Brand stores will be close to Apple

The first Microsoft branded stores will open in the US this fall (in time for the release of Windows 7, scheduled for October 22), and they will be located next to Apple branded stores. The opening of the stores yesterday was officially announced at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (where Steve Ballmer had shouted the day before) - and some conference attendees instantly tweeted the news.

The management announced plans to open branded outlets in February, but since then we have not had any information about this Microsoft initiative. It is clear that they borrowed the idea from Apple. However, it was announced at the conference that the stores would not clone Apple . To implement the project, they hired a top manager of the largest network of American supermarkets Wal-mart.

As Microsoft executives say, the main goal of these stores is to increase brand loyalty , not just sales. Is it possible to make Microsoft a brand as loved by people as Apple? This question is not rhetorical.
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via All About Microsoft