On 10 April or more than 6 months after it was first unveiled, Apple will begin taking pre-orders for its Apple Watch. The company's retail stores will be under tremendous pressure to perform, reportedly revamping the way employees interact with customers, how the stores are set up, and what's most important in the sales process.
The Watch is the first Apple product where style is more important than substance, and Apple CEO Tim Cook just made an announcement that will make it much easier for employees to sell the new product- and it gives a lesson for other business owners too.
In an email to all employees, Cook revealed that all Apple employees will receive 50 percent off any Apple Watch or Apple Watch Sport beginning 10 April (in countries where the Watch is going on sale).
This is noteworthy for several reasons. For one, it suggests that Apple may have enough stock at launch. In the past, Apple has not offered discounts to its employees on new products like iPads or Macs for several months after launch, while it tries to get into supply/demand balance. The early discounts on the Apple Watch could mean that Apple is confident that it can meet the demand.
Another possibility is that Apple knows that, like with any totally new product, actually using it is going to be essentially to selling it. This is especially true for Apple Retail Store staff, who will be on the front lines beginning D-Day, helping customers try on the Watch and determine which style is best for them.
Nothing makes it easier to sell a product than owning it yourself, which is why car dealers have offered cheap lease rates to their salespeople for years.
It also helps remind employees that they're valued. Some of Apple's biggest fans and cheerleaders are in its Retail Store ranks.
Apple could also be trying to pump up their morale after concerns were raised that management was taking its retail staff for granted. For instance, pay wasn't keeping up with the amount of business that the stores were bringing in, and many employees couldn't afford the products they were selling. Apple offering half off its brand new product, allowing employees to buy during the same pre-order period as customers, will do wonders for morale.
And if Apple's employees are stoked for the Apple Watch, the tech company can be sure that they will express that to the customers, which will turn into sales. The discounts that Apple will give its own employees will be some of the best marketing dollars it could spend.
Next question is, will Apple employees be tempted to buy in bulk and resell it in the 'black market'?
The Watch is the first Apple product where style is more important than substance, and Apple CEO Tim Cook just made an announcement that will make it much easier for employees to sell the new product- and it gives a lesson for other business owners too.
In an email to all employees, Cook revealed that all Apple employees will receive 50 percent off any Apple Watch or Apple Watch Sport beginning 10 April (in countries where the Watch is going on sale).
This is noteworthy for several reasons. For one, it suggests that Apple may have enough stock at launch. In the past, Apple has not offered discounts to its employees on new products like iPads or Macs for several months after launch, while it tries to get into supply/demand balance. The early discounts on the Apple Watch could mean that Apple is confident that it can meet the demand.
Another possibility is that Apple knows that, like with any totally new product, actually using it is going to be essentially to selling it. This is especially true for Apple Retail Store staff, who will be on the front lines beginning D-Day, helping customers try on the Watch and determine which style is best for them.
Nothing makes it easier to sell a product than owning it yourself, which is why car dealers have offered cheap lease rates to their salespeople for years.
It also helps remind employees that they're valued. Some of Apple's biggest fans and cheerleaders are in its Retail Store ranks.
Apple could also be trying to pump up their morale after concerns were raised that management was taking its retail staff for granted. For instance, pay wasn't keeping up with the amount of business that the stores were bringing in, and many employees couldn't afford the products they were selling. Apple offering half off its brand new product, allowing employees to buy during the same pre-order period as customers, will do wonders for morale.
And if Apple's employees are stoked for the Apple Watch, the tech company can be sure that they will express that to the customers, which will turn into sales. The discounts that Apple will give its own employees will be some of the best marketing dollars it could spend.
Next question is, will Apple employees be tempted to buy in bulk and resell it in the 'black market'?
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