Dear Friends,

Every year at this time we push our systems and our team to the limits to make sure that we get all of the orders out promptly and maintain our standards for customer satisfaction. This year is no exception, and the great deal on the MacBooks, Chill Pills and iPods combined with our first-ever free shipping promotion has given new meaning to “all hands on deck.” I am pleased to report that despite some absences due to flu and cold, the Small Dog team has really risen to the occasion. It is the team effort that gets the job done and I could not be prouder of our team.

The big news this week is that Apple has announced that this year’s San Francisco Macworld will be their last. They also announced that Phil Schiller will be giving the keynote address at the beginning of the Macworld Expo. This has created a furor of rumors and speculation. I fully understand Apple’s decision to cut back on participation in trade shows, especially this annual gathering. Trade shows are “old” business and enormously expensive for the huge presence Apple has each year at the show. Perhaps more importantly, the timing of the show immediately following the most intense sales period for Apple is not particularly ideal. Their stock tanks if they do not meet or exceed everyone’s expectations for new and innovative products, which sometimes results in premature product announcements (in which they don’t ship immediately), product spec changes (by the time they do ship) and an artificial deadline for product development. When Apple sold most of its product through their resale channel, perhaps a trade show made sense; however, with Apple’s retail presence and web presence, a trade show is no longer necessary to get the word out. It is also clear that Apple can create—almost at will—a media event to announce a new product and get as much (or more) buzz on their own schedule.

It will be disappointing not to have Steve Jobs address the crowd at Macworld. I am sure glad that I didn’t pay the $2000 for a guaranteed seat at the keynote! Naturally, the speculation is that the reason for Steve’s absence is his health but I doubt that is the issue; he is clearly in charge and doing well at Apple. There has been pressure for Apple to address succession plans, and I think that is exactly what Apple is doing by giving some of the other outstanding members of their executive team some high-profile opportunities. Phil Schiller, Tim Cook, Jonathan Ives and others are superstars in their own right and I think it is a smart plan to move Apple from being the “cult of Steve” to the “cult of Apple.” I do not think that the change in keynote presenter necessarily means that there will be fewer or different products introduced. I just think that Apple is working on their schedule and has learned from past mistakes regarding premature product releases.

I don’t know what I will do with my first week of January after next year, and I’ll certainly miss the opportunity to hob-knob with vendors and Apple folks at meetings and parties. The social nature of Macworld will be missed; however, at least for Apple, the huge expense in materials and personnel will not be. I’ve been to just about every Macworld and have great memories stretching back over 20 years, so it will be sad to see it go, but change is good and we will find new ways and venues with which to network.