It’s been a momentous year for the Microsoft retail stores. We opened 51 new Full-line and Specialty stores, including our first international stores in Edmonton, Burnaby, Vancouver and Toronto, Canada in just the last year.

Before I dive into what lies ahead, I wanted to reflect on 2012. We know our customers’ shopping needs greatly differ, whether it’s a teen who wants the hottest video game or a parent who wants to ensure their family is safe online. Our store associates work hard to personalize every customer’s experience in making recommendations, and helping with PC setups and other services, allowing customers to walk out the door with a product that’s ready to run. We know our store associates are making an impact when our customers continually express appreciation for how our stores offer the opportunity to interact with Microsoft products that improve the way they live, work and play.

We have always said that we will adjust our strategy, and open additional stores to deliver the choice, value and service our Microsoft customers have come to expect. Therefore, we’re thrilled to ring in the New Year by announcing the locations of our first new store locations for 2013:

The Shops at La Cantera, San Antonio, Texas
Dadeland Mall, Miami, Fla.
Beachwood Place, Beachwood, Ohio
Westfield San Francisco Centre, San Francisco
City Creek Center, Salt Lake City
St. Louis Galleria, St. Louis

As you may have heard, we will extend a majority of our Specialty store locations into the New Year. We will also transition some of those Specialty stores into permanent Full-line stores given the great success we’ve had with them.

We look forward to opening the doors of these stores, and many others, where our direct connection with customers will be built one interaction and one relationship at a time.

Here’s to a happy New Year and more details to follow in the coming months!