Also, what would be the point of showing Surface at the MS store? This isn't consumer-oriented technology, and it probably won't even be positioned as such for a long time, if ever. Are they building a mall store so casino reps can order their cheesy touch screen consoles easier?
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Blockbuster Set Top Boxes and Microsoft Retail Stores?
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What's next... a Leftorium??
http://www.brandflakesforbreakfast.com/2008/04/microsoft-lets-be-more-like-apple.html
http://www.brandflakesforbreakfast.com/2008/04/microsoft-lets-be-more-like-apple.html
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Competition for theTV is a good thing.
Right, competition and choice can be good for everyone in the long run.
I sure wish we'd see an Apple TV with a blu-ray/dvd/cd drive. That would ice the deal for me.
I think a large part of it is that NetFlix crept up on Blockbuster with the mail-to-home DVD system and Blockbuster didn't take it seriously and now they're really paying for not innovating and taking the startups seriously.
I could see the Blockbuster/Circuit City acquisition as being beneficial - - with Blockbuster's name and access to a huge catalog of movies, they could use Circuit City as a means to establish themselves as serious players in the home A/V market and attempt to cut into Best Buy's dominant position.
It's going to be interesting to watch, Best Buy's corporate strategy is working and they are doing a decent number on the competition. Apple has a really good foothold in downloadable content that has all the major players "behind." Netflix really hurt Blockbuster in the rental market, so now Blockbuster really has to make a couple dramatic moves to keep themselves relevant and maintain viability.
And hey, if it means a complete redoing of Circuit city stores and them turning off that annoying bass music you get bombarded with every time you walk into the store it's already an improvement.
I could see the Blockbuster/Circuit City acquisition as being beneficial - - with Blockbuster's name and access to a huge catalog of movies, they could use Circuit City as a means to establish themselves as serious players in the home A/V market and attempt to cut into Best Buy's dominant position.
It's going to be interesting to watch, Best Buy's corporate strategy is working and they are doing a decent number on the competition. Apple has a really good foothold in downloadable content that has all the major players "behind." Netflix really hurt Blockbuster in the rental market, so now Blockbuster really has to make a couple dramatic moves to keep themselves relevant and maintain viability.
And hey, if it means a complete redoing of Circuit city stores and them turning off that annoying bass music you get bombarded with every time you walk into the store it's already an improvement.
Call me crazy, but has anyone stopped to think that this might be a good thing for MS to do?
Does anyone know what percentage of sales/foot traffic at Apple stores is due primarily to people visiting the genius bar? Just think how MS could do if it could replicate that success, when they have so much more of an install base.
Does anyone know what percentage of sales/foot traffic at Apple stores is due primarily to people visiting the genius bar? Just think how MS could do if it could replicate that success, when they have so much more of an install base.
Microsoft already had retail store - at least 1
Microsoft had at least 1 retail store in San Francisco's Sony Metreon Shopping Center a few years back. If I recall correctly, it only lasted about a year or two. Besides carrying MS stuff (software), they had the original xbox and then they offered desktops, laptops, monitors, and other computer accessories. I remember they had a glass enclosed classroom where they provided training on computer programs and MS certification (you had to pay for all that, of course). Obviously, it did not do well. It turned into another electronic store after microsoft left and that store only lasted a couple of years. The metreon now rents that space for parties, receptions, meetings. I had to admit that it was a nice looking store with all the hi-tech on display. I wonder if the Apple retail store that opened about two blocks away affected their decision to close. I wonder if MS learned anything from that "test?" retail store.
Microsoft had at least 1 retail store in San Francisco's Sony Metreon Shopping Center a few years back. If I recall correctly, it only lasted about a year or two. Besides carrying MS stuff (software), they had the original xbox and then they offered desktops, laptops, monitors, and other computer accessories. I remember they had a glass enclosed classroom where they provided training on computer programs and MS certification (you had to pay for all that, of course). Obviously, it did not do well. It turned into another electronic store after microsoft left and that store only lasted a couple of years. The metreon now rents that space for parties, receptions, meetings. I had to admit that it was a nice looking store with all the hi-tech on display. I wonder if the Apple retail store that opened about two blocks away affected their decision to close. I wonder if MS learned anything from that "test?" retail store.
