on Friday announced it will permanently close its Microsoft Store retail locations. It will instead focus on its online store at Microsoft.com, where customers can go for support, sales, training and more.
Microsoft said its retail team members will help on the website instead of in store. It’s unclear if there will be layoffs. A Microsoft representative was not immediately available to comment.
Shares of Microsoft were relatively unchanged on the news.
In the past decade or so, Microsoft began to expand its retail presence in an effort to create a shopping experience similar to Apple, where people could go to try new Microsoft software and hardware created by both Microsoft and its partners. Microsoft even built a store on 5th Avenue in New York City, just blocks away from Apple’s iconic glass cube store.
The decision seems to be made after Microsoft decided to temporarily close stores in March due to the spread of coronavirus. Microsoft said the closing of its physical locations will “result in a pre-tax charge of approximately $450 million, or $0.05 per share,” which it will record in the current quarter that ends on June 30. “The charge includes primarily asset write-offs and impairments,” Microsoft said.
“Microsoft will continue to invest in its digital storefronts on Microsoft.com, and stores in Xbox and Windows, reaching more than 1.2 billion people every month in 190 markets,” Microsoft said. “The company will also reimagine spaces that serve all customers, including operating Microsoft Experience Centers in London, NYC, Sydney, and Redmond campus locations.”
— CNBC