Microsoft now hiring employees for its retail stores
It was revealed in February of this year that Microsoft was to open its own retail stores across the United States. Although there had been speculation about just a move for a good while. The first two Microsoft retail stores are due to open soon in Scottsdale and Mission Viejo. And Microsoft is now hiring employees for those two stores.
Apple has obviously led the way in terms of having its own flagship retail stores which sell nothing but Apple hardware, software and peripherals. But like the company itself, Apple retail stores tend to be empty, lifeless shells where style is valued over substance.
In April 2008, rumors abound that Microsoft was looking to replicate the relative success Apple has had with its retail stores by opening its own. First came online stores, but this year saw Microsoft confirm retail stores were part of the future plans for the company.
PCs running Windows are clearly going to play a big part in Microsoft retail stores. But so is software such as Office 2010 and hardware such as the Xbox 360 and Zune HD. I wouldn’t be surprised if the retail stores are also used to promote Bing and the Windows Live apps.
Microsoft is now advertising for employees at its first two retail stores. A posting on the Microsoft Jobs Blog gives a rough outline as to what sort of people Microsoft is looking for:
We’re looking for new store employees who love technology and teaching and helping others. In particular, we’re looking for people with technical backgrounds who can help customers choose the best Microsoft products and services for their needs and troubleshoot any technical issue they may have.
There are eight positions up for grabs which are all in keeping with the positions available at other electronic retailers, including Apple.
It’ll be interesting to see how successful these first two Microsoft retail stores are, especially in comparison to Apple stores. I certainly think Microsoft has a big enough range of products and services now to offer consumers a reason to enter the store. Though whether they buy anything and then come back time and again will be the big test.
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August 23rd, 2009
“[...] Apple retail stores tend to be empty, lifeless shells [...]”
“[...] Microsoft was looking to replicate the relative success Apple has had with its retail stores [...]”
So Apple retail stores are “empty, lifeless shells”, but they are nonetheless a “relative success”. It seems that your thinking is a little confused, Dave. Doesn’t vista.blorge have editors to weed out this sort of thing?
August 24th, 2009
See? I told you I wasn’t reaming you over minor grammatical errors.