Microsoft stealing Apple Store employees away for its retail launch
It would seem that Microsoft knows a thing or two about where to find the best computer retail store workers to staff its upcoming store launch: you find them over at Apple Stores.
While no one still seems to understand what the strategy of the Microsoft stores will be as they don’t produce products in the same manner as Apple, one thing is clear that they will for sure seem like familiar places. Every report and sketch that has leaked out about the new stores sounds awfully familiar.
Apple stores line the walls with products, and then have tables in the middle for more information and learning how to use the products … so will Microsoft stores.
Apple stores have “Genius Bars” where you can get help with problems related to your products … Microsoft will have “Guru Bars”.
You get the idea, but the biggest copycat move from the Redmond, WA-based company would seem to be the the pilfering of Apple employees. Anonymous sources have informed The Loop that Microsoft is contacting Apple store managers and offering them significant raises if they will switch to their stores. In some instances they are even being offered moving expenses. Once the managers switch sides, they are being instructed to try to lure away the best sales people from their previous jobs by also offering them significant raises over what Apple pays them.
How many, if any, Apple employees have taken up these offers, but is certainly an odd move for stores that will be more about educating consumers than actually selling them products.
It would be nice to see Microsoft be a bit more original with this plan. For years the company has been accused of stealing just about every idea from Apple, and now to base their stores on such an obvious design, use similar names for features and potentially to even be stealing employees, well it sure isn’t going to help to dispel those accusations.
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September 22nd, 2009
Apple invented air! Apple invented food! Apple invented sex! Apple invented dirt!
It’s not like Compusa had a tech services counter or Sharper Image had shiny cool tech displayed with roving staff demonstrating the features.
Let me know when Microsoft copies Apple’s server products.