Microsoft has announced that it will be closing nearly all of its physical Microsoft Store retail locations across the world as part of a “strategic change” in its retail operations. The company will focus its efforts into its various digital storefronts instead.
Microsoft made the announcement in a post over on its website. The post mentions that retail team members will “continue to serve customers from Microsoft corporate facilities and remotely providing sales, training, and support”. Microsoft will be investing more into its digital storefronts on Microsoft.com as well as the Xbox and Windows 10 stores. Microsoft says these digital storefronts reach more than 1.2 billion people every month in 190 markets.
Five locations from across the world will be repurposed to “serve all customers”. Microsoft Experience Centres in London, New York City, Sydney and the Redmond campus location are among the stores that will be changed.
Microsoft says that since it closed its stores in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, retail team members have helped small business and education customers “digitally transform” by offering digital support and training. The retail team has hosted over 14,000 online workshops and summer camps. Microsoft says its “retail team members will serve consumers, small-business, education, and enterprise customers while building a pipeline of talent with transferable skills.”
“Our sales have grown online as our product portfolio has evolved to largely digital offerings, and our talented team has proven success serving customers beyond any physical location,” said Microsoft corporate vice president David Porter.