“Has Apple become too popular for its own good in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan?” Bob Evans asks for Forbes.
“By any measure, Apple’s retail stores have been phenomenally successful in pumping up the company’s brand, driving revenue, and reinforcing the uniqueness of the Apple experience, and nowhere in the world is that more evident than in the massive Chinese cities of Shanghai and Beijing,” Evans reports. “Out of about 325 stores worldwide, Apple’s largest, highest-traffic, and highest-revenue stores are in China, a runaway market for Apple in which 2011 revenue should soar about 500% to $16 billion.”
“So why has Apple opened only six stores in China this year, when its plans had called for it to roll out a total of 25 by year’s end?” Evans wonders. “Perhaps the reason is simply that Apple realizes that, no matter how aggressively it continues to crank up production of its iPhones and iPads and allocate more of those high-demand products to the Chinese market, it simply can’t keep up with the combined forces of China’s sheer size plus the astonishing appetite it has shown for Apple’s products.”
Read more in the full article here.
I thought Apple’s goal was 25 stores in China by the end of 2012, not 2011. This whole report is based on a faulty presumption!
I thought so too.
I think, and I could be wrong, the goal was 25 stores by March 2012.
The summary seems to be implying that they’ve opened (or are on track to open) less than they had stated, but that they might not be bothering because they can’t keep up with demand no matter how many they open. Which is stupid.
Wait a minute, this story says Apple cannot crank up enough Iphone/iPad production to meet Chinese demand, but the previous story says Apple is slashing production of the iPad. Can both be right?
The previous story was utter rumor and stock manipulation. Note the way everything negative was qualified as rumor or speculation, as the source is protecting itself from lawsuits when the facts come out.
What you’re saying is a serious problem where usually the unfavorable article outweighs the favorable because the whole thing is probably a coverup for the manipulation. Future product market demand in China should easily outweigh a story about a 25% cut from unknown sources talking about unspecified companies. China is already there and it’s a known fact that China can’t get enough of Apple products since they’re demanding more stores. The 25% cut story is either blatant manipulation or investors that are too stupid to see through the lie.
Of course, if you want to buy more Apple shares, then the manipulation is good for you. I just don’t like the idea that the share price can be manipulated by questionable and unconfirmed stories. 25% of what figure is cut back? An analyst’s personal build projection? I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy a generalized iPad production slowdown unless it’s confirmed by Apple.
I was being ironic. Both articles are bogus. Typical misinformation.
Apple plans ahead. While most competitors are busying sleeping on their fat-ass, copying, cutting back from R&D and stealing from Apple, Apple is innovating like crazy.
It’s insane that analysts keep complaining about Apple’s “cash reserve”, # of stores opening up… etc. As an Apple shareholder, I am not complaining a bit. $$$
“Has Apple become too popular for its own good in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan?” Bob Evans asks for Forbes
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Microsoft would not only give its right arm, but also its left arm and both feet in order to enjoy such privilege. Google would be willing to commit hara-kiri to get its foot in the Chinese door.
Not to mention Ballmer’s right nut.
Demand for Apple products, worldwide, will cause delays of some, in particular the iPad, Air and iPhone ……
Apple has reached a tipping point in the desktop area as well, expect more and more to select the Apple for their next desktop or laptop main-stay system …..
Some will buy an iPad and keep their Windows XP system, just sitting there collecting dust and sucking down electric ( vampire draw on electric ) and finally one day they will recycle and never get a mother computer, the will simply use their iPad for everything and if they do it will be an Apple …..
Apple has innovated hard and long while competitors have not and finally after a long time, Apple is the little engine that could and the whole darn world is waking up to Apple!