It’s about to get REALLY crowded in Best Buy stores, as Microsoft has made a deal with the big box retailer to open Windows stores in 500 Best Buy locations in the United States. Windows stores will also be opened in 100 more Best Buy and Future Shop locations in Canada.
CNET:
The store-within-a-store sites, which will be 1,500 square feet to 2,200 square feet, will offer a wide selection of Windows tablets and PCs, Windows Phones, Microsoft Office, and Xbox consoles. There will also be space set aside specifically for Microsoft’s Surface tablet computers.
The deal also calls for more than 1,200 Best Buy sales staff to receive Microsoft training, in addition to the Microsoft specialists already on staff at Best Buy.
“We’re pleased to partner with Best Buy in bringing the latest technologies to consumers at scale in a unique environment where they can explore how Microsoft products fit together across entertainment, travel, music and other scenarios,” Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of the Windows Division, said in a statement on Thursday.
Best Buy already offers Apple stores-within-stores at many of their locations, and has also recently began rolling out similar “stores” for Samsung. Hopefully Best Buy will not begin to take on the look of a neighborhood flea market. If it begins selling tube socks 10 for $5, prepare for the worst.
Best Buy will start to roll out the Windows stores later this month, and continue throughout the summer.
The retailer will also “build” a Microsoft “store” on it’s website, where consumers can find information about promotions.
Neither company provided details of the partnership terms.
