Microsoft Set To Open Mini-Stores Inside 600 U.S. and Canada Best Buy Locations
Microsoft is taking a page out of Apple’s book, and opening mini-stores in 500 Best Buy locations around the United States and 100 Best Buy and Future Shop sites around Canada.
According to the companies, the Microsoft mini-stores will be between 1,500 and 2,200 square feet and have a number of Microsoft-related items for sale or showcase including Windows hardware peripherals, Windows software, Microsoft’s X-Box products, Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.
Microsoft will train over 1,200 Best Buy sales associates so they will be better able to help customers and pitch the company’s products.
The move makes Microsoft much more capable to contend against Apple with the new computing paradigm. Microsoft’s Windows 8 platform has had an uphill battle in the weakening PC market and ever-booming mobile device market.
Microsoft has tried following Apple’s lead before with the opening of retail stores. However, Microsoft’s locations failed to generate any kind of success that Apple has managed to attain with its company’s stores.
What does Best Buy get out of it? The Windows Shops are just furthering a trend the company has been going with: getting in touch with key electronic brands so they will open a mini-store inside the Best Buy locations, in the effort to change how people view the retailer. Thanks to Internet shopping, Best Buy has had real problems competing. A big issue Best Buy has is “showrooming”, which means customers come in to look at the company’s products and go home to purchase them online.
Apple had its own mini-stores inside Best Buy buildings with individual installations to boast its iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. It wasn’t too much longer before Samsung decided to do the same, opening 1,400 mini-stores.
Online News Heard Now
Short URL: http://www.onlinenewsheardnow.com/?p=1914
Posted by