“Microsoft Corp.’s first Manhattan flagship store is coming to Fifth Avenue,” Keiko Morris reports for The Wall Street Journal. “The software company confirmed that it will be setting up shop at 677 Fifth Ave. as it continues to expand its retail presence and take more control over its consumers’ shopping experience.”
Morris reports, “‘As our first flagship store, it will serve as the centerpiece of our Microsoft Stores experience,’ said David Porter, corporate vice president for Microsoft retail stores.”
MacDailyNews Take: “It will serve as the centerpiece of our Microsoft Stores experience.” In other words: Each shopper either enters alone and stands awkwardly amid boxes of non-selling bloatware and tables adorned with crappy Windows PCs and moribund tablets and smartphones while surrounded by blank-eyed employees who got rejected by the real Apple Store or customers enter with one or more children whom they wish to park in front of Xboxes for some free babysitting.
“The Fifth Avenue location, currently a Fendi shop, sits in the center of a glitzy shopping corridor and is several blocks south of Apple Inc.’s store,” Morris reports. “Over the past few years, Microsoft has made an aggressive push to broaden its retail reach and directly connect with its customers. Its competitor Apple had a head start with this approach, shaping the look and shopping experience in its stores. Apple has about 254 stores in the U.S., according to its third-quarter report.”
“Since 2009, Microsoft has opened 104 physical store locations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Last year, Microsoft and Best Buy Co. announced they were creating Microsoft mini-stores inside of 600 Best Buy locations,” Morris reports. “The company plans to open 10 more Microsoft stores in the U.S. and Canada in time for the holiday season.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft is a severely mismanaged and critically confused company.
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Microsoft in talks to open Manhattan retail store near flagship Apple Store Fifth Avenue – August 7, 2014
Microsoft retail store traffic pales in comparison to Apple’s – November 26, 2010
Analyst: Apple Retail Stores mauling Microsoft; Since 2004 over 18m Windows users switched to Mac – April 28, 2010
Microsoft looks to double retail store ‘network’ to four; Denver and San Diego up next – April 01, 2010
Apple’s retail store network, 285 strong and counting, driving Mac sales growth; AAPL at $435? – March 22, 2010
Apple exec offers peek into retail roll-out; including ‘jaw dropping’ London and Shanghai stores – February 26, 2010
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Microsoft Retail Stores have to resort to free concert tickets to generate opening day crowds – October 30, 2009
Notes from Microsoft’s first retail store: ‘Cheap, disorganized, and poorly-located’ (with photo) – October 23, 2009
Microsoft’s Bizarro Universe: 8 years late; in garish color; featuring inferior products (w/ video) – October 22, 2009
Microsoft to mimic Apple (what else is new?) with ‘Guru Bars’ in retail stores – July 25, 2009
Microsoft, you are embarrassing yourself.
Two blocks away? No, really, this is brilliant: the next time Apple releases a new iPhone, M$ can claim the line’s actually for them!
And everyone else.
More “free ticket” venues.
Hahahahahahahaha! Oh wait. I know a place now to do some quiet studying.
Or check my email when in New York. Couple of years back in 5th ave Cube, it took 20 minutes to get access to a MBP to check my email.
For the shopping experience to be complete they need offer Zunes and Kins as they are hard to find anywhere else.
Apparently Microsoft’s dictionary is lacking the word “hubris.”
Microsoft flagship: The unsinkable Titanic.
When is someone going to report if any of these stores ever make any money? Does anyone actually by anything when they walk into these places?
Most people just use them as craigslist hookup locations and other blackmarket activities where you need solitude and privacy.
Loss leader.
1 BestBuy has been a Microsoft front for years
2 Why would they bother? Do they think that by pretending they are relevant they will become relevant? “Fake it ’till you make it” only works on the way up.
Not only did they steal Apple innovative store design, now they’re copying Apple’s strategy from the late 90’s and early 2000’s to promote their products, truly amazing! Not only does Microsoft lack class, they are completely inept at an original idea. I feel embarrassed for them. Such a shame. With proper leadership, they could be a great company. I don’t know how much longer they will survive with their legacy products and corporate lock-ins, but I’m beginning to see the end to this once great company. It must suck and be really depressing to work for them. Their new CEO looks more inept than Ballmer, which just blows my mind. They should be looking high and low for someone to take the helm. Right now, they have no vision, no creativity, no innovation, and no class. The are a pathetic shadow of their previous glory.
Forget it. Even with proper management, they are so far behind now, it is highly unlikely they could ever catch up. Apple has been building their ecosystem for a very long time now with many products dovetailing together. With the Apple Watch and other blockbusters yet unreleased, this will only accelerate. The synergism in Apple products is one of the secrets behind their amazing success. M$ has no focus, no depth, and word of all, no clue…
Walking by will be whistling past the MS graveyard. The local crickets will love their new quiet hideout in which to give their loud symphonies.
Day 1 of the Microsoft Store: Doors won’t operate, have to be manually disassembled; Products keep falling off the tables; Floor uneven causing customers to stumble. Day 2: Doors propped open; thieves come in randomly and steal products. Day 3: doors finally work, security guards frisk all customers on entry (not exit); press finally shows up and gives mixed reviews like this “Better than anything we’ve ever seen from Microsoft!” or “Embarrassing knockoff of Apple concept”
Microsoft ‘Flagship Store’… flagship, huh? What’s the color of this flag, white? It should be as you need to surrender MS!
Day 1 of Microsoft Store: Doors don’t work, have to be disassembled; floor uneven so customers keep stumbling; products keep falling off the shelves. Day 2: Doors have to be propped open; thieves come in and steal stuff all day; plumbing leaks cause ceiling drips and wet floors. Day 3: Security guards frisk all customers on entry (not exit); the Press finally shows up and gives mixed reviews ranging from uninhibited raving to uninhibited yawns.
5th Ave, eh? This is sort of like a Burlington Coat Factory opening on Rodeo Drive.
LOL
Oh. Look! Microsoft is opening a cricket farm. How adorable.
I feel exasperated. These “stores ” have been popping up for years and I still can’t figure out what it is they’re supposed to be selling or how they make their rent I just don’t get it. Why are they willfully setting a match to a mountain of money?!
Two words: ponzi scheme
It’s limitless cash so no one cares. You just spend as much as you damn well want. Also one of the reasons Ballmer cashed out early.
An island of quiet contemplation amidst a bustling metropolis.
Surely this future store must contain Surface tables.
They have nice wood floors. I’m hoping to salvage some of that when they dismantle the stores after they close.
Uhm, DAGAS (Does anybody give a shit) about the Microsoft store at this pint? Microsoft should sublet it to an e-cigarette vendor and they’ll probably break even.
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