Microsoft Store Renderings Leaked

According to gizmodo.com, a Powerpoint presentation was leaked to the gadget blog on the forthcoming Microsoft retail stores. The slides (available for viewing on the Gizmodo site) are reported to be from design and brand strategy firm Lippincott and were part of a presentation dated July 7.

The rough store layouts feature some familiar elements from existing electronics retail stores, such as the Apple Store, Sony Style and other “flagship” stores, including a Digital Media Wall (a large screen that wraps around the entire store showing various messages); lots of Surface demos; an Answers Bar (or Guru Bar or Windows Bar, depending on which slide you look at); and table layouts for product displays.

According to the site, the main focuses of Microsoft’s new venture will be on Windows 7, Xbox, PCTV (Windows Media Center) Surface and Windows Mobile, targeting a concept customer called “Emily,” a middle-aged mom who’s already in charge of most household buying decisions.

In response to the leak, a spokesperson for the software giant said, “As a part of our process in briefing creative agencies, we shared some early prototypes and concepts of our retail store plans.”

Microsoft says no final decisions have been made, but that the company is on track to open retail stores this fall. In February, the company hired Walmart veteran David Porter to head up its retail push.