AppleInsider Staff
In the Brand Japan 2012 survey conducted by Nikkei BP Consulting Inc., Apple's key products like the iPad helped the company beat out 999 other brands to take top honors.
The iPhone maker moved up ten spots from its 11th place finish in 2011 and scored 90.5 points for "total brand power," a number derived from the results of some 52,000 people aged 18 and older. International heavyweights Google, YouTube, and a number of Japanese market brands were also in the running.
Apple's products also performed well in the survey, with the iPad and two other unnamed devices placing as top-40 brands.
It can be deduced that the iPhone was one a top-rated device as the handset recently took over as the best-selling smartphone in Japan. Led by the iPhone 4S, Apple took a 26.6 percent share of the market during the winter quarter. Siri was also launched earlier in March, though the voice assistant has faced trouble with certain Japanese phrases.
Apple Store in Nagoya Sakae. | Source: Apple
Apple took second place out of 500 brands in the business category, which evaluated responses from the corporate, and was bested by international giant Toyota Motor Corp.
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
Charles Martin
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
17 Comments
Apple was named as Japan's top consumer brand on Friday, the first time the company has received the title.
In the Brand Japan 2012 survey conducted by Nikkei BP Consulting Inc., Apple's key products like the iPad helped the company beat out 999 other brands to take top honors.
best-selling smartphone in Japan. Led by the iPhone 4S, Apple took a 26.6 percent share of the market during the winter quarter.
Apple took second place out of 500 brands in the business category, which evaluated responses from the corporate, and was bested by international giant Toyota Motor Corp.
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This really is a most significant achievement to win the top brand slot in the country which for decades has been the home of top selling, top brand consumer electronics.
One of Apple's greatest enduring competitive advantages is the way it consistently achieves the highest consumer satisfaction and retention ratings (i.e.Brand loyalty) in the US and other Western Countries. Now, in more an more countries across the globe, is is achieving similar Brand advantages, not least in China which may become Apple's largest single market.
However, to have achieved this in Japan is a tremendous, with significant long term implications in another huge market with 130 million relatively affluent people who are obsessed with their gadgets and devices. How long can DoCoMo hold out without offering iPhones, thereby = losing market share and the cream of its subscribers to its smaller rivals?
Steve Jobs bet that consumers would rather buy something more expensive that to the touch is better built and with the OS feels more integrated and allows a person to perform the most routine tasks in a more intuitive and consistent manner.
The PC Industry laughed at him.
One by one they are closing their doors, while Apple opens more doors.
This really is a most significant achievement to win the top brand slot in the country which for decades has been the home of top selling, top brand consumer electronics.
I agree. Japan is a big market, with lots of top rank companies. To be well thought of in Japan is a huge accomplishment.,
I wander how well other American companies have fared in their categories? Coke? Nike? I'm under the impression that Japanese consumers like western stuff in general and American stuff in particular. Are Chevy and Ford well thought of in Japan?
http://www.brandpower.com/index.asp?...setMKTname=USA
Steve Jobs bet that consumers would rather buy something more expensive that to the touch is better built and with the OS feels more integrated and allows a person to perform the most routine tasks in a more intuitive and consistent manner.
The PC Industry laughed at him.
One by one they are closing their doors, while Apple opens more doors.
Yes. Time and again we see that consumers prefer high quality, aspirational products and are prepared to pay more for them.
Indeed expensive prices are an intrinsic part of their exclusivity and attraction: whether its designer clothes, designer sports gear, quality cars like BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, Cadillac, Lincoln, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati or Bugatti , or travelling first class, five start hotels, expensive restaurants and wines, jewellery and prestige watch brands - the list goes on and on.