which gives you back money a portion of the money you paid for the device. You can also go online to check the status of your rebate. They also offer coupons which are also an online promotion for teachers and students for $100 off Mac Pro laptops, $50 off shipping and other coupons are offered on. When you click the coupon it brings you to the Apple website and enter your school name and click shop for yourself you’ll get a Mac pro for $1699 instead of paying $1799 and it also include free shipping when you go to purchase the device. They also had a back to school gift card when you purchase a Apple device with $100 off Apple computers and $50 off ipad.  Coupon Link below.

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/apple.com

Apple also uses Point Of Purchase Promotion, displaying their products on shelves. These devices are openly available to use by consumers and customers to try out their Ipad, Iphone, Mac computer among others. You can try out the equipments features, check it’s properties which promotes the devices more and make it even more wanted.

Apple provides trade allowance promotion for customers who would like to recycle their old Mac computers, Iphones, Ipad and other devices if it has a monetary value and provide you the customer with a Apple gift card. If not, they can still recycle it. You can also bring in your old phones and Ipod at a retail store and they’ll give you a 10% off a new one. Click below to see the options Apple provide for trade allowance. 

http://www.apple.com/recycling/

Apple also keeps conferences each month in San Jose California 
to showcase their current and new devices. This is use as a promotion to their customers and consumers who are interested in their products.

Apple conference Center

Apple has their steps in selling process that trains their staffs to help customers and consumers to find the product they are interested in. When you are are the Apple store you have many staffs in the store to help assist in your needs. They have a Computer Analyst who helps you with more in depth information about the device of interest.

I'd also like to share again when the Apple Representative help me to figure which Mac laptop would best suit my needs. Please click links below.

http://soundcloud.com/djashanimad/talking-to-rep

Ch. 17 - Apple Inc. Advertising and Public Relations

Apple Inc. advertises their company products using mass media outlets such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards, terminals, bus stop, in trains and online. Advertisement promotes a product Through television, with catchy video ads grasp the attention of the consumer and customers, radio with their audio ads and radio disc jocks promoting Apple Inc. products. They talk about them which also get’s their listeners interested in the product.  Magazines carry information on their current and new products and in dept information about specific products. Billboards and online advertisements are seen everyday when we walk down the street or surfing the internet. One of the many advertisements you’ll see are Apple products. Consumers and customers come to grow and love Apple Inc. products for their quality and unique products and for this most products are of a positive effect towards their customers and consumers. Apple uses many different types of advertising to maintain their company identity and product advertising to promote their specific products such as the Ipad, Ipod, Mac computers and Iphones.

Apple uses many Public relations that allows their products to be seen on television shows, radio program, audio clip on the the internet and special events. These advertise the product to the consumers and customers.  Apple also has their stores in many different location that provide services to consumers and customers. They try to help you to find the right Apple product that will suit your needs. 

Below you'll find some of Apples best ads 

Apples oldest advertisement promoted their first Apple Mac Computers 

http://youtu.be/HhsWzJo2sN4 

Apple had their next big ad with their I pod. This was a very hyperactive ad with pop music and dancing in the ad which made the Apple I pod a vibrant funfill technology device. Below you'll find the link to this advertisement.

http://youtu.be/TaVFCdwT0hk

Apple Inc. does Comparative advertisement with Windows Pc. They use these ads to show Mac being the better computer than the pc. The link below shows a pack of Mac vs Pc ads that were made to show the disadvantages of a Pc.

http://youtu.be/C5z0Ia5jDt4

They then have the Apple Nano Ad came out which illustrated the Ipod Nano as being one of the smallest devices in which you can watch videos on.

http://youtu.be/8qP79rRzzh4

Mac Air ad which featured the Mac air coming in a flat brown envelope which shows how small and unique the laptop is 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E98Eyl5Et0w

Apple Iphone 4 catch the eyes of many people although the name of the first Iphone already had its name

http://youtu.be/lrXc92TLbl0