Apple Inc. Market Target

According to Mintel (2014), “nearly half of today’s university students report they are financially comfortable, as they have money left at the end of the month for a few treats and to save.” What about the other half? The other half of the students either have not a lot left after the basics are taken care of or having difficulties with their financial situation. Students’ average monthly expenditure on their essentials is 65% of their monthly income (Mintel, 2014). In these few years, there has been a rise of national companies giving student discounts and offers for their products or services. For example, Apple Inc. offers student discounts for their gadgets.

Apple is a global company represented in many parts of the world, but born in the United States by computer wizards by the names of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who founded the company back in 1976 (Capon, 2008). The organization deals with the design and sale of computer hardware, software and offers tech support to its customers. Examples of the hardware the company manufactures and sells include mobile phones, personal computers, iPads, tablets and iTunes with associated brands, like the MacBook and iPhones that represent Apple’s driving force towards its success. It is recognized as a brand leader in consumer electronics by the world in terms of quality and customer satisfaction and despite the wide product range, Apple manages each product in a distinct way that is a single business unit (Mittan, 2010).

Product Image is also an important factor when marketing to this age group. For teenagers brand is everything. Focusing on the exclusivity of the Apple iPhone with its various ways to enjoy music and stay connected will appeal to this group (Goodstein, 2007). College student will share some of the same wants and desires as teenagers. Product image, and being able to stay connected through social media and music are also important to this age group. College students are experiencing their first taste of adulthood as they leave the nest and go off to campuses or apartments for the first time. They need things to make this transition easier as well as tools to help them through their college coursework. Apple can appeal to this groups needs by placing strong emphasis on the iPhone’s ease of use and the multitude of iPhone specific apps useful for this age group.

Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.”

Apple’s business model is geared towards the hardware and software of its products. Also they focus on its mobile software applications, which is widely popular among customers due to the app store iPhone users. the applications on the app store are available for user on apple products and one of a kind compared to the less popular applications offered by Google and Facebook

Apple product is one of the most inventions that changed the world history in the touch technology, which is invented by a man who did not finish his college degree. In the first hand, Steve jobs invented the first Macintosh computer in 1948 and people can see that was the beginning of Apple Company. On the other hand, Bill Gates invented the Microsoft software which the software that operates the android. However, both of them Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have some similarity that both of them did not finish his college degree. Therefore, Apple products are enhanced and desirable by all kind of people such as: Student, teenager, and old people more than android products due to variety of reasons for example: development and product quality, cost,

The multi billion-dollar corporation, Apple Inc., designs and manufactures some of today’s highest technological gizmos and gadgets. Among their best known products are the Apple and Macintosh computers, iPods, iTunes, iPhones and iPads. Apple is one of the most powerful and influential high tech companies in the world. The success of Apple Inc. stems from the innovation and visions of co-founder and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs, the excellence of the stylish, user-friendly products, and the ability to create innovative products that consumer’s desire.

Apple Inc., formerly Apple Computer, Inc., is a multinational corporation that designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players, including a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Its most popular hardware products are the series of Mac computers, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad. Its software includes the OS X for Mac computers and iOS operating systems for mobile devices, the iTunes media browser, the Safari web browser, and the iLife and iWork creativity and production suites.

Collective intelligence website Hubch.com survey Apple users and give a result that 22 percent users comes from ages 18 to 34, 58 percent as “liberal”, and 36 percent who said the same. Ted Schalder, Forrest Research analyst, compared iPhone user to other smarthphone give a result that iPhone user is younger that spent average $11 than other smartphone and 67% of it have household income $70,000. Silicon.com give result that another Apple users come from developers, photographers, and other creative professionals who use their Mac for graphical performance. From this data we can says that Apple audience come from younger ages from 12-35, some of music and technology fans, person with middle and upper income, and creative professionals.

This paper comprehensively describes the marketing plan of a charismatic organization Apple Inc. The main focus of the paper is to describe the most important marketing strategies which Apple has espoused from the date of its emergence and different challenges which it has faced from time to time. The paper begins with an introduction to the organization. Apple Inc. is an American MNC; engaged in the business of developing and marketing of IT products. Apple has expanded its business operations all over the world. Every product which Apple introduces has its own target market; it develops marketing plan and strategies for each of its products separately (Apple, 2012). Apple's strengths include strong brand image, financial strength, product and process design, and highly efficient operations management while high prices and inability of up gradation of some products are its main weaknesses. Apple has threats from its competitors, increasing costs, and economic situations but has greater opportunities in entering new markets, making strategic alliances, and bringing innovations through efficient R&D. Before entering new markets, Apple has to analyze the business environment through sensitivity analysis, and then decide a framework for the future strategies.

Nowadays, Apple has positioned itself to be an innovator in the personal computer industry and Apple has developed by offering modern products compared to its competitors. According to Apple’s mission statement last year, “Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.” (Business Management,

Apple Incorporated, formerly known as Apple Computers Incorporated, and more commonly known just as Apple, has lead the way in technology and innovation for consumer electronics with their slender storage capacities, vibrant displays, and incredible touch screen products. When they first started, their focus was more on personal computers for customers, but as the company has aged, so has their focus expanded towards this idea of consumer electronics as a whole. Seeing as they now offer popular devices including, but not limited to, computers (Mac Book), home theater (Apple TV), phones (iPhone), tablets (iPad), and media (iPod), it can clearly be

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.”

Apple Inc. is known for their innovative products, combining user-friendly technology and elegant design, Apple’s bite of the consumer electronics market has been getting a little larger year by year. The Apple brand is fun, unique, and memorable because it is such a departure from brands that sound serious and corporate. Apple’s Macintosh computers has always stood out because it looks different from other personal computers and relies on software that even novices can learn. IPod backed by music-driven advertising, the player with the white ear buds immediately became the product of choice for many consumers. Newer models such as the iPod Nano and the iPod Touch have continued the

Apple Inc. is the most revered corporation of the USA, both in terms of brand equity and market capitalization. The company’s international competitive strategy is focused on the innovative product development, which Apple controls through its eight business segments: Portables, Desktops, iPads, iPhones, Music related products and services, peripherals and hardware (Lam et al. 2005).