Who's afraid of the new Microsoft Stores? Not the software giant's solution provider partners, apparently.
Microsoft celebrated the grand opening of its first retail store in Boston last Thursday, and solution providers were in attendance to show support. CRN TV spoke with a few Microsoft partners during the event to find out why they think a local Microsoft Store will be a good thing for their businesses.
"We're really excited. This is a big year for Microsoft," said Chris Sheridan, business development manager at Sentri, a Microsoft partner based in Westborough, Mass. "This is really sort of the kickoff of all the new software that's coming out of the next 12 months."
A couple of Sentri clients also were in attendance for the opening. Is Sentri worried about losing business to Microsoft Stores? Quite the opposite -- Sheridan said the stores will benefit partners.
"Especially being here at the Prudential Center, a lot of business executives walk through here every day," Sheridan said. "And this is a chance for them to see something that may catch their eye and then call us as a partner."
Allan Gould of BrightPlanIT, a Buffalo, N.Y.-based Microsoft partner, was impressed by the Microsoft Store's staff. "I look at it as maybe a source for future employees for companies like BrightPlanIT," he said. "And just getting this kind of excitement in the marketplace is huge as well."
Watch the video for more on the Microsoft Store grand opening in Boston.
