Companies

Among other practices, it's "saying no to 1,000 things" so as to concentrate on the "really important" creations (Steve Jobs)

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” (Steve Jobs)

"Byte into an Apple“(First mission Statement)

FOUNDERS

“By combining technical knowhow with a new concept for how to sell music online, Apple's iPod music player has become the most influential new tech product in years. At the same time, Apple has maintained its reputation for making the most elegant, easy-to-use desktop computers as well.”(businessweek.com)

Steve Jobs Steve Wozniak

THE MAC DIFFERENCE From Mac products, customers can expect superior

quality and innovation. Mac built the first thing conceived as a Personal

Computer the Macintosh 1. They took a market that only offered expensive

computer for businesses and opened a completely new market by taking computers to homes and small businesses

MAC VALUE CURVE ITEMS

1. Design: Apple focuses on creating the most visually stunning products while also focusing on quality, functionality and durability.

2. Simplicity: Ease of use: Mac’s Operating systems user interface is

simple , effective and easy to use. Mac comes in just 1 version. Not personal, business,

ultimate, … versions

3. Price: Mac Computers are significantly pricier than PC’s. However, since no one else offers products with the same characteristics, it sells very well.

4. Reliability: In contrast of their competition, Mac computers very seldom crash or get viruses.

5. Innovation: Mac is always ahead of the curve. They are always the first to invent , implement, modify products.

Ex: Selling Music Online(Itunes) , Improved Portable Music(Ipod), Iphone (A Complete Cellphone)

Points that differentiate Apple Computer from the competition:

1. The main difference that target has over its competitors is Great Quality of Products at an affordable price.

1. For example: In Home Furnishing, Target offers products that are comparable in quality and style to the ones offered much pricier stores like Lazy-Boy, Pier 1, ArtVan.

2. Similarly, in the clothing category, target has some high quality, fashionable, designer like lines of clothes that beat their competition by a landslide (Wal-Mart, Costco, Meijer) while offering a similar price.

2. Designer Lines: Target features designers that create upper end quality products. ( Target Design for All)

1. Example 1: Exclusive Makeup Lines like the Napoleon Perdis line.

2. Example 2: Rachel Ashwell in Home Décor.

3. Targeting College Students: Back to school special at Target are very well know and offer students cool stuff for their bedrooms at a great price.

Expect More, Pay Less

"Affordable

solutions for better

living"

"Not for the rich but

for the wise "

"Improving everyday life for the majority"

High Quality: IKEA products have great durability compared to other furniture from other stores with similar pricing.

Beautiful Design: IKEA has some really nice and trendy home furnishing/décor products.

Affordability: For the quality of the product IKEA offers a great price compared to its competition. During Sales, prices are unbelievable.

Store Strategy : The layout of the IKEA mega-stores is much different from other stores. In a nice way, you are forced to go through all the store and see most of the products before you get to the cashier. You always end up buying something else.

Superior Engineering: IKEA fits an entire desk in just 1 medium sized box. You require little to none tools to assemble your furniture. If you follow the straightforward instructions, its ready in no time. That is just mind-boggling.

Authentic Athletic Performance(Guy Kawasaki)

1. Quality: The sporting goods that Nikemakes are of great quality and last longer than some other athletic brands.

2. Marketing: Nike is one of the brands that best markets their products. Their advertising are astonishing and often appeal to emotions of consumers.

3. Brand Presence: The presence of the Nike brand is everywhere. From professional soccer team to College Football teams to swimming gear.

4. Style: Nike has some very stylish sporting apparel. Famous athletes often customize their gear. Consequently, consumers are compelled to want to buy the same gear that their idols wear.

Tony Hsieh

Deliver WOW thought Service

Zappos Core Values

1. Deliver WOW Through Service 2. Embrace and Drive Change 3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness 4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded 5. Pursue Growth and Learning 6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communicatio

n

7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit 8. Do More With Less 9. Be Passionate and Determined 10.Be Humble

The very Best Customer Service: 24/7 Customer Service. Call center: No scripted conversations, call reps are encouraged

to take decision independently. Free Shipping both ways. Free 365 days Returns. Warehouse based in KY near the UPS World Port Hub to to get the

products to the customers yesterday! You can easily contact Zappos via Social Media-twitter.

Company Culture: Nurture the Company Culture, Keep it alive. Zappos goes to the

lengths of offering their new employees 2000 dollars to quit after the training process. They only want employees who truly understand and embrace the company.

All hired employees whether they work in finance or web development go though the same training so they can understand what Zappos is all about: The best customer service

Great Product: Google search engine algorithm is more effective and accurate than any of its competitors

Simplicity: Google products are visually simple and light but very powerful.

Diversifying: Google is always immersing itself into new ventures. Divisions like Gmail or Adwords were conceived inside the company. Now they are a big part of who Google is

Zara's secret? It moves fast.

It is claimed that Zara needs just two weeks to develop a new product and get it to stores, compared with a six-month industry average, and launches around 10,000 new designs each year. Zara has resisted the industry-wide trend towards transferring fast fashion production to low-cost countries. Perhaps its most unusual strategy was its policy of zero advertising; the company preferred to invest a percentage of revenues in opening new stores instead.

All Data from Wikipedia and Business Week Magazine

Fast: With an in-house design team based in in La Coruña, Spain, and a tightly controlled factory and distribution network, the company says it can take a design from drawing board to store shelf in just two weeks.

Exclusive products: Zara's fast pace means that some popular items appear and disappear within a week, creating an image of scarcity that many shoppers find irresistible "They've built up an excitement around snapping up new clothes before they go," says Kris Miller, a New York-based retail analyst

Rapid Expansion: Zara's parent, Inditex, whose other retail chains include Massimo Dutti and Bershka, opened 448 new stores last year, while H&M inaugurated 145. This year Inditex expects to add as many as 490 stores, which includes its first Chinese outlet, opened recently in Shanghai. By 2010, its global total could grow from 2,700 to 5,000.