According to a report from RetailWeek, Microsoft may be looking to open a retail store in London. The retail store would be the first in the United Kingdom, and could possibly be located at Oxford Circus, a very popular shopping area in London.
Currently, the building which Microsoft is interested in leasing is occupied by United Colours of Benetton, a global fashion brand. Microsoft supposedly wants to sign a 10-year lease on the building, but nothing is final as of yet, and terms could fall apart if all does not go well.
Roughly two years ago, Microsoft was “scouting” locations in the United Kingdom to roll out a “store within a store” concept, but these efforts never came true. The company already has retail locations in Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States, but recently closed its retail stores in Brazil.
Update: Microsoft has officially posted about the planned opening of a Flagship store at Regent Street in London. Here is a statement from Cindy Rose, head of Microsoft in the U.K.
“We couldn’t be happier to be opening a flagship store in the heart of central London at Oxford Circus, where two of the world’s most iconic shopping streets meet. We know our customers and fans, whether they are from London, the broader U.K. or just visiting, will love our bold plans for the space. This will be so much more than just a great place to experience all that is possible with Microsoft, but a real hub for the community where we’ll be bringing to life our passion for helping people explore their creativity through an ambitious program of workshops and training along with moments that work to unite the community.”
It’s great to see Microsoft expanding it’s global reach, as products like the Surface Laptop, Surface Book, and Surface Pro, are becoming ever more popular. Residents in the UK will no doubt appreciate the store if it opens since they’ll able to get hands-on with the latest Microsoft tech.
