Oregon-based retailer Computer Stores NW, owners of the regional chain called “The Mac Store,” will open a new retail store just 3 miles from the world headquarters of Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington.
“With the popularity of the iPod, and the resulting growing popularity of the Mac and Apple in general, we thought it was time to see Redmond with a Mac Store in its backyard,” said Kevin Anderson, CEO of Computer Stores NW in a statement. “Despite the presence of Microsoft as a major employer in that area, we know there are many Mac devotees in their ranks, and of course the area has great demographics for the iPod and all its accessories.”
With seven retail/service stores, The Mac Stores is a longtime northwest local Mac devotee hangout, and has become the country’s largest Apple Specialist, a special designation given to Apple-centric outlets that achieve specific goals and guidelines for the reselling of Apple product. For instance, Anderson says, “Any employee who interacts with a customer must become what’s called an Apple Product Professional, which designates that they have been trained and are knowledgeable on the entire line of Apple products.” In addition, the Mac Stores have complete service and repair centers, training facilities called “Mac University,” and an outbound service called “Mac Housecalls.”
Microsoft and Apple have been competing for decades for control of the operating systems that run on desktop computers, and while Microsoft’s Windows has dominated market share, indications are that Apple is making inroads to capture some of that market back, as more people understand and are exposed to the Apple message via the success of the iPod, the world’s most popular MP3 music player.
Anderson laughingly adds that the store will also have a bin of Groucho Marx glasses in the store “for the use of any Microsoft employee who wants to protect his or her identity while shopping in an Apple-based store.”
The new Mac Store will launch Saturday December 17th in the Redmond Town Center, 7501 166th Ave. NE. Redmond, WA 98052 at 9am.
The Mac Store is part of CSNW, a privately owned Northwest-based corporation established in 1974. For over 30 years, The Mac Store has been an exclusive Apple retailer and has seven stores located throughout Oregon and Washington. The Mac Store is the country’s largest Apple Specialist. For more information, visit http://www.themacstore.com
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Increase in Apple = Decrease in smallflacid
It’ll make it a damn site easier for all of the Microsoft employees to get their iPods now.
“Hey, Bill, ya’know there’s a Mac store three miles away?”
“Three miles! Shit Monkey, I’ll never walk that in my lunch break!”
That is really interesting news (at least, to me)! I’d LOVE to hear how sales figures and customer visits at the Redmond store compare to their other stores. I wonder if Bill and Balmer will visit the store just to see the buzz that’ll happen there.
Talk about a frontal assualt. And just in time for last minute/days Holiday shopping.
Demographics, demographics, demographics!
MW: ‘walked’ as in Jim Morrison — “…and I walked on down the hall”
This is a really cool story. I’m surprised that Apple hasn’t opened a store there by now.
Sounds too like Anderson’s store would be a good place to work too.
Good luck, guys!
I like ‘smallflacid’… TinyFloppy springs to mind, also LittleSquishy.
A bit bizare, but so too AtomicKitten (small and furry?)
Never thought about MicroSoft like that before. Weird.
fanbloodytastic, I love MDN news like this
“Despite the presence of Microsoft as a major employer in that area, we know there are many Mac devotees in their ranks, and of course the area has great demographics for the iPod and all its accessories.”
—
of course.. all the ppl who work for ms go home and use Macs. They’re not as stupid as you think.
F’n awesome! I’m a Mac guy trapped in Redmond of all places… I’m f’n walking distance to Town Center! Now I can sell my car, and Apple can have that money too!
They may be second class citizens, but there is the Mac Business Unit of Microsoft. Those poor pitiful souls can now rest easier. I feel for those guys. Isolated, alone….
…”And in another story, Microsoft announced it was downsizing almost its entire R&D staff, except for Bucky, the intern with a motor scooter and a digital camera. No reasons were given for the restructuring.”
This is no big deal. There is already a full-sized Apple Store 3 miles from Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters. It’s in the other direction, in the Bellevue Square Mall. For those who don’t know, Microsoft’s campus straddles the Bellevue-Redmond border.
I’m from Portland and the Mac Store is great!!! We love them here. Glad to hear MS is gonna get a bellyache in the heart of the beast.
yeah I’m also in Portland and the Mac Store is not great. Good to see Mac retailers doing well, but overall this is *not* the best service or purchase experience. CSNW changed their name when the first Apple Store came to town, obviously in a ploy to cause confusion and add ubiquity to themselves. Another tactic in a long line of shady business practices for that company. Whatever… the spread of the Mac is still a positive thing.
Hope they have a BIG crowd at the opening!!!!!!
I have had mixed feelings about what is currently “The Mac Store” (formerly, “The Computer Store”). For independent Mac stores, i tend to prefer MacForce.
Even so, “The Computer Store” was not around in 1974. Even Apple Computer, Inc. wasn’t around then. It is impossible for any store to have been selling Apple Computers anytime before the Apple I debuted in April, 1976.
A search of the Oregon Business registry shows that the original “The Computer Store” was started (in Corvallis, Oregon, by the way) in 1978.
NotSoMuch: They changed their name on March 21, 2003. Portland’s first Apple Store did open in Washington Square until November 15, 2003.
Veronica: TinyFlaccid would be more poignant in its emphasis of the diminutive than smallflacid. But i like the way you think.
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Legend has it that Bill’s wife found out on their wedding night why he named the company “MicroSoft.”
1: iPods have invaded Redmond, much to the dismay of management at first, but now it’s really just a accepted thing that Apple has a good product, did good marketing and is doing well. They respect Apple now, but don’t feel a bit threatened, comfortable in the fact they own the desktop and Vista is coming out.
2: Microsoft does have a Mac Buisness Unit, did purchase a couple of pallets of PowerMac G5’s, some for X-box development and some for in house use for OfficeMac and the like malware they produce.
M$ isn’t a bit threatened by Apple, the buisness models of the two comapnies is different.
M$ makes the OS and some software for all x86 based generic PC’s, for any manufactorer.
Apple on the other hand only makes a OS for their branded hardware.
Since it’s just about impossible for Apple to compete and fullfill the entire worlds demand for computers, M$ feels Apple will gain some market share, but nothing significant.
On the other hand, threats from Google, Linux and other companies who combine office and operating systems programs to run on generic PC’s is a significant threat to M$ and their cash cow monopoly.
I live in Bellevue/Redmond area, i walk by Microsoft alot… and I have to say we HAVE an Apple Store less than 5-10 minutes away from the Microsoft HQ…
This isnt big news…
I’m just trying to picture BillyBoy Gates in Groucho Marx glasses, trying to get an iPod for Melinda.
Fix Bayonets!
w00t for oregon!!!
These guys are great, and if you ever get a chance you should swing by one of their stores.
Wonder if the know up in Redmond you can also buy Apple stuff via the internet….
Power Max (mdn advertiser) is located in Tigard, Oregon. Not far from the apple stores
PowerMax is a sister company to The Mac Store, and is owned by CSNW.
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