With recent news of Microsoft opening up retail stores, it got me thinking. Why? Microsoft already has its OS available in almost every technology retail store there is, and you can get a Xbox 360 or Zune in almost all of these places, too. Sure, it would be great to specifically promote your own brand and give consumers another store to shop at, but would it just fight for sales with the many stores that already sell Microsoft products? If you ask me, Microsoft doesn’t really even make enough products themselves to make the store interesting enough. They have the Zune, 360, their OS, and some peripherals, but how interesting could a store with just this really become (unless they have 360 game competitions, that is)? All I could see these stores really being good for is maybe a cheaper alternative to Best Buy’s Geek Squad. Maybe I’m missing something, but I just don’t think a Microsoft store could create quite the community the Apple stores are so famous for.
Apple stores offer an experience like no other. They are full of life, learning, and, of course, awesome products. If you ask me, Apple stores aren’t just stores. With the Genius Bar, One on One Lessons, and daily help sessions, they are full of activity other than just buying. They don’t pressure you to buy products, they make you WANT to buy the product. They make people like me and you get excited about visiting them and cause you to want to come back. I just can’t see a Microsoft store doing this. I don’t know why, it just seems like it would be sort of dull.
Do you think a store made by Microsoft is just what they need to get back on track after the Vista disappointment, or would it be a waste of money?
Well I guess most people must give MS the benefit of the doubt, eh?
There are many stores around the country, all providing different experiences. Apple is not the only store where you get a good feeling every time you go there. What about Starbucks? Barnes & Noble? Whole Foods and HEB? IKEA? Perhaps local area stores you may not even know about? Just because Apple can do it, doesn't mean MS can't.
I know MS has done some rather lame promos for their products before, but times change, and I think MS is getting better at promoting their stuff better.
You name Microsoft's 4 well known biggies (OS, Xbox, Zune, and their peripheals), but you can add more to the list as well. What about Office? Entertainment solutions? Business solutions? How about a place to demo current products or even upcoming products (Surface will be a big draw), or other neat things not meant to be released yet. Maybe a well-staffed support center that will really help on issues. Accessories. Many other things.
MS has the capital to hire someone that can really make a nice store experience. Apple's not the only one.
I don't think you realize that just using a Microsoft product makes me want it. Xbox (have it), Xbox 360(have it), Vista (Yeah, I really want it), and a Zune 80 (XNA games, wireless sync, and wireless 360 compatibility have me sold). In fact, I would want to work at a Microsoft store, I love Windows, and every Microsoft product I have ever owned (I
BTW, I think Microsoft does the best job promoting the Xbox 360 and games, the Halo campaign obviously worked wonders, and the commercials are very trendy and convincing (I'm talking about the console advertisements, not necessarily games) and are really not painful to watch, like most of the commercials on today. I also usually stop fast forwarding my Series 1 TiVo to watch them.
They have just about as much to gain as Apple does today. As far as I can tell, Apple has expanded a great deal in the past decade and although they do have their own store they also have Apple sections at computer stores now. I believe that Microsoft has as much to offer as Apple does.
Sure they have the products we already know about but also several that we're not familiar with, for example Expression Studio, UMPCs, and Silverlight. As you said yourself, when you go into an Apple store they teach and help. There are plenty of features in Vista that many people are unaware of and its a perception to assume everyone is techno-savvy. I personally would've loved to have seen a UMPC up-close before buying (like the Samsung Q1), but because the product was so new none of the local stores carried it – this could've been a huge draw to the store during the showcasing of the product.
Even today's college students often need help with windows and since Microsoft holds the majority of the market share it's only natural that this be the route they go.
They have had a temporary MS-showroom actually here in Cologne, Germany in October 2007. It was pathetic, no one ever entered (at least not when I walked by during weekdays), dried up flowers were standing on couch tables, some installations of TVs with ugly MS-style media server menus (I am no expert on MS-stuff, don't know the terms) shone their blue light on couches no one wanted to use. The staff consisted of not very motivated students waiting for their shift to be over. The whole thing closed (as it was meant to be temporary anyways, I guess) and gave way to a fashion store, it all went by rather unnoticed.
Heck, even opening night was super-sad, a few lost suits standing around: http://www.microsoft.com/germany/showroom/img/gal/koeln/k_oe_4.jpg
The "official" site: http://www.microsoft.com/germany/showroom/
Why it won't work? Simple reason: MS is ugly in so many ways at once!
I think that yes, it would be extremely tough for Microsoft to create a shopping experience comparable to that of the Apple Stores. Also, even if they were able to create the previously mentioned store, they are already at such a popularity low with the tech industry that not many people would really take notice. Just look at the pictures of the German showroom on opening day (links in the comment above). I just don't think that it would be justifiable from an economic standpoint for Microsoft to invest so much time and money into something that probably won't do so great, and that has such a huge shadow cast over it by the highly successful Apple Store. I think that it would take Microsoft a huge revamp of their entire product line, maybe even introducing a few more of their own, to really make this possible endeavor warranted.
Let Microsoft try!!! It'll be good for the economy … but they've got to do their own thing, not just copy Apple!!!
Microsoft excelled at the Windows 95 introduction!!! Now, let them excel at opening thousands of new Microsoft retail stores around the world, all at the same time (none of this drawn out guessing game stuff). Let them hire sales, training and service people … outfit them in pink and blue camouflage gear … after all, this isn't a game, it's a sales war!!! Let Steve Balmer, dressed like a General, open the Silicon Valley store while huge video screens set up at all the other new stores carry his opening day address around the world! The grand finale could be a takeoff of the "1984" TV ad where Steve Balmer throws a huge sword and destroys a little apple held by a Steve Jobs look-alike. Just think … of the thousands of people put to work and what this would do for our economy!
And remember, whatever happens … success or failure … it'll be good for the economy!
If you could go there and get your crapware fixed it would be fun….or plug your windows machine into Robot that cleans up the big mess….
I don't know what everyone has against Microsoft. My computers have always run fine and the support has always been amazing. I don't need to learn how to use Dos or Command Prompt or whatever you guys call it to install stuff. Why not raise hell about Dell, HP, and Sony having their own stores if you have a problem with Microsoft having its own store?
I think it would be a waste as well. I own 2 pcs and one mac which I am in love with now. I can agree there is no way Microsoft can give you that feeling you get in an Apple store.
MS added the failed Zune and the belieguered Vista to its protfolio so why should it not add a likely failure like the MS Store too?
You make some great points, especially with the MS Surface. That would even draw me into the store. I didn't mean to make it sound like Microsoft COULDN'T do it, just that it might be tough for them. I'm sure it would have a great draw for business people who may be, for example, looking for a new Window's Mobile phone or something. Either way, it will be interesting to see how they handle the store if they do, in fact, even make them.
hahah why not? just remember apple copy to xerox a long time ago