14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft hasn't been doing so well in terms of finances, as the global recession had an impact on the Redmond-based corporation also. Although it has announced that it will lay off over 5,000 people in next few months, the company is still bent on promoting its best products, including both software and video game titles, not to mention its own Xbox 360 console.
As such, it has just announced part of this new strategy, which is to open up a number of retail stores across Europe in which Microsoft will directly sell both software, like the Windows Operating System for PC, but also video games, for both the PC and the Xbox 360 console. These stores will be supervised by 25-year Wal-Mart veteran David Porter, which will have the main goal of rivaling other companies that have retail stores, like Apple, Nintendo or Sony, all of them being major competitors for the North American corporation.
“Porter and his newly created retail stores team will drive the planning and timing of store locations,” revealed a Microsoft spokesperson. “Our target is a small number of high profile experience stores in a few major cities around the world. Our main objective is to change the buying experience for consumers around the world – to show and demonstrate Microsoft’s key consumer products in a deeper and more meaningful way, making it more simple and easy for consumers to purchase PCs and devices that truly meet their specific needs.”
But this doesn't mean that the company will neglect its retail partners, with which it will still maintain a good relationship, as the Microsoft representative also added: “The partnerships we have today with retailers around the world will continue to be an important focus area for the company and will benefit from these efforts.” He then revealed that these future Microsoft stores would help customers really get in touch with the company and develop a great relationship with it.