The issue with that is Apple is a very visual hardware company. While Microsoft is a software company. They don't have any MS distinguishable hardware that would benefit from a live store.
Maybe Apple should "patent" 'Apple' and describe the patent as it's 'allure and mystique' and charge a royalty fee the next time companies try and copy Apple's move later!
That way Nokia's touchphone, among others, won't look as blatant as it already does in copying Apple (I know HTC has a touch screen phone but I don't really hear it's progress in the news that much. For instance, how much of the web market uses HTC's web browser?). Microsoft wants to open stores for the "Microsoft Experience"? Okay... They do this after they copy Apple's iPod's music system and MS has some company on their behalf manufacturer a rehash player and MS opens a Music store as opposed to MS previous model of the digital music scene. Then there is the phone market that Ballmer said he was happy licensing Windows Mobile to, ala 'cheaper' but capable devices that does similar iPhone things. Whatcha wanna bet that if MS opens some stores across the US a MS phone similar to iPhone will appear! (I know, MS won't need stores to really do that.)
OH. MY. GOD!!!! O...Opening a STORE?? How dare anyone copy Apple by opening a shop on the high street.
More typical Microsoft bashing from people who haven't taken into account that MS is used by 95+% of people.
Spin?
Isn't this site supposed to be a no spin zone?
The average Apple store has a fraction of the square footage of any of the other stores mentioned. You can add them all up and average the square footage with the same result.
If the source article had compared Apple to, say, a jewelry store CHAIN's stores then the results probably would have been closer to having, at least, some meaning.
Jewelry stores have an important combination; typically they have square footage closer to an Apple store AND the average cost of an item is high like an Apple store. [The majority of people go to an Apple store intent on buying an Apple computer which has a very high sales price. Add that to the very small square footage of an Apple store and you have a tailor made prescription for high sales per square foot. You get virtually the same situation with a jewelry store. Ramp up the size of an Apple store to the size of a Best Buy or Saks and Apple might not even get an honorable mention. In fact, Apple would likely have to close the store just like most jewelry stores could not sustain themselves IF you ramped them up to the size of a Best Buy.] You need that combination otherwise the numbers derived are meaningless, like they are in the source article. ...comparing apples and oranges.
Comparing Apple retail stores to stores whose business models differ dramatically from Apple's is, in my opinion, not only deceptive(spin?) it is irresponsible. Personally, I think a Dell, Alien, or other computer manufacturer could have duplicated the retail store success of Apple IF they had done the exact same thing Apple did as far as stores and at the same time. But they probably would not have wanted to BECAUSE the impetus, back in 2000/2001, behind Apple's foray into the retail store market was things like BRAND AWARENESS not revenue. People can't buy from you if they don't know you exist as a viable solution; Apple retail stores give vast numbers of people the ability to touch, feel, and discover just that.
The source article does not appear to have a comments section. Of course it doesn't; if they had some mathematician, or 10th grade HONOR student, would have come along using his/her head and pointed out just how worthless the article is. But it probably would not have mattered because certain of us, in my opinion, I believe, are too busy being starry eyed over the subject of the article to use that 8lb block on our shoulders.
Incidentally, I am liking the Mac experience very much; it is just very disappointing(annoying?) when smart people accept total c*** unquestioningly.
Ask me and I will tell you that the real brilliance of Apple is probably being smart enough to understand that the whole retail store thing would work very well AS LONG AS they restricted average store size to that of your average Subway sandwich shop and AS LONG AS they did not, or do not, build an Apple store on every corner and PROVIDED they slowly and strategically added stores over years FOR THE TIME BEING. [Look here(apple.com/retail/storelist/) and it is very clear that Apple is thinking VERY hard and is biased as to Apple retail store placement. Now that is part of the real reason for the success of Apple retail stores.] If the article had merely concentrated on that FACT as significant reason for the success of Apple retail stores, then, I would have been impressed.
Isn't this site supposed to be a no spin zone?
The average Apple store has a fraction of the square footage of any of the other stores mentioned. You can add them all up and average the square footage with the same result.
If the source article had compared Apple to, say, a jewelry store CHAIN's stores then the results probably would have been closer to having, at least, some meaning.
