David Porter

One business segment in which Microsoft is unlikely to announce layoffs this week are its retail stores. The stores, the brainchild of former long-time Wal-Mart executive David Porter, who was brought on board in 2009, number 101 in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Microsoft has 58 full-line retail stores and 43 "specialty stores." According to Microsoft, its specialty stores are located in malls across the U.S. and Canada and are typically a smaller footprint than full-line stores, are located in central locations in the mall and and offer a curated assortment of products.