Attending the Doing Business at Microsoft class in 1994 inspired me to propose that Microsoft open retail stores. I sent an email (see below), but nothing happened. Microsoft did an experiment with Sony for a few years (1999-2001), and Apple opened its first successful retail stores in 2001. Eight years later, Microsoft opened the first…

With the recent news that Microsoft is permanently closing its retail stores, I recalled the time I was inspired to propose a “Microsoft Store” on 9/2/1994, as I was finishing the 5 day “Doing Business at Microsoft” course. This course was offered by the Executive & Management Development group at Microsoft, and was intended to…