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Microsoft to open its own retail stores | |
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| Time: 09:01 EST/14:01 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin.com | Posted By: Byron Hinson | ||
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As we reported a few weeks ago, Microsoft has officially rolled out an update to Windows Live Essentials (Build 8064). If you're not familiar with Windows Live Essentials, it is a suite of applications that include: Windows Live Mail (Desktop Version), Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live Toolbar, Windows Live Family Safety, and Windows Live Movie Maker Beta | ||
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| #1 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 2/13/2009 9:41:18 AM |
| I wonder how Microsoft's resellers will feel about this move. If MS undercuts its retailers, they'll freak out. If MS matches or exceeds retail prices then there is no incentive for people to go out of their way to go to the MS Store instead of their local Best Buy etc. The only advantage, as indicated by the article, is the ability to promote some of the more niche products like Home Server. They could also set up kiosks that let you really play with whatever is being promoted, unlike the big box stores where you can look but don't touch. |
| #2 By 3 (86.1.44.213) at 2/13/2009 9:47:04 AM |
| Not really a surprise they are doing this - not just because of the popularity of the Apple Stores - though thats more to do with the design and layout of them and appealing massively to the younger generation, something I can't see Microsoft stores doing, but also due to their denial that they were planning this last year! |
| #3 By 3 (86.1.44.213) at 2/13/2009 9:49:26 AM |
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#1 - Exactly - to make these stores work they would have to undercut all others stores, do that and they will annoy all their other retailers, don't do it and the stores will fail. So it seems a lose, lose situation here. If they use it to promote things like games then hopefully that will be a plus point though, but in saying that - most game stores push the 360 anyway! This post was edited by Byron_Hinson[AW] on Friday, February 13, 2009 at 09:51. |
| #4 By 8556 (12.208.163.37) at 2/13/2009 10:21:16 AM |
| If Canonical had the cash, an brick and morter Ubuntu store would be more interesting than a MS store. Maybe Ballmer plans to pump crack into the ventilation system to keep people buying more MS stuff, whatever it will be, if the MS store concept materializes into physical reality. I predict that they will wind up with a nice online store and not a brick and mortar store. |
| #5 By 3653 (65.80.181.153) at 2/13/2009 10:42:39 AM |
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Byron,
"do that and they will annoy all their other retailers" Anyone else notice the ipods in walmart? How about the Bose systems in EVERY retailer? IOW, It can be done. MSFT is right to FINALLY take a bit of control of the face the customer sees when buying their products. This post was edited by mooresa56 on Friday, February 13, 2009 at 10:44. |
| #6 By 23275 (24.196.4.141) at 2/13/2009 10:46:03 AM |
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MS is moving into the channel in every way. I wrote to this a good while ago and warned those in the channel that MS would eat its own young. They have no choice in the matter and many partners are going to have to learn to compete with them.
We do and have for a very long time, and I rather like that. We do MS better than MS does MS... I guess is one way to put it. Most importantly, leverage the organic nature of your business - e.g., know your customers' needs and remain available. Beating the snott out of MS, or any other large company is not hard. We're closer to our customers; we know our customers - large companies, by their very nature, cannot do this. So use MS's platforms and even their services, but knock they crap out of them when it comes to service, tight integration of not just technologies, but business processes. Hammer them on price when you can and above all else, turn inside them. They have a big ship with a small rudder and turning circles around them is great sport. Same drill with Amazon, or Google, or any other large company. Square off and whip the tar out of them. Whenever we compete head to head - say their dynamics -vs our Sovereign... I am always thinking to myself.... "Yeah, Mr. Sales guy from MS... in addition to knowing the product, I can also code it myself, deploy and integrate it in my sleep and because I have the authority right now, and the ability live on less than you, I can cut inside you, make you look like the marketing hack you are, and beat you at your own game." I can see it in the customer's face - the moment we have the deal and have beaten MS, SAP, or any other big company. Any other SMB business person would love to give you their business over the likes of MS, Oracle, or any other company. Be bold! Buy close to home! |
| #7 By 3 (86.1.44.213) at 2/13/2009 12:22:23 PM |
| #5 - I know that about the ipod etc - difference there is that they have one set price across the board from each store. |
| #8 By 7754 (206.169.247.2) at 2/13/2009 4:51:33 PM |
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I was going to start by saying that this seems like a really dumb idea to me... but as I thought about it, there is potential here--if they do it right. One thing that makes Apple stores unique as a retail experience is that it is *their* store, demoing *their* product (usually by one of the Apple faithful to boot...). What's Microsoft's alternative? A Best Buy employee trying to demo computer brands X, Y, Z, and Q, all with competing value-add (*cough* JUNK *cough*) software, usually with little clue or training about how the stuff works or even why and how one might use it? If done right, they could probably do much more with this than the millions they spent on Seinfeld (nothing against Seinfeld). It is perhaps more of a marketing opportunity than anything.
A few things that I think would make a difference: - Employees that actually know Microsoft software and can show how and why someone would use it (and can give advice/get around the value-add garbage) - Demo great hardware from a variety of different partners, especially those that might not get airtime at a place like Best Buy - In-store training and service (yes, copying the Genius Bar... it's a good idea) |
| #9 By 7754 (206.169.247.2) at 2/13/2009 5:18:35 PM |
| Another thought... require MS execs to spend a half-Saturday per month teaching (or assisting teaching) customers how to use the software in the stores. |
| #10 By 3653 (65.80.181.153) at 2/14/2009 12:34:21 AM |
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#7... are ipods the same price at the apple store and walmart both?
If so, I wasn't aware of it. |
| #11 By 3 (86.1.44.213) at 2/14/2009 3:33:05 AM |
| Don't know about American stores - but over here in the UK apple prices are the same across the board |
| #12 By 9589 (76.4.22.39) at 2/16/2009 1:41:04 AM |
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If they do it half as well as their educational live events, web casts, pod casts, and virtual labs for developers and administrators, I think that Microsoft's idea could be terrific. Retail stores rarely carry anything other than Microsoft's OS, the student version of Office, and Microsoft game console and games. Microsoft has a vast and deep repertoire of software that the public rarely sees and gets to use. If done right that will change.
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| #13 By 3653 (65.80.181.153) at 2/16/2009 8:16:10 AM |
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Byron,
Definitely not the same prices here in America. |
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