Apple's Retail Strategy

When they had the big long lines for Panther, I noticed a lot of people in the mall curious and even came up to the line to find out what the fuss was about. At least people are curious about the products with these stores.

Even if this increases access for longtime Apple users - I say it's a success. You don't need to convert the world. Some are happy living in darkness.

How does the general public know Apple Stores even exist?
TV ads?....NO
Radio?.....NO
Paper?.....NO
Mac nuts dragging them to the store to check out what a real computer can do?......Bingo.

I think Apple needs to do more TV ads in general, they've put no money into it. It's already the general consensus around here that macs are better than PC's, a little bit of advertisement about it and i think things could start to pick up.

How does the general public know Apple Stores even exist?
TV ads?....NO
Radio?.....NO
Paper?.....NO
Mac nuts dragging them to the store to check out what a real computer can do?......Bingo.

Exactly.

the apple stores may be a success numbers wise, but think of it in this regard. While apple may charge $60 for an ipod warranty, it costs apple absolutly nothing, well except for the box which may be $2... so they charge the apple store $5, and the rest is pure profit. So they play with the numbers so investors think the stores are a good thing. They also don't pay their help commission so they have fixed expenses. So the success you may see the apple stores having, may not be too too true. I do believe the stores are a good thing, but to what extent?...

oh yea, by the way... i did work at the gateway store in Gaithersburg, MD... and now that they closed all the stores I found a new job working for an apple reseller. They pay much better than the apple stores...

so go me!

How does the general public know Apple Stores even exist?
TV ads?....NO
Radio?.....NO
Paper?.....NO
Mac nuts dragging them to the store to check out what a real computer can do?......Bingo.

The problem isn't with the general public. The problem is with Apple. iPod aside, the company does not do a compelling job of creating consumer interest in its products or articulating the value of its offerings.

Windows XP, as much as it pains me to admit, is a fine OS. It's clean, simple and does what people need it to do -- plus they can play all the new games.

Not important for me, but it's part of the perception people have about Macs. Great machines but no -- or very limited -- software.

Apple needs to get its advertising act together -- more functionality and less image -- and its pricing in line with the industry.

Dell offers a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 machine for $500 -- and that price includes a 17-inch monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Does Apple have anything close?

When they had the big long lines for Panther, I noticed a lot of people in the mall curious and even came up to the line to find out what the fuss was about. At least people are curious about the products with these stores.

My wife and I had the same experience at our local Apple Store. We happened to be number one and two in line. :) A lot of people would look at us. We also had several ask us what the line what about. There were a couple that were familar with Apple. One of them had a daughter with a Mac, he was going to check with her about the update.

At my local store, there always seem to be alot in the store. Not really sure about the sales. I do notice customers at the registers.

Businessweek provides an analysis of Apple's retail presence in the wake of recent Gateway store closings and reseller lawsuits.

While Apple's stores appear to be a financial success at this point, the author questions the results on Apple's marketshare, which hasn't increased substantially since the launch of Apple's retail initiative.

Related: Gateway to shutter stores, cut staff.

Apple certainly has done a good job with their retail stores; I just don't see why Apple doesn't advertise their retail presence in their own stores (and in other retailers too) more. If Apple did that, they would surely get more business and more Mac users to boot. Why, Apple? WHY???