Jewelry stores have an important combination; typically they have square footage closer to an Apple store AND the average cost of an item is high like an Apple store. [The majority of people go to an Apple store intent on buying an Apple computer which has a very high sales price. Add that to the very small square footage of an Apple store and you have a tailor made prescription for high sales per square foot. You get virtually the same situation with a jewelry store. Ramp up the size of an Apple store to the size of a Best Buy or Saks and Apple might not even get an honorable mention. In fact, Apple would likely have to close the store just like most jewelry stores could not sustain themselves IF you ramped them up to the size of a Best Buy.] You need that combination otherwise the numbers derived are meaningless, like they are in the source article. ...comparing apples and oranges.
Comparing Apple retail stores to stores whose business models differ dramatically from Apple's is, in my opinion, not only deceptive(spin?) it is irresponsible. Personally, I think a Dell, Alien, or other computer manufacturer could have duplicated the retail store success of Apple IF they had done the exact same thing Apple did as far as stores and at the same time. But they probably would not have wanted to BECAUSE the impetus, back in 2000/2001, behind Apple's foray into the retail store market was things like BRAND AWARENESS not revenue. People can't buy from you if they don't know you exist as a viable solution; Apple retail stores give vast numbers of people the ability to touch, feel, and discover just that.
The source article does not appear to have a comments section. Of course it doesn't; if they had some mathematician, or 10th grade HONOR student, would have come along using his/her head and pointed out just how worthless the article is. But it probably would not have mattered because certain of us, in my opinion, I believe, are too busy being starry eyed over the subject of the article to use that 8lb block on our shoulders.
Incidentally, I am liking the Mac experience very much; it is just very disappointing(annoying?) when smart people accept total c*** unquestioningly.
Ask me and I will tell you that the real brilliance of Apple is probably being smart enough to understand that the whole retail store thing would work very well AS LONG AS they restricted average store size to that of your average Subway sandwich shop and AS LONG AS they did not, or do not, build an Apple store on every corner and PROVIDED they slowly and strategically added stores over years FOR THE TIME BEING. [Look here(apple.com/retail/storelist/) and it is very clear that Apple is thinking VERY hard and is biased as to Apple retail store placement. Now that is part of the real reason for the success of Apple retail stores.] If the article had merely concentrated on that FACT as significant reason for the success of Apple retail stores, then, I would have been impressed.
More typical Apple bashing from people who don't understand that by Microsoft opening up their own retail stores they are competing directly with their own OEM's who won't be happy with this move.
I don't think you can say that people only go to Apple stores to buy Macs, many people go to browse, or even just to go online.
Also the source article does compare to a jewellery chain, Tiffany, they are one of the world's most high end jewellery chains as they have stores in places like Raffles hotel in Singapore. And Apple still makes more money per square foot than them.
MS Marketing ****: Apple has success with their retail outlets! Quick, copy them! It doesn't matter if it'll work for us or not, just follow them! Now!
Yeah, that'll work. Microsoft products are sold everywhere. Apple products are not. That is one of the big reasons the Apple stores excel. Why would people go to the MS Store to buy Windows when they can get it at Wal-Mart? Because of the Microsoft store "experiece"? HA! MS has shown time and time again that they can't sell an "experience" well to save their damn lives. "Experience Vista in our retail store! Just don't punch the sales associates in the mouth in the process, please." And then you have to tell the cashier several times that yes, you know you're buying a new mouse, and yes, you really do want to buy it, and yes, you realize that you are purchasing this product. And just how often would the store get knocked over because their security sucks?
And I don't even want to think of the horror of working at their Really Smart Geek bar. I'd expect "incidents" to rival the US Post Office. Expect to see guns & ammo shops to sprout up around MS retail stores as demand surges.
Yeah, that'll work. Microsoft products are sold everywhere. Apple products are not. That is one of the big reasons the Apple stores excel. Why would people go to the MS Store to buy Windows when they can get it at Wal-Mart? Because of the Microsoft store "experiece"? HA! MS has shown time and time again that they can't sell an "experience" well to save their damn lives. "Experience Vista in our retail store! Just don't punch the sales associates in the mouth in the process, please." And then you have to tell the cashier several times that yes, you know you're buying a new mouse, and yes, you really do want to buy it, and yes, you realize that you are purchasing this product. And just how often would the store get knocked over because their security sucks?
