Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) opened four brick-and-mortar stores during the last year and now the Redmond-based software company hopes to build out the initiative by opening a number of new retail locations.
Last week, at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Washington, D.C., COO Kevin Turner said Microsoft is going to “build dozens more stores,” but is “just getting started” on that effort. Turner also said that the direct contact that Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) gets with customers is invaluable to the company. [Microsoft Stores] are an incredible learning vehicle for us,” Turner said Wednesday at WPC.
Customers can try out Windows 7 PCs from OEM partners at Microsoft Stores. Customers that get their PCs from a Microsoft Store will also get a configuration that’s free of unwanted third-party add-ons known by many as “crap ware.” Turner commented, “If you go to a Microsoft store, you can get the Microsoft Signature build on that PC, which eliminates that third-party software that drives you nuts sometimes.”
At last year’s WPC event, Turner said that Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) would open stores next to Apple stores, and in some cases, it has followed through on that pledge. Turner did not indicate this yaer where Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) would continue its retail expansion. Currently all four Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) Stores are operating on or near the West Coast, suggesting that the company may have an aversion in expanding east.
