Microsoft Stores are closing as services move online

Microsoft on Friday (June 26) announced that they would be closing all their retail locations and pivot towards digital storefronts and remote customer support.

In a press release, the company said they were undertaking “a strategic change in its retail operations,” and “retail team members will continue to serve customers from Microsoft corporate facilities and remotely providing sales, training, and support.”

In late March, Microsoft Stores, like most businesses, were forced to close its storefronts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the intervening months, the press release says, they transformed their operations to meet the needs of customers.

“We deliberately built teams with unique backgrounds and skills that could serve customers from anywhere,” said Microsoft corporate vice-president David Porter in the release. 

“The evolution of our workforce ensured we could continue to serve customers of all sizes when they needed us most, working remotely these last months.”

Since lockdown began, the company says their retail team has helped small businesses and education customers digitally transform; virtually trained hundreds of thousands of enterprise and education customers on remote work and learning software, and helped customers with support calls. 

The team, the release says, supported communities by hosting more than 14,000 online workshops and summer camps and more than 3,000 virtual graduations.

There are three Microsoft Stores in the GTA: one in Mississauga at Square One, and two in Toronto at the Eaton Centre and Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

“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,” Porter said. 

“We are grateful to our Microsoft Store customers and we look forward to continuing to serve them online and with our retail sales team at Microsoft corporate locations.”

Photo courtesy Microsoft’s Facebook page