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Microsoft hires ex-Apple real estate chief to consult on retail outlets

by Steven Sande Jul 21st 2009 at 12:00PM

Microsoft's announcement that the company will open stores near the locations of existing Apple retail outlets came as no surprise to many people. After all, why not try to get a little overflow traffic from Apple Stores and sell a few Zunes in the process? Perhaps they'll have charming and pleasant retail employees like Lauren or Sheila from the "laptop hunter" ads...

TechFlash is reporting that the company has hired George Blankenship, former Apple real estate chief, to consult on securing prime locations for the Microsoft stores. Blankenship moved to Apple from The Gap, and he joins former Wal-Mart executive David Porter, who is now Microsoft's corporate VP of retail stores.

By consulting for Microsoft rather than being a direct hire, Blankenship can skirt many of the issues brought on by the NCA (non-competitive agreement) that all Apple executives sign. The demographic information that Blankenship might use to pinpoint Microsoft store locations is available publicly, and the techniques used by Apple to successfully open retail locations have been widely discussed since the first Apple Store opened in 2001.

While the locations, products carried, and general look and feel of the Microsoft retail outlets are still under wraps, the first stores are expected to open prior to the October 22nd launch date for Windows 7.

[via ifoAppleStore]

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Microsoft's announcement that the company will open stores near the locations of existing Apple retail outlets came as no surprise to many...
 

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San Diego lasik surgery

We do live in America. People have ideas, people can use those ideas to make those ideas better, then just the same makes those ideas better, it's all a matter of preference really.

August 18 2009 at 7:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Codey H.

Doesn't Microsoft already have retail outlets? Best buy comes to mind...

July 21 2009 at 7:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
david

This just in TUAW reports on old news after everyone else.

July 21 2009 at 4:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
trayser

Finally, Microsoft opens stores for window shopping.

July 21 2009 at 3:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
eMax

Microsoft will also hire actors to shop in the stores and walk out with large shopping bags filled with stuff to make it seem like everyone is loving the Microsoft Store.

just wait and see..

July 21 2009 at 3:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to eMax's comment
Liquidmark

@ Jordan

If that was your experience at the Apple store, perhaps you should try e-mailing the Manager. trust me, they hold meetings EVERY MORNING AND NIGHT and such things get brought to the attention of everyone present. If a concierge (Person in a orange shirt) isn't doing his/her job, they'll hear about it.

About the "don't know anything about the products they sell,". I've seen this. Sometimes they know, but everyone is afraid to say the WRONG thing, so a lot of times they say they don't know and direct you to a genius or a manager. I remember my supervisor said that the 9400m had dedicated memory instead of shared. I got chastised for correcting his bumbling. That was the day I ragequit.

The thing is that in-depth knowledge of a product doesn't sell well. Knowing what level of baby-talk to use with the customers sells well.

You'll see the same thing in any retail establishment. You'll definitely see this in the M$ store. Mark my words.

July 21 2009 at 5:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
isrltrkfn

retail outlets to sell what? Windows 7 and Xboxes? this will fail.

July 21 2009 at 2:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to isrltrkfn's comment
Liquidmark

A friend of mine was telling me about this earlier this year, in February. They are trying to build a community like Apple's. They see that, once people become part of the Apple community, they usually never come back to windows or Microsoft for anything.

They'll be selling PC's manufactured by their partners. Games for the xbox 360 also offer all kinds of training and crap.

I think it is a garbage idea.

An un-charismatic company trying to act like it has a personality.

The fact is, NOBODY really believes in Microsoft. The company is about as interesting and sincere as a soggy slice of bread. The ONLY reason Windows is so popular is because it is historically convenient. You buy a new computer and Windows comes preloaded. Your OS choice for LIFE has pretty much been made for you already. With Macs, you have to conscientiously seek them out. Same thing for Linux.

People believe in Apple, especially the people that work at their retail stores. I should know, I used to work at one.

July 21 2009 at 5:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tzohar

What baffles me is, how are they going to fill a whole store? What does Microsoft sell other than some software? Are they really building a whole store to sell Windows, Office, some games and Xbox products? Or are they also going to offer hardware there made by other companies? Apple stores carry products you can't find anywhere else, but it seems to me that I could very easily go to Best Buy and find every single product made by Microsoft. It's not like their product line is that varied.

July 21 2009 at 1:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tzohar's comment
mike

Best Buy sells almost all Apple products too. Hell even WalMart sells the iPhone. A store isn't anything revolutionary.

July 21 2009 at 2:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
melloplayer

Is there no loyalty in the corporate world? I can't understand how you could work for a company and then go consult for the competition. Apple/Microsoft aside, if one of my people went to consult for another publishing business, I'd be *just a little* upset. F that, I'd be livid. That's something you just don't do.

July 21 2009 at 1:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Santa

Would that be: FOLLOW THE LEADER??

It must really look sad and desperate to Microsoft customers, maybe even somewhat embarrassing.

July 21 2009 at 1:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Santa's comment
Silver

Microsoft's customers are too submerged in "sad and desperate" to recognize "sad and desperate."

July 21 2009 at 1:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rick

Man, if you are going to copy Apple so hard, might as well change the name and logo to include a fruit? Maybe have a disclaimer "not affiliated with Apple in any way, but we really wish we can copy them hard enough to enjoy that same success".

July 21 2009 at 12:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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