Star Microsoft To Launch Retail Stores
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 13th Feb 2009 10:46 UTC
Microsoft Following in the footsteps of the likes of Apple and Sony, Microsoft has announced via a press release that it is going to launch a chain of Microsoft-owned and operated retail stores. From the press release it becomes clear that the retail stores are not so much about making huge profits, but more about learning from customers what they want and to spread the Microsoft brand.
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What were they smoking?
by anomie on Sat 14th Feb 2009 01:07 UTC
anomie
Member since:
2007-02-26

Full disclosure: it matters little to me what happens to MSFT, but this concept is bizarre enough that I have to comment.

The first thing I thought when I read the story was: How does this improve their bottom line? As far as I can tell this is strictly an expensive and elaborate marketing effort. OSes and applications are already available at plenty of retail stores and on the 'net. I don't see anyone going out of his way to stop by a Microsoft store for the latest copy of Office.

From the article:

We’re also working hard to transform the PC and Microsoft buying experience at retail by improving the articulation and demonstration of the Microsoft innovation and value proposition so that it’s clear, simple and straightforward for consumers everywhere.


So they're going to roll out an entire (experimental) sub-business so that a full-time staff in blue shirts can explain why there are so many versions of e.g. Vista?

If I were a substantial shareholder, I'd do everything I could to put a stop to this - and fast.

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