Microsoft Hires Former Apple Retail Exec

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Microsoft means business.

Last week Microsoft confirmed that it would open the first of its retail stores this October, presumably in conjunction with the launch of Windows 7. The company also confirmed that it would be setting up camp near several Apple stores - interesting in its own right. Today reports say the company has hired a former Apple executive to head up retail operations.

It was this week that the Redmond-based company revealed that it has hired George Blankenship, Apple's real estate guru, as a consultant while it gears up to launch its own chain. Blankenship played a significant role in Apple's retail department when it launched in 2001 and word on the street says the executive was particularly good at picking out good locations for stores.

Blankenship will work alongside David Porter, the former Wal-Mart executive Microsoft appointed to head its retail endeavor at the beginning of the year.

Jane McEntegart
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • dman3k
    The Apple marketing team is the only thing I like about Apple.

    They can sell people shit if they cover it with cum and stick a big shining Apple logo on it, and those people would be more than happy to gobble it all up... iScat
    Reply
  • rooseveltdon
    ^Touche
    Reply
  • tipmen
    Smart move on Microsoft's part. I do have to hand it to apple, they do a great job advertising.
    Reply
  • chaohsiangchen
    I think M$ is being dumb on marketing. They are software company first, and gadget brand second. Apple Inc.'s model does not fit M$. Apple Inc. needs to run Apple Stores which also serve as their repair/service depots, not just showcase stores. What they need to do is to hire Billy May and make their products more visible through TV commercial. Oh, wait. They're too late. But the ShamWow guy is still out there.
    Reply
  • DjEaZy
    ... M$ let's the money talk...
    Reply
  • Wayoffbase
    Free upgrades for everyone who buys a vista PC in the months leading up to 7's release means alot of people who have never installed an OS before trying to figure out an upgrade. I guess the MS store is a good place for them to go if they don't know someone that can help.
    Reply
  • Maxor127
    I'm surprised Apple Stores managed to be successful. Having a Microsoft store makes no sense to me. With Apple it made sense, since they had a whole line of hardware and software to show off and retail chains were lacking in Apple support. Microsoft doesn't have that problem. Pretty much everywhere and anywhere already showcases their products. Brick and mortar stores are a thing of the past. Microsoft is moving backwards. No one wants to pay a premium at a retail store when they can probably find a better deal online, except for uneducated people who don't know any better.
    Reply
  • amnotanoobie
    Maxor127 Microsoft doesn't have that problem. Pretty much everywhere and anywhere already showcases their products. Brick and mortar stores are a thing of the past. Microsoft is moving backwards. No one wants to pay a premium at a retail store when they can probably find a better deal online, except for uneducated people who don't know any better.
    Well there are people who are either too lazy or don't know too much about computers. When they see that Windows is a Microsoft product and they see a Microsoft store, I think they'd tend to trust who made the product more rather than some other person. An example would be on cars, if you don't know much about cars I think you'd trust more the shop of the brand that you bought it from than the mechanic on some other shop.

    Of course there's the tendency that you get overcharged for what you wanted to get, but that's the price you pay for not researching info.

    I don't think the Microsoft stores would last that long anyway. I would imagine them having people on the launch of Win 7, but when the hype has died down some would start to be pretty deserted.

    Reply
  • anamaniac
    Maxor127...
    except for uneducated people who don't know any better..
    Reply
  • r0x0r
    I dunno, it could work. MS also sell the Zune, the 360 and a bunch of peripherals so it won't be solely PC based.

    They might put one of their "surface" PC's in to get people in as well. I've never seen one of those so I'd go in to have a look at it.
    Reply