Microsoft has revealed that it will be closing its Microsoft Store physical locations as part of a strategic change in its retail operations. The company announced this earlier today on its official website.
According to the statement, retail team members will "continue to serve customers from Microsoft corporate facilities and remotely providing sales, training, and support." A Microsoft spokesperson has reportedly told CNBC that all of its employees will have the opportunity to stay with the company.
Microsoft says it will continue to invest in its digital storefronts on Microsoft.com, Xbox and Windows, which reach more than 1.2 billion people every month in 190 markets. It will also "reimagine spaces" that serve all customers, such as operating Microsoft Experience Centers in London, NYC, Sydney and Redmond.
Here's a bit of what Microsoft Corporate Vice President David Porter had to say about the announcement:
“It is a new day for how Microsoft Store team members will serve all customers... We are energized about the opportunity to innovate in how we engage with all customers, maximize our talent for greatest impact, and most importantly help our valued customers achieve more.”
What do you make of this news? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
[source news.microsoft.com, via cnbc.com]
Comments 13
I like shopping clothes at physical shops but computers, consoles and games can be purchased online, no problem.
Perhaps they might focus more on making games now and signing some good 2nd party development as well, like in the Good old 360 days.
Damn, I was hoping to take my One X to a Microsoft Store to trade it up to Series X.
I think the main reason MS opened these stores was to combat apples approach at introducing new devices that other stores would not give shelf space to. Mostly windows phones, zunes, win 8 RT tablets, and surface ultra thin laptops. Everything else was padding.
These days, most those products no longer exist, and the ones that do (Surface laptops) are successful enough to compete in retail.
I have not been to a mall with one of these stores in a long time, but I kinda found the store fun, from a nerdy point of view. It was also always packed, even if nowhere near as much as the Apple store. I would say it’s sad to see that go away, but I have not seen one of these in over 5 years!
I didn't even know they had physical stores.
Didn’t the London store only open last year? What a waste of money.
Retails going the way of the dinosaur
Only found out they had physical stores after reading this post. Turns out my nearest one is over 3 hours away so there’s no wonder I never knew they existed
The mall I work at has a Microsoft store inside of it & it’s rarely busy. And they have been shut down since the pandemic began.
I am not surprised they are closing them all down. I am a huge Xbox guy & I even I never felt the need to go into the store.
Had some good times trying VR at the MS store, and they had good service, but they weren't the busiest, so this is no surprise.
@Tharsman I wonder when will Microsoft release an OLED Surface Laptop and Surface Book. I'm waiting for one of those.
Closing all retail stores and all the jobs are safe?!
I don't think I've ever heard this before?
Commendable
How time repeats itself, Sony used to have stores everywhere in the UK, and there are just a few left now. Microsoft tried as well and now they shutting most of them.
Actually lots of shops are suffering at the moment due to what governments, economics and of course Covid changing purchasing habits.
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