The Limitations Of Apple's Market Research Plan

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.

Marketing research is very important component of a business used to identify and define the opportunities and problems that they will encounter on the market. The aim

Apple Inc, best known as Apple is an American based global company that designs and sells electronics, PCs and computer software. The company was established in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and was incorporated in 1977. Some of the Apple’s best-known products are the Macintosh range of personal computers, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. By 2012, Apple reported to have more than 300 retail stores located in more than 10 countries in the world and more than 60, 000 employees on permanent employment, and about 2,800 on temporal employment. Despite the success the company, Apple has faced hard competition from other electronics manufacturing companies. The objective of this paper is to develop a strategic plan that will enable Apple improve its position in the personal computer industry. The paper will use Michael Porter’s forces; key success factors, SWOT analysis and the competitive strength to point out specific, workable recommendations that will allow Apple stay afloat and improve its position in the personal computer industry (Gamble & Marino 2012).

Before launching or expanding a business venture, there needs to be an understanding of the industry, its competitors, and its customers. Market research is vital in assisting companies in the decision-making process and their marketing direction. Data from marketing research is important because it provides companies with ways to identify opportunities, identify market potential, minimize chances of loss, devise effective marketing strategies, gauge customer satisfaction, and serve as an evaluation tool.

Marketing Research is imperative to Disney Pixar's success. Marketing research is the process in which managers perform to gather information effectively to introduce their products and services to their target market. Although the amount of time required for this research depends on the size of the target market and the company's line of business, there is a defined process used to implement the company's products or services. This process includes 1) assessing information needs, 2) developing needed information through internal databases, 3) implementation of marketing research, 4) organization of ideas, and 5) distributing and using information. Therefore, marketing research is important to developing a marketing strategy because it

Market research is utilized by companies to make the right decisions when it comes to

What is Market Research? When you collect and identify data (qualitative data and quantiative) about customers, the market and competitors.

Market research is the method of gathering and analyzing information about customers, competitors and the market. Market research is used when companies want to focus on things like market trends, customer habits and lifestyle, what price customers will pay for a product and what competition exists. This type of research assists companies build an idea on how competitive the market is also business owners can price their products efficiently with the understanding of the current market research.

Most of the businessmen consider market research the key to a successful business empire. It is quite essential to conduct a thorough research to analyze the prospects of an existing or new product. A well-conducted research proves fruitful in evaluating the business situations, the potential sales of a product, prospective customers and so forth.

Market research is the process of gathering, analyzing and interpreting information about a market, about a product or service to be offered for sale in that market, and about the past, present and

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.

Limitation and constraints of marketing: Accurate, up-to-date information obtained by marketing research can be of enormous value to an organization in gaining and/or maintaining its competitive edge. However, there are a number of reasons why, in reality, these potential benefits may not be realized :

This type of company perform their works based on inspiration, if they do a customer approach, they might lose their best customers. Then, Henry mentioned that they do not sell “clothes”. Let’s take Apple for example. The mission statement of Apple is working on the users’ experience. If they had surveyed before inventing products, the Iphone might not be created. Since most of consumers at that time never experienced touch screen experience. How would they respond to touch screen in Apple survey. But for long term purpose, marketing research is important. We can have secondary data whether the audience satisfied with music, price and so on. Generally, market research should not be used for Entertainment Company, market research only need to be used for purposes of price, environment and so on.

For example, Apple Company applies this intensive strategy by selling more iPhones and iPads to its current target markets. Apple Company used promotion through various websites and media outlets. This intensive strategy enables Apple to reach customers in all market segments. Also, the Apple Company uses market development strategy. Market development involves creating new markets for new products. Apple Company applies this strategy by mandate new sellers in markets where the company does not have any presence. Apple Company implements the market development for intensive growth strategy through new products. For example, the company innovates to offer goods like Apple watch, which is an entirely new product line for the company. Through Apple watch, the apple company develops its reach in the smartwatch market. Innovation is the heart of Apple Company. to development its application of this generic strategy, the apple company must penetrate markets, especially developing countries where Apples company market reach is still limited. The main strategy of Apple Company is product development and market developments are second and third in priority, respectively. The Apple Company is strong in product development through innovation. And emphasize more on market penetration and market development. About these strategies Apple Company become successful and can improve resilience against aggressive competitors like

During the analysis the company was able to outline opportunities in which they viewed as a benefit for the organization. One’s that if the organization were to take advantage of them they may be able to grow the organization. Some of the opportunities include growth of tablet and smartphone markets, obtaining patents through acquisitions and strong growth of mobile advertising market. Although the opportunities would most likely help to grow the company, its best that Apple also keep their treats in plain view. Knowing the companies threats will help them combat them as they come about. Some of the threats that Apple was able to outline were breached IP rights, Android OS growth, 2013 tax increases and