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Apple to Eliminate Several Business and Event-Related Retail Positions
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"Our source says that the elimination of the Business Manager position is something of a shock because Business Managers lead the Business Team and are responsible for bringing in up to 20 percent of overall store sales."Once again a leak that probably doesn't provide the full picture and certainly doesn't give us Apple's reasons but is good Apple is doomed fire Tim Cook and Angela Ahrendts click bait.
Please tell me how you think this is even a remotely good idea.
Yeah I miss being told to "think bigger" and "sell bigger" and then having SSO reject large orders or have Enterprise take them away. I had the opportunity to sit in front of several Fortune 500 companies in their HQs with a small team of others wearing jeans and untucked polos, that was fun. At least that has served me well in another sales role/company where I'm actually paid what I'm worth.
Most malls on Sunday open at 11 am or later and close at 7PM or earlier. What would be at better time for an all-hands meeting? 7am on Monday? 10pm on Thursday? It's an all hands meeting so the store has to be closed. Sunday seems like the best time to me.
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To be fair that really isn't enough info to go on to hands down declare this isn't a good idea. It's a bit disturbing, I agree. But its also one number in the abstract and plenty of questions to ask about it and what would happen to sales of these managers were removed from the personnel structure. I imagine Apple did some research and studies before making the decision. Whether it was the right decision we'll see.
"This comes as a rude awakening to employees who have always felt Apple has had their best interest," said the source
Never ever think the company you work for holds your best interests in mind. They hold their own and their shareholders best interests in mind.
Jesus it's sad to guess how predictably - whining about mac models and some sexist comments in the first few responses. If the B2B groups in the stores I've worked in are anything like these, then there's nothing lost. I'm sure some stores have excellent ones - but in my experience, most business folks don't bother with going to a retail store unless they're buying less than 3 computers.
Lord.Um, when you invest, you buy a piece. And you take the risk. Therefore, there's nothing to give away. The investors already own the pie.
Actually, it was the primary reason we started purchasing MacBook Pros for our office even though we are a Windows Development shop. The Business Teams were friendly and easy to work with. We had preference over the normal Genius bar on certain things. We noticed about a year ago there was turnover and then less Business Team employees. We had some warranty work that needed to be done and it was nothing but a nightmare. We recently decided to go back to HP and purchased 25 laptops a few weeks ago because of the Business Team difficulties and the recent MacBook Pro releases.
Apple really is killing their brand. These cuts normally come from a company not making a profit.
Apple really is killing their brand. These cuts normally come from a company not making a profit.
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That isn't true. I worked there until about two years ago, and the business manager when I left had just gotten promoted from Expert. Also, two experts from my store had become managers at other stores in the market. Maybe your region was different?
I do agree with the rest of your comment, but the local business team has been really great in getting us new devices on release. Since we do so much with iOS mobile devices, it's a big help to have devices to test internal apps with right away.
But that isn't what is happening. Apple employees are becoming less and less qualified. They barely understood the new MacBook Pro's when they hit the shelves. I knew more than they did and was helping customers while I was there. Apple's cost cutting methods are killing the excitement of being and employee and the excitement of being a customer. You can look at EACH AND EVERY one of Apple's recent decisions with product releases, product updates, presentations, and adjustments down to their stores and see the impact its making.
Apple should spin off its computer business and truly work on developing products for the professional market.... it dead in the water now.... its been years since I have been in one of their stores....
You sound like either you are a bitter/were inexperienced in your role at Apple, or you had a really crappy business team that didn't actually do their job. I worked at Apple for seven years and saw two great business managers who ran amazing teams that actually did do cold calls, forecasting, pipeline build, etc and made huge impacts with the store's revenue. I've also watched specialists attempt to get trained for their jobs and flail and ultimately leave business experiences because it was more like an inside sales team and thought it would be super easy. It wasn't and still isn't (at least in good stores).
Angela really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Still, I'm sure the two months' severance pay will come in a shiny envelope with a webcast informing employees of the "magical" changes they were "born to do".
Still, I'm sure the two months' severance pay will come in a shiny envelope with a webcast informing employees of the "magical" changes they were "born to do".
How many ways does Apple have to tell you people that it doesn't care about business or professionals before you figure it out? You act shocked every time and then the other half defend Apple to the death. There is a comment defending Angela for crying out loud! She is a big pile of excrement like any other high end retail executive. You have to see that your loyalty here is blind!!!! Apple is a greedy and profit centered company. It doesn't give a damn about any of it's people.
That would definitely yield more products but it wouldn't get the results that Steve Jobs got... which is GREAT products that all WORK TOGETHER! Its clear, there is no a visionary steering the ship anymore. What made Apple great was when Steve would expect more out of employees. He created a culture of people wanting to do great things! He wasn't always right with this decisions or his attitude but he was a creative genius that ran a company.
This will get some negative comments. But Microsoft was that way under Bill Gates. There are some fascinating emails that have come out about Bill Gates waking up in the middle of the night testing Windows 3.1 and saying... "What the hell are you guys thinking"... "I want this fixed this week"... When a leader is involved and holds people accountable in a LARGE organization... the results are amazing.
This will get some negative comments. But Microsoft was that way under Bill Gates. There are some fascinating emails that have come out about Bill Gates waking up in the middle of the night testing Windows 3.1 and saying... "What the hell are you guys thinking"... "I want this fixed this week"... When a leader is involved and holds people accountable in a LARGE organization... the results are amazing.
Fair point, but business reps definitely exist for Dell and HP, but they visit businesses directly, something Apple has not replaced these positions with. This change, in effect, removes any distinction between volume business purchases and any other consumer customers. It's a bad decision.
When my end user experience starts to suck more than Windows, or my productivity takes a nosedive, I'll switch back.
It still hasn't.
And she was hired by ... our beloved Tim Cook. Jesus I can't wait for the stock to finally tank so this gang of profit squeezing morons finally gets the boot.
This was my thought, too. The B2B sales force is already practically unemployed, as there are only old relic Macs in the product line, with the exception of the MacBook "Pro".
It must be hard to sell old or over-priced hardware to business clients, so why bother?
Apple's strategy is to become a consumer commodities provider. There's more money to be made from watch bands than B2B/pro sales.
He will come up with something. Guys like him so consistently bend over backwards to defend apple at every turn, so he surely won't let you down with his reply.