Apple has had a change of heart when it comes to their marketing strategy. They want to ensure that their Apple Watch is successful this holiday season, as they look to change strategies from a buy-by-appointment setup, to a direct strategy offering a discount of $50 to iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus buyers. For those looking to purchase an Apple iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus this holiday season – they will have the opportunity to purchase an Apple Watch or Apple Watch Sport with a $50 discount. For those looking to purchase an older device, like the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, they will be eligible for the same promotion.
So, what’s the catch? Apple is reportedly only allowing this to fly for a limited time, and will only be doing it in what they’re calling “select physical locations.” The other catch is that for those buying the two devices, they are still dropping nearly $1,000 for an entry-level device. The entry-level iPhone 6s starts at $649 – and that brings 16GB of storage along with it. The Apple Watch Sport then would drop down to $349 with the discount – bringing the grand total to just a couple dollars’ shy of $1,000.
Some people might think that this is a big deal, though, when in actuality it really means nothing. It was reported at the end of the week that the Apple Watch accounted for a 100% year-over-year growth in it’s “other products” category in 10-Q filings. Similar reports show that Apple Watch would have accounted for around $1.7 billion in sales. This would more likely play credence to the notion that Apple is looking at holiday season, because most retailers and consumer brands are at this point.
It’s unclear how far into November this promotion will last. Some reports have indicated that it will only last through November 15th and that it will not see an expansion of participating stores. However, if it is successful in this period – it could serve as a precursor to something more substantial as holiday season really kicks into gear this month. At this point, it would also appear though that the promotion is restricted to locations in the state of California, and specifically the Bay-area. We will be sure to see more on this story as the promotion progresses.
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