I’m in San Diego, where they recently opened the first Microsoft Store. I haven’t been, and honestly don’t plan to go, since there’s no need to go to a store to buy software. That I already own.
There’s been a lot of comparison of Microsoft’s store to the Apple stores, and with good reason. It seems they copied the concept down to the Genius Bar and then changed the name and color of everything. Many have said they wished Microsoft would have expressed its brand in more unique ways.
What do you think? Is Microsoft’s copying the Apple concept appealing or a turnoff?
While certainly I encourage any business to get ideas from its competitor, sometimes imitation goes too far. I think Microsoft went too far and without a leg to stand on. Because it’s a software company (versus Apple, which makes tons of sexy hardware gadgets), the store concept is lost.
Where’s the Line Between Imitation and Copying?
If your competitor makes a whirlygig and you can make it cheaper and better, copying is fine. But if your niche and audience are slightly different, the imitation effort may fail. For instance, Microsoft wants Apple’s hip audience. But Microsoft is selling Word and Xbox. Apple sells the iPad. These are not the same products, erego imitation doesn’t work.
Sony, too, is jumping on the copycat bandwagon. It’s trying to rival some of the big tech toys right now. Google came out with Buzz, which has fallen flat in its attempt to take share away from Twitter. These copycats might succeed, but my advice to Google, Sony, Microsoft, and yes, dear reader, you, is this:
Know what makes you different and develop it.
You don’t make a touch pad computer with tons of fun apps. So why try? You don’t have a sleek store with indie kids selling gadgets, so why waste the money? There are a few things your company does really well, so home in on these things and invest in making them better, more affordable and more accessible to your customers.
Imitation: Not Always the Most Sincere Form of Flattery
I’m in San Diego, where they recently opened the first Microsoft Store. I haven’t been, and honestly don’t plan to go, since there’s no need to go to a store to buy software. That I already own.
There’s been a lot of comparison of Microsoft’s store to the Apple stores, and with good reason. It seems they copied the concept down to the Genius Bar and then changed the name and color of everything. Many have said they wished Microsoft would have expressed its brand in more unique ways.
What do you think? Is Microsoft’s copying the Apple concept appealing or a turnoff?
While certainly I encourage any business to get ideas from its competitor, sometimes imitation goes too far. I think Microsoft went too far and without a leg to stand on. Because it’s a software company (versus Apple, which makes tons of sexy hardware gadgets), the store concept is lost.
Where’s the Line Between Imitation and Copying?
If your competitor makes a whirlygig and you can make it cheaper and better, copying is fine. But if your niche and audience are slightly different, the imitation effort may fail. For instance, Microsoft wants Apple’s hip audience. But Microsoft is selling Word and Xbox. Apple sells the iPad. These are not the same products, erego imitation doesn’t work.
Sony, too, is jumping on the copycat bandwagon. It’s trying to rival some of the big tech toys right now. Google came out with Buzz, which has fallen flat in its attempt to take share away from Twitter. These copycats might succeed, but my advice to Google, Sony, Microsoft, and yes, dear reader, you, is this:
Know what makes you different and develop it.
You don’t make a touch pad computer with tons of fun apps. So why try? You don’t have a sleek store with indie kids selling gadgets, so why waste the money? There are a few things your company does really well, so home in on these things and invest in making them better, more affordable and more accessible to your customers.