Microsoft's retail network expansion plan next year

Beijing time on December 27th morning news, Microsoft announced on Wednesday that part of the expansion of the retail network plan next year, the first batch will open six new retail stores.

Microsoft has been working on a broader transformation plan with the goal of further enhancing its connections with consumers. In addition to the Windows software business, Microsoft's measures include further advancement into the hardware business through its own tablet Surface, which has already launched the Xbox 360 video game console and the Zune media player, but the latter has performed poorly. A key component of Microsoft's strategy has been to expand the retail store network, giving it the opportunity to interact directly with users.

According to Microsoft's plan, the company will open a new retail store next year in San Antonio, Texas, Miami, Florida, Beachwood, Ohio, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and St. Louis.

During the holiday shopping season, Microsoft opened a number of “pop-up stores” throughout the United States to promote its recently released Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet. Currently, Microsoft has a total of 40 retail stores in the US market.

Microsoft is trying to replicate Apple’s success in the retail space, which has attracted a large number of users and generated high sales. Apple currently has 250 retail stores in the US market and 140 overseas. In the 2012 fiscal year, Apple’s average revenue from each retail store was $51.5 million, a 19% increase over the same period last year.