AppleInsider Staff
Apple CEO Tim Cook chronicled a recent four-day trip to China on microblogging website Weibo, posting pictures and brief messages regarding Apple Store meet-ups, school visits and general goings on while in the country.
Cook, who opened a Weibo account earlier this week, started his China tour on Monday with the announcement of environmental initiatives that will boost Apple's contribution of clean energy to the region, while reducing its carbon and virgin fiber footprint.
On Tuesday, Cook visited the Elementary School at Communication University of China, which is apparently home to an iPad-centric educational program akin to those in the U.S. and Europe. The Apple chief was given a first-hand look at the iPad curriculum and later posed for pictures with students and staff. That same day Cook met with China's Vice Premier Liu Yandong, who praised Apple's operations and urged that the company continue investing in Chinese businesses.
Cook took time on Wednesday to visit Apple retail outlets like the Xidan Joy City location in Beijing, one of the most visited Apple Stores in China. Later in the day, he joined Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue and top environmental officer Lisa Jackson for an Apple Watch workshop at the new West Lake store in Hangzhou.
Cook's last posts came from Shanghai where he met Mrs. Ma, a veteran teacher who frequents the Apple Store Nanjing East Road.
The travelogue underscores the important role China plays in Apple's current and future success. On the back of booming product sales led by iPhone, Apple is planning a massive retail expansion into mainland China that will see 25 new locations open by the end of 2016.
Since signing up for Weibo, Cook has accumulated more than 588,000 followers.
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16 Comments
It looks like Mr. Cook's visit was timely and fortuitous%u2014for Apple and for China. I applaud his sincerity and genuine enthusiasm for Apple's products, and for company's various social and environmental agenda.
Twenty-five new stores in a year and a half. I think this is an amazing pace of expansion, but I have nothing to compare it to. Anybody?
I remember when a whole bunch of folks here dismissed China as some 'third world' backwater that Apple should not bother with, even upto a few years ago. But Apple had a longer term view. And look where it's now. A similar thing will happen -- but not on as large a scale -- in India, but five years from now.
Twenty-five new stores in a year and a half. I think this is an amazing pace of expansion, but I have nothing to compare it to. Anybody?
For Apple, yes. For many other businesses, it's a rather slow pace. Most retail stores or fast food chains can set up pretty damn quickly and 25 stores a year would be childs play.
Apple, however, is very picky about locations for their stores, often preferring sites inside historic buildings or other unique locations (that is, outside of their mall stores). After finding a location, they're going to do renovations to make sure it fits in with their overall design philosophy for stores. On top of that, I imagine hiring of staff and training would also be much more time consuming than most retail stores. It's easy to find people to work in your clothing store or fast food outlet.
Basically, Apple is picky. And this requires extra time to get it right.
The China strategy hasn't always worked, but I really think Apple has a good bead on how to present itself to Chinese customers these days. That they are able to remain very competitive in a country with little respect for intellectual property ownership is the most amazing.