Best Buy Opens Digital-First Store in North Carolina
As more people turn to the internet to shop, Best Buy wants to entice folks back into brick-and-mortar stores with a new small-format, digital-first location.
Following the November launch(Opens in a new window) of experimental store models in Charlotte, N.C., Best Buy is opening(Opens in a new window) a 5,000-square-foot shop in the nearby city of Monroe today.
The new store features a curated selection of best-in-category products (from home theater, computing, and headphones to wearables, smart home, and small appliances), as well as Geek Squad customer service, in-store pickup, and outside lockers for anytime access.
While the new store will carry big-screen TVs, don't expect to find major appliances and other "larger products," the company said. Those items can be purchased online and picked up in Monroe, or found at locations in Charlotte.
"The smaller shopping space isn't the only new thing customers can expect to see at the Monroe store," Best Buy explained. "We're also piloting a new digital-first shopping experience that encourages customers to shop, get advice, and check out digitally."
More interactive art gallery than traditional market, the store's products are primarily on display for folks to see, touch, and test. When ready to make a purchase, use your phone to scan the QR code, which notifies staff who then collect the item from the storeroom and bring it to the register for payment.
Best Buy is also implementing a grab-and-go policy for things like charging cables, smartphone cases, and gift cards; customers can use the mobile app to scan barcodes and complete purchases without needing to interact with a member of staff.
The company's Blue Shirt employees, meanwhile, are always on hand—in person or via
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