Many students globally have found the story of Apple an interesting topic of discussion in the business circles. With the encouraging storyline of Steve Jobs, many academicians now rely on it to grow their business empire. Technological experts are also taking advantage of apple innovations to make their own inventions (Zylla-Woellner 2-5). This has accelerated the proliferation of smartphones, tablet, and pads companies fighting the supremacy battle (Lüsted 1-3).
This paper discusses in details the background of Apple Inc., its current marketing situation, purpose and mission, product lines, and its current financial standing. Details of all the financial strengths will be provided in the paper, as well as the purpose, mission of the company and how it has impacted the survival of apple despite strong competition from the market leaders.
Background
The idea of Apple Corporation was conceived by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976 while living in Silicon Valley (Lüsted 1-4). It is while working for Hewett Packard that the pair started Apple Company creating the first computer in the mid-1970s. With sheer determination, the pair proceeded with its plan to launch the second computer, which registered about 79,000 in sales. At that time, Apple had a staff of about 1000 employees.
With these results, Apple ventured into the stock market to raise money to fund its expansion. Their new versions of Macintosh did well in the market. Its first consignment sold a record 70,000 machines fuelling the power struggle that saw the exit of Steve Jobs. The disintegration of the top cadre in Apple immersed Apple in deep losses and persistent fight for existence. The unexpected return of Steve Jobs as an advisor of Apple in 1998 turned around the fortunes of apple.
With a success mentality, Steve Jobs bought his company before eventually becoming a CEO of apple. In the same year, Mac was manufactured selling a record 800,000. From then on, the iPod was introduced in 2001, iPhone – in 2007, iTune – in 2008, and iPad – in 2010. In short, the company serves a number of industries including computer software, computer hardware, digital distribution, and consumer electronics and serves all markets globally (Zylla-Woellner 4-6).
The company is headquartered in the US, and its current CEO is Tim Cook. Its major competitors comprise Amazon.com, Samsung, Google Corporation, Cisco Systems, Dell, Microsoft Corporation, LG, Lenovo, Corporation, Sony, as well as HP Corporation.
Mission statement
The mission statement of Apple restates the company’s vision, which is to produce the finest personal computers and software in the entire world. It also explains how novel online services, such as iTunes and iPods online stores, have helped in putting the company ahead of competitors in the digital music industry. It also echoes the import of App Store in bringing about change in the smartphone industry. It finally spells the significance of iPad in defining the future of computing devices and mobile media.
In connection with the performance of the company, Apple’s mission statement serves to introduce the products it produces to stakeholders (Lüsted 7-10). It also seems like communicating to potential clients about what the company offers, its philosophy, its business as well as what the workers think and public image of the company. Generally, in terms of employment and progress, the Apple mission statement serves to explain its values as they usually guide the process of making decisions.
Product lines
Product lines refer to the range of products a company sells (Brooks par. 4-6). Apple Chain of products covers all areas of hardware, software, operating system, mobile phones, tablets, iPods, pads, among others. iTunes for mp3 and mp4 cannot be left out. iPhone 5, Mac tablet has been appreciated in the market over time (Zylla-Woellner 10-12). In short, there are about three product lines, and they include PCs, software as well as end-users or consumer electronics.
The financial state of the company
Since it introduced its major product, namely iPhone, in 2001, the company has generally recorded great success. In fact, the company is considered to be one of the most successful electronics corporations globally (Brooks par. 3). This is evidenced by its financial performance for the last three years.
In terms of total net tangible assets, in 2011 it had 72,183,000, in 2012 – 112,851,000 and 2013 – 117,793,000 (Zylla-Woellner 1-7). In terms of liabilities, in 2011 it had 39,756,000, in 2012 – 57,854,000, and in 2013 – 83,451,000. In 2012, the company registered about $156.508 billion in revenues with a net income of about $47.733 billion (Brooks par. 2-7). This, therefore, reveals that the company has a strong financial state.
In conclusion, Apple is a global electronics giant whose success is significantly attributed to the great innovativeness of its R&D teams and visionary leadership. The company was owned by Steve Jobs, who was one of the finest organizational leaders worldwide. The company operates in nearly all geographic areas worldwide and has many competitors such as HP and Microsoft. Notwithstanding, from the review of recent financial trends, the company has a sound and stable financial state.
Works Cited
Brooks, Alex. Apple Financials. 2014. Web.
Lüsted, Marcia Amidon. Apple: the company and its visionary founder, Steve Jobs. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Publishers, 2012. Print.
Zylla-Woellner, Judith. Business Analysis of Apple Inc. New York, NY.: GRIN Verlag, 2013. Print.
