Rest in peace Steve Jobs…
I’d like to begin this week’s blog by stating that my thoughts are with the family and friends of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple who sadly passed away Wednesday night.
Steve Jobs was a genius outright who changed the lives of millions of people worldwide. His innovative and entrepreneurial mind has helped simplify our day-to-day lives and ultimately advance technology, as we know it.
Back in 1984 Mr Jobs unveiled the first Apple Macintosh computer and since then the world has been engulfed in new and innovative Apple products, such as the iPod, which revolutionised the way we listen and distribute music.
In more recent years we’ve seen the iPhone and iPad, again, two technologically superior devices which hold a market of it’s own. As I write this on my Macbook Pro it’s easy to see how much of an impact Mr Jobs has had on everyone.
Not to say the world wouldn’t have touch screen phones and tablet devices with the capabilities that Apple products possess, but the question can be asked that had there not been someone as creative as Steve Jobs, when would we have begun to see such inventions?
As far as retail is concerned, retailers have a lot to thank Mr Jobs for; nowadays devices such as iPhones and iPads make it so easy to connect to the world that the day-to-day running of businesses is made much easier.
The competition that has long surrounded Apple products has also been welcoming for retailers, not only can you rely on an Apple product to keep consumers spending, but it opens up a whole new market for other companies to try and compete in.
Touching each and every one of us, Steve Jobs’ legacy will live on for many years; he will go down as an entrepreneurial genius that advanced technology far beyond its years.
US President Barack Obama believes the world has “lost a visionary” he also had this to say: “Steve was among the greatest American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.”
In other news…
It seems everyone’s gone greener and is opting to take the bike to work as opposed to driving.
Halford’s sales figures appear to indicate so as shares rose strongly on Thursday.
Like-for-like sales at Halford’s slipped 2.8pc in the second quarter compared with a 1.9pc fall over the full 26-week half. However this was better than expected and sales of bicycles were up 5.7pc in the half.
So, good positive news for both Halford’s and the environment!