Apple retail stores offer more than just products; they offer an experience. Spread throughout the globe, Apple has successfully developed a massive network of stylish and modern stores, situated in such places as Grand Central Station and the Louvre. Obviously competitors would catch on to this success and get in on the opportunity.

Microsoft has just opened its first canadian retail store in Toronto Yorkdale Mall, and surprisingly enough, this store has striking similarities to Apple’s style of store – interactive displays, modern style furnishings, and a substantial amount of employees. The Globe and Mail reports that after Apple’s worldwide success, “Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.– perhaps Apple’s biggest competitor in the mobile space – has also taken similar steps”. Also, Colin Gillis, senior technology analyst for BGC Financial states “I’m just waiting for the Google store”.

It seems that the revolution of online shopping can only go so far. Customers still, and will always, want to test the products for themselves and they must go in store to do that. Furthermore, the Retail Strategy adopted by Apple seems to be the example for which all large technological companies are basing their strategy off of. It is evident that Microsoft has seen success in this adopting of ideas after the successful opening weekend of its Yorkdale store; but is it all just hype? Will this marketing strategy greatly benefit Microsoft? Only time will tell.