Best Buy (BBY) Tests New Apple-Like Store Formats
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Reports out Thursday have Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) looking to combat the ever-present problem for brick-and-mortar retailers of "showrooming," whereby shoppers go to stores to view and test products, ultimately resulting in the customer making a purchase from e-commerce sites like Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), Overstock.com (Nasdaq: OSTK), and others. And, it's taking cues from one of the best in the business.
One of Best Buy's stores near its headquarters in Minnesota is testing out a new, streamlined layout to make shopping easier for customers. Key features include a "Solution Central" area, which has stools and is manned by Geek Squad members. The area is strikingly similar to that of Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) Genius Bar, notes the WSJ.
Other improvements include allowing customers to be able to pay for items at several locations within a store and expanding tablet and netbook selections. Allowing for easier payments will likely combat customers having to make a long walk to the front of the store, which will allow them to mull over their choice and whether or not there's a better deal floating somewhere else.
The goal of these changes runs from building customer loyalty to driving sales in hot categories.
News of the new setup comes as Best Buy is looking to close 50 big box locations in the U.S. and convert another 60 to a smaller format. Along with tablet and netbook sales, Best Buy will likely tone down large screen TV offerings. The retailer will continue to offer home appliances like dishwashers and microwave ovens.
Shares of Best Buy are flat in post-holiday trading.
Reports out Thursday have Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) looking to combat the ever-present problem for brick-and-mortar retailers of "showrooming," whereby shoppers go to stores to view and test products, ultimately resulting in the customer making a purchase from e-commerce sites like Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), Overstock.com (Nasdaq: OSTK), and others. And, it's taking cues from one of the best in the business.
One of Best Buy's stores near its headquarters in Minnesota is testing out a new, streamlined layout to make shopping easier for customers. Key features include a "Solution Central" area, which has stools and is manned by Geek Squad members. The area is strikingly similar to that of Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) Genius Bar, notes the WSJ.
Other improvements include allowing customers to be able to pay for items at several locations within a store and expanding tablet and netbook selections. Allowing for easier payments will likely combat customers having to make a long walk to the front of the store, which will allow them to mull over their choice and whether or not there's a better deal floating somewhere else.
The goal of these changes runs from building customer loyalty to driving sales in hot categories.
News of the new setup comes as Best Buy is looking to close 50 big box locations in the U.S. and convert another 60 to a smaller format. Along with tablet and netbook sales, Best Buy will likely tone down large screen TV offerings. The retailer will continue to offer home appliances like dishwashers and microwave ovens.
Shares of Best Buy are flat in post-holiday trading.
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