Although it is not strictly a retail organization, Apple ended 2008 with 201 stores in 10 countries which each hosted an average of 14,700 customers per week, and collectively generated $1.74 billion in revenue. Those statistics qualify Apple for official membersip in the retail industry.
One of the biggest contributors to Apple's 2008 success was the launch of its App Store in July, 2008. Selling downloadable software enhancments for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, the App Store was used 60 million times, and generated $30 million in revenue in its first month.
By the end of 2008, the number of apps available for download was between 10,000 and 15,000, at an average price of around $3.00 each. It is expected that the one billionth app will be downloaded in April, 2009, just nine months after the App Store concept was launched.
Customers were camping out in front of Apple stores in 2008 for 3G iPhones, new store openings around the globe, and sometimes for no particular reason, except to hang out. In 2008 Apple opened flagship stores in Australia, Germany, China, and Switzerland.
Apple stores attract consistently heavy traffic by creating an experience that is unlike a traditional retail sales environment. Staff positions in the Apple stores include a "concierge" for customer service, a "specialist" to answer questions, a "genius" to diagnose service issues, a "creative" for training sessions, and a "theatre presenter" for in-store demonstrations.
The Genius Bar offers service repair, technical advice, software support, and hardware service.
For one annual fee, customers can attend in-store training workshops to learn how to use their Apple computers. Apple stores also host free one-hour how-to workshops to familiarize Apple owners with features of their various Apple electronics gadgets and devices.
In the last three months of 2008 while most U.S. retailers were slashing prices and struggling to survive, Apple broke its own quarterly sales record by generating $10.17 billion in revenue.
Apple not only earned its spot on the Fortune 100, it also proved that innovation can trump recession. In 2008, Apple truly captured the essence of American enterprise at its finest.
One of the biggest contributors to Apple's 2008 success was the launch of its App Store in July, 2008. Selling downloadable software enhancments for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, the App Store was used 60 million times, and generated $30 million in revenue in its first month.
By the end of 2008, the number of apps available for download was between 10,000 and 15,000, at an average price of around $3.00 each. It is expected that the one billionth app will be downloaded in April, 2009, just nine months after the App Store concept was launched.
Customers were camping out in front of Apple stores in 2008 for 3G iPhones, new store openings around the globe, and sometimes for no particular reason, except to hang out. In 2008 Apple opened flagship stores in Australia, Germany, China, and Switzerland.
Apple stores attract consistently heavy traffic by creating an experience that is unlike a traditional retail sales environment. Staff positions in the Apple stores include a "concierge" for customer service, a "specialist" to answer questions, a "genius" to diagnose service issues, a "creative" for training sessions, and a "theatre presenter" for in-store demonstrations.
The Genius Bar offers service repair, technical advice, software support, and hardware service.
For one annual fee, customers can attend in-store training workshops to learn how to use their Apple computers. Apple stores also host free one-hour how-to workshops to familiarize Apple owners with features of their various Apple electronics gadgets and devices.
In the last three months of 2008 while most U.S. retailers were slashing prices and struggling to survive, Apple broke its own quarterly sales record by generating $10.17 billion in revenue.
Apple not only earned its spot on the Fortune 100, it also proved that innovation can trump recession. In 2008, Apple truly captured the essence of American enterprise at its finest.