EXCLUSIVE: The CEO of Best Buy, the biggest consumer electronics retailer in the USA, has said that he is interested in opening up online store globally “including Australia.” He has also said that he is interested in exploring relationships with Australian partners.Speaking exclusively with ChannelNews at CES in Las Vegas, Brian Dunn said that while his bricks and mortar operations were facing challenges he still believes that they are a vital part of his operation.
“The future is not just about stores and online, e commerce is critical including mobile retailing. This December we saw unprecedented demand online, we achieved triple digit growth including a big increase in mobile orders placed from smartphones and tablets This is all part of the mix,” he said.
When asked about Australians getting access to all products on the Best Buy web site he said “We are interested in Australia for online and we are interested in partnering in Australia”.
Earlier Dunn said that his partnership with CPW in the UK and Car Phone Warehouse in both the UK and the USA was working and was an excellent model to follow.
When asked what the hot categories were now for consumer electronics retailers Dunn said “Ultrabooks, tablets including iPad and Android devices along with Smartphones”.
“This Xmas tablets were smoking hot, even the Android devices were selling like hotcakes.”
When asked what new categories Best Buy was considering moving into he said “Healthcare and the automotive aftermarket”.
He said that retailing was changing and that consumer electronics and IT vendors were both partners and competitors. He singled out Apple and HP as two examples.
He said “The vendors are selling online, they also have their own stores, I now compete with most of them online so politics is key to the relationship”.
He said that there was still a compelling reason for consumers to visit a bricks and mortar store. Side by side comparisons are key to attracting consumers, “we have to give consumers a good in store experience so your sales teams are critical, at Best Buy we have the best in the USA. Our Geek Squad is doing a brilliant job he said.”
“Today we have to motivate consumers to leave their home, we are social animals, the internet is giving consumers information we have to give them an experience in store, we also have to improve how we engage with the consumer in store when they have visited us.”
He said that Best Buy was currently reconsidering their bricks and mortar stores in the USA. “We have some 45,000 square feet stores that are simply not big enough while some 45,000 square foot stores should be 30,000”.
Part two tomorrow, including what happened with 3D, the return of the big TV sale, why audio is important going forward.