Apple company sent recently to the American agency that monitors the expenses made by companies, the documentation explaining how he used his financial resources. In fiscal year 2012, the Apple company employed no less than 12.400 people, the number of employees increasing from 60.400 to 72.800, but not all of these people are permanently employed. Practically, the number of temporary employees increased from 2.900 to 3.300, and the number of employees in physical stores increased from 36.000 to 42.400, the difference up to 12.400 being recorded in other divisions.
As of September 29, 2012, the Company had approximately 72,800 full-time equivalent employees and an additional 3,300 full-time equivalent temporary employees and contractors. Approximately 42,400 of the total full-time equivalent employees worked in the Company's Retail segment.
Also in 2012, Apple opened 33 stores, their number reaching 390 worldwide, this expansion being a good reason on the basis of which so many people were employed. Each physical Apple store generated revenue of 51.5 million dollars in 2012, the figure increased by 8.2 million compared to the one recorded in 2011. The increase in revenue is also given by an increase in the number of employees of each store, on average Apple having 108 employees in each store, compared to 100 last year.
The Company opened 33 new retail stores during 2012, 28 of which were outside the US, ending the year with 390 stores open compared to 357 stores at the end of 2011. As of September 29, 2012, the Company had a total of 250 US retail stores and 140 international retail stores. With an average of 365 stores and 326 stores during 2012 and 2011, respectively, average revenue per store increased 19% to $51.5 million in 2012 compared to $43.3 million in 2011.
In 2013, Apple intends to open 30-35 new stores and if we are lucky, we might find out that one could even be opened in Bucharest. Going further, I will tell you that Apple invested 1 billion dollars in research in fiscal year 2012, the figure being 39% higher than the one invested last year, a sign that Apple is trying to bring innovations to the market, but it remains to be seen if it will and manage to develop them in a timely manner.
R&D expense increased $952 million or 39% in 2012 compared to 2011 and $647 million or 36% in 2011 compared to 2010. The growth in R&D expense was driven by an increase in headcount and related expenses to support expanded R&D activities. Although total R&D expense increased 39% and 36% in 2012 and 2011, respectively, it remained fairly consistent as a percentage of net sales.
In conclusion, Apple has grown nicely compared to the previous fiscal year and if it continues like this, then next year we will see other substantial increases.