And I don't even want to think of the horror of working at their Really Smart Geek bar. I'd expect "incidents" to rival the US Post Office. Expect to see guns & ammo shops to sprout up around MS retail stores as demand surges.
The space does cost money. So Apple's just taking up as little space as possible. I'm sure Best Buy could scale down. It would make a lot more sence for them to scale down then Apple to scale up. And yet I think Apple would continue to make more $/space.
I didn't. I said the following:
Thanks for reading light text.
Excellent! So we are actually reading and thinking at the same time in my opinion.
Thankyou for carefully reading my post.
Now who can tell me the square footage of an average Tiffany's and the typical PREMIUM they pay for space compared to an Apple store.
Thanks for that. I thought perhaps I was falsely remembering that horrible store. I was surprised the articles didn't mention it.
Somehow, I see a "genius bar" in a Microsoft store to be a kind of oxymoron, if you know what I mean.
While on a visit to San Diego, we went into a lot of stores in upscale Fashion Valley. Most of them were pretty quiet. Then we entered the Apple Store, a first for me. It was just jammed. People at every display, every table and the Genius Bar.
Young people, kids, old people, hip people, uptight people, every race, religion and country of origin just swarming the place. We just looked in amazement.
I had no idea the stores were this popular, clearly the most people per square foot of any store in an entire huge mall filled with every kind of nice store I ever heard of.
Quite an eye-opener. Apple would seem to have the buzz, the demographics and the momentum. It would be hard for any competitor to match this.
I am no gamer, but I could see that a gaming area with the appropriate Apple hardware would just add to it. Apple shouldn't sneer at this market. If M$ is successful in their stores, it will be mostly because gaming stuff will create a happening atmosphere unavailable to them otherwise.
Young people, kids, old people, hip people, uptight people, every race, religion and country of origin just swarming the place. We just looked in amazement.
I had no idea the stores were this popular, clearly the most people per square foot of any store in an entire huge mall filled with every kind of nice store I ever heard of.
Quite an eye-opener. Apple would seem to have the buzz, the demographics and the momentum. It would be hard for any competitor to match this.
I am no gamer, but I could see that a gaming area with the appropriate Apple hardware would just add to it. Apple shouldn't sneer at this market. If M$ is successful in their stores, it will be mostly because gaming stuff will create a happening atmosphere unavailable to them otherwise.
Apples and oranges.
Different business model.
I am not asking Best Buy to scale down to beat Apple. Best Buy is not asking Best Buy to scale down to beat a worthless, irrelevant, number. That sales per square foot number is more or less meaningless when you use it as the source article is.
If big retailers like Best Buy decided to scale down to Apple retail's size to beat Apple retail stores, then, consumers, in my opinion, should be very concerned about the stupidity of America's top executives.
Saks, according to the source article, makes roughly 1/3 per square foot of what Best Buy does. But, while Saks' executives may very well be brainstorming to increase earnings, it is highly improbable that they are pondering remaking themselves in the image of Apple retail stores. Again, apples and oranges; different business models.
I no more expect Best Buy to scale down to beat Apple then I expect Yo-Yo Ma to put on blue suede shoes and swivel his hips in order to beat, outsell, or gain more popularity than Elvis. If every musician of a different genre changed themselves to beat Elvis we would be in big trouble.
Best Buy sells Apple computers. Apple retail is not necessarily a worry to Best Buy; Circuit City and Wal Mart might be.
There are, maybe, 50 different reasons that will get me into a Best Buy store that I could not use as reasons to go to an Apple retail store. And, when those reasons are products, most of them cost far less than the average price of the main items that people might go to an Apple store looking for.
Now I can even look at a Mac at Best Buy.
But the Surface is a $10,000+ product that's not portable and requires sophisticated installation and camera setup. It's not intended for retail consumers, it's intended for restaurant/hospitality buyers.
IF Microsoft opens retail stores, there's almost no question that they would have Surfaces on display here and there as buzz-generators and atmosphere-enhancers... but I highly doubt they'd actually be for sale in the store. Wrong audience.
To me, it seems like there is an obvious connection. Blockbuster and MS should hook up to stream rentals to XBOX's. Drop CC from the equation.