Microsoft Corp. has plans to start its own stores soon.  It has hired David Porter, a 25-year veteran of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., as its corporate vice president of retail stores. Porter was with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. since 2007 heading worldwide product distribution.

These Microsoft-branded retail stores will sell computers with Microsoft software and other company products.

In a bid to revive the image of its ubiquitous Windows operating system, Microsoft started a $300 million advertising campaign last fall. The company also installed 144 of its own employees in electronics chain stores around the world who talk to the customers about Windows. These “Gurus” are the same with Apple’s in-store “Genius Bar.”

As Apple credits its stores for helping boost sales as well as its profile, Microsoft wants to use the same strategy. However the timing to start a retail business may not be very good now. The recession has hit the retail industry very hard and specially the electronic sector. Circuit City Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November (cut 34,000 jobs), Best Buy Inc. cut thousands of corporate employees in December.

It has set up a concept store at the headquarters which showcases Windows computers, Xbox 360 consoles and games and other items.

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