One stop shop

Shoppers in the United States like the one-click ease online shopping — and it’s making big box stores re-examine their business strategy, according to an MSNBC article today. Best Buy is shuttering 50 of it’s big box stores and “redesign” 60 others to mimic more of an Apple store, the article reports.  Customers will be able to check out in multiple locations, the Geek Squad will help customers find their products and the general vibe would be “friendlier.”

Image credit: Shannon Stapleton / Reuters/Shannon Stapleton

E-commerce is major player in the redesign of Best Buy’s stores.  Best Buy is finding that people come in to the store to shop, find the product they are looking for, and then buy that product online at a cheaper price like Amazon or OverStock.com.  E-tailers often provide good customer service, reasonable return policies, and the item ships directly to their door — making it secure and easy for customers. Not only that, but shopping online is way less hectic.  You only have to move your fingers and mouse to “go to” dozens of stores, rather than driving, parking, walking in, walking around, walking out, driving again, finding parking again, etc.

In 2011, E-commerce became so big, it almost beat out Black Friday for holiday shopping.  Forty percent of US consumers planned on shopping on Black Friday and 39% planned on shopping on Cyber Monday, according to GetElastic, an e-commerce blog.  Of those online shoppers, 64% said they shopped online for better deals and prices — demonstrating a general mentality that the best bargains can be hunted for on the web.  And now stores like Best Buy are fighting to catch up.

Interestingly, MSNBC also points out that Best Buy will reducing some of its less-profitable lines like TVs, and broadening mobile phones, tablets and e-readers.  Good news for touch glove companies like Agloves. =) The mobile industry continues to redefine our society’s existence.  And YAY to the general public for buying fewer TVs!

It’ll be interesting to see whether other Big Box stores, like Wal-Mart or Target also move to the more mobile in-store shopping experience.

Questions or comments? Email Jean@Agloves.com