Poor Microsoft. While Apple’s sales and profits have been on the upward trend for the past several years, Microsoft hasn’t nearly as much growth in the computer or mobile business.
In an effort to expand the “Microsoft story,” the Redmond based company has launched the initiative to build 75 new US retail stores in the next 2-3 years. 75 stores hardly competes with Apple’s 300+ worldwide retail locations, but at least it’s something to start with for Microsoft.
Technically, this new retail plan isn’t something that Microsoft is “starting with” at all. Did you know that Microsoft already has 11 retail stores in the US? Based on Microsoft retail’s lack of success so far, we’re guessing most people don’t.
Neowin notes,
“During the presentation Microsoft showed a map of future locations which will be opened in the coming years. The expansion represents Microsoft’s commitment to bringing their vision of the retail experience to the consumer.”
Microsoft tried to copy Apple’s retail stores back in 2009, and the company even tried poaching Apple store employees with pay raises to leave Apple and join Microsoft retail. Needless to say, the retail experience has yet to be done correctly by Microsoft, so the company is trying again with this new initiative.
“Also shown off during this presentation was that an Apple retailer in Latin America was showing off Apple hardware running Windows 7. Microsoft used this to poke fun that Apple makes fantastic hardware but that their OS is still behind Windows 7.”
OS X Lion is set to launch tomorrow, and Apple is expected to see unprecedented sales due to the product’s incredibly cheap $29.99 price point. Windows 7 has been seeing strong sales as well.
A recent report says that Apple is currently the fastest-growing US retailer, with the company accounting for one-fifth of the overall Q1 retail sales in the US. Microsoft has a lot of catching up to do.
[via AppleInsider]
