Comments on: Of sheep and shepherds: Microsoft Retail Strategy http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html Vlad Mazek on IT, Business and Technology Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:09:40 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Schlog » Blog Archive » The Small Business Desktop Advantage is neither a desktop nor an advantage. Discuss. And Discuss. And Discuss. http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html/comment-page-1#comment-19212 The Schlog » Blog Archive » The Small Business Desktop Advantage is neither a desktop nor an advantage. Discuss. And Discuss. And Discuss. Fri, 09 Feb 2007 06:07:40 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html#comment-19212 [...] If I were a reputable journalist or analyst, I would make my case in the traditional way, by giving you some background information followed by a carefully constructed explication of the pros and cons of SBDA. But I’m a blogger now, so what I do is cut and paste. I’m going to reproduce here some of the conversations that I and others have had with Eric Ligman, the man who embodies Microsoft’s small business sales efforts in the United States. I have some mixed feelings about doing this. None of what I am about to print here is from private e-mail communication, but it’s not exactly public information, either. What you see here are excerpts from moderated Yahoo groups, which are sort of semi-public space. These messages were certainly not meant for consumption by the “end user” community — i.e., the small business owner — but as they say, if you aren’t comfortable reading something on the front page of the New York Times, then don’t put it in an e-mail. And since Vlad Mazek recently posted excerpts from the Yahoo groups with no immediate backlash, at least I can say I’m not the first to do this. I don’t think I’m revealing any trade secrets or betraying any trust. Microsoft’s exhortations to its partners-in-sales are available for all to see. And if I appear to be ridiculing some of the comments made here, I can only say that some of my own comments will probably seem ridiculous as well. [...] [...] If I were a reputable journalist or analyst, I would make my case in the traditional way, by giving you some background information followed by a carefully constructed explication of the pros and cons of SBDA. But I’m a blogger now, so what I do is cut and paste. I’m going to reproduce here some of the conversations that I and others have had with Eric Ligman, the man who embodies Microsoft’s small business sales efforts in the United States. I have some mixed feelings about doing this. None of what I am about to print here is from private e-mail communication, but it’s not exactly public information, either. What you see here are excerpts from moderated Yahoo groups, which are sort of semi-public space. These messages were certainly not meant for consumption by the “end user” community — i.e., the small business owner — but as they say, if you aren’t comfortable reading something on the front page of the New York Times, then don’t put it in an e-mail. And since Vlad Mazek recently posted excerpts from the Yahoo groups with no immediate backlash, at least I can say I’m not the first to do this. I don’t think I’m revealing any trade secrets or betraying any trust. Microsoft’s exhortations to its partners-in-sales are available for all to see. And if I appear to be ridiculing some of the comments made here, I can only say that some of my own comments will probably seem ridiculous as well. [...]

]]> By: mavmesa http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html/comment-page-1#comment-19210 mavmesa Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:38:29 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html#comment-19210 Thanks. I see many of the points made, but not all. Will all the big box retailers approach the market the same? No. I will watch the models presented by the retailers carefully. Whether I will partner with a retailer will depend on ownership of the client relationship. I do not want to be a "carpet installer". On the other hand, we are encouraged to do "carpet installing" for other IT firms. I think there is a place for "carpet installation" work as a part of our overall sales, but it has to be based on mutual respect and profitability. A couple of months should show us if this whole exercise between Microsoft and the retailers is the guillotine that you and Amy Luby suggest or a benign opportunity that Allen StClair thinks might be the case. I personally am about half way between those two views. I do applaud Microsoft for trying to create a synergy. -Ken Thanks. I see many of the points made, but not all.

Will all the big box retailers approach the market the same? No. I will watch the models presented by the retailers carefully. Whether I will partner with a retailer will depend on ownership of the client relationship. I do not want to be a “carpet installer”. On the other hand, we are encouraged to do “carpet installing” for other IT firms. I think there is a place for “carpet installation” work as a part of our overall sales, but it has to be based on mutual respect and profitability.

A couple of months should show us if this whole exercise between Microsoft and the retailers is the guillotine that you and Amy Luby suggest or a benign opportunity that Allen StClair thinks might be the case.

I personally am about half way between those two views.

I do applaud Microsoft for trying to create a synergy.

-Ken

]]> By: vlad http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html/comment-page-1#comment-19209 vlad Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:26:53 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html#comment-19209 Take them seriously and compete against them. Thats what we do. I don't see the conflict there. Just because its a serious threat doesn't mean you go give them a hug or ignore them. As for what you should do, what "we" should do... thats a question you have to answer yourself. Aren't you in business to call your own shots anyhow? -Vlad Take them seriously and compete against them. Thats what we do. I don’t see the conflict there. Just because its a serious threat doesn’t mean you go give them a hug or ignore them.

As for what you should do, what “we” should do… thats a question you have to answer yourself. Aren’t you in business to call your own shots anyhow?

-Vlad

]]> By: mavmesa http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html/comment-page-1#comment-19208 mavmesa Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:31:26 +0000 http://www.vladville.com/2007/02/of-sheep-and-shepherds-microsoft-retail-strategy.html#comment-19208 Vlad, I sometimes get throughly confused by your statements. On one hand, you preach to us to not take the retailers' push to services lightly. On the other, you tell us to ignor partnering with them, (which might eliminate the need for them to develop inhouse staff). What, then do you think we as SBSC's should do? What, in your opinion (sorry, hard headed I am) is the third option? -Ken Edwards Vlad,

I sometimes get throughly confused by your statements.

On one hand, you preach to us to not take the retailers’ push to services lightly. On the other, you tell us to ignor partnering with them, (which might eliminate the need for them to develop inhouse staff). What, then do you think we as SBSC’s should do? What, in your opinion (sorry, hard headed I am) is the third option?

-Ken Edwards

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