Apple to cut several business & events positions at retail stores - report
Apple will allegedly eliminate several business- and events-based retail positions entirely towards the end of April, in a move that could affect the company's behind-the-scenes dealings and potentially how it sells to enterprise going forward.
The company will no longer have any Business Managers, Business Events Leads, Events Coordinators, or Events Leads at its outlets, a source told MacRumors. Store leaders reportedly began informing impacted workers about the situation earlier this week, though an "all-hands" meeting is only scheduled for Apr. 23. The company has already removed "Business Manager" as an option from its Jobs at Apple webpage.
People affected by the cuts are being given the option of accepting a lower-level job, or two months of severance pay.
Sources within the company, not authorized to speak on Apple's behalf, have confirmed the reorganization in some stores with AppleInsider.
The original source of the report commented that Business Managers currently lead the Business teams at stores, which are generally tasked with bringing in up to 20 percent of an outlet's sales. The managers "have established relationships with various small and medium businesses in their markets," the person added, and do "highly specialized" work that is "often times not easily understood by retail leadership who do not have experience in B2B sales."
It could be that Apple feels it needs less retail staff dedicated to business, and will cope by handling things at the corporate level or directing businesses elsewhere. For large-scale deployments Apple often points organizations to resellers, or partners like IBM.
The company will no longer have any Business Managers, Business Events Leads, Events Coordinators, or Events Leads at its outlets, a source told MacRumors. Store leaders reportedly began informing impacted workers about the situation earlier this week, though an "all-hands" meeting is only scheduled for Apr. 23. The company has already removed "Business Manager" as an option from its Jobs at Apple webpage.
People affected by the cuts are being given the option of accepting a lower-level job, or two months of severance pay.
Sources within the company, not authorized to speak on Apple's behalf, have confirmed the reorganization in some stores with AppleInsider.
The original source of the report commented that Business Managers currently lead the Business teams at stores, which are generally tasked with bringing in up to 20 percent of an outlet's sales. The managers "have established relationships with various small and medium businesses in their markets," the person added, and do "highly specialized" work that is "often times not easily understood by retail leadership who do not have experience in B2B sales."
It could be that Apple feels it needs less retail staff dedicated to business, and will cope by handling things at the corporate level or directing businesses elsewhere. For large-scale deployments Apple often points organizations to resellers, or partners like IBM.
Comments
Going forward, you say! I'm so glad you clarified that.
http://www.theonion.com/article/ceo-unveils-bold-new-plan-undo-damage-last-years-b-55625
Sadly this was from experience, after 7 1/2 years being told i wasn't a team player i walked.
Apple Retail Store business Teams have the highest staff turnover rates in the entire business as well as the highest stress related absence levels.
I'm now an independent consultant and am grateful that i walked when i did.
/x sarcasm
In my little corner of the enterprise world, our mobile hardware is almost exclusively Apple with several hundred iPhones and iPads deployed. If we're beneath Apple and they want us to take our business elsewhere, our IT managers certainly will. A shame if things come to that.
Oh jesus, the entitlement. Did Apple say they wouldn't sell to you anymore? Wouldn't support your gear? Or did they just make a decision that their retail stores are best suited for consumers?
As for your sarcastic comment about money, newsflash -- you don't get to be wealthy and stay wealthy by spending it just because you can. That isn't how it works. But I know it's hard to see that when you're spending Apple's money for them from outside.
The displays at large Apple Stores now barely work. I tested one at Christmas in a large store. 5400 rpm Mac Mini attempting to run 10.12. Lag on opening the menu. Hilarious how bad it was.
Apple doesn't care / isn't interested in anything that isn't iPhone iPhone iPhone, iPad with a watch smattering.
Too difficult to sell to businesses and organise things. Much rather sell adapters and cases for iPhones
The ACN is so laughably broken in the UK, the Mac is the same. Come on Apple do us ALL a favour. Cancel the Mac except light weight laptops. Stop pulling our leg with the rest of it all and bin Pages, Number and Keynote as well please. Business teams in the bin, chuck the server app as well. Close it all down. For the love of god stop selling the embarrassing Mac Mini and Mac Pro you are dishonouring yourself and customers shipping shit like that with a 5400rpm drive or raising the price £500 on eon's old hardware.