Best Buy Electronics Stores Opening in the UK
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Best Buy is one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in the US and has over 1,150 stores internationally. In 2008, Best Buy purchased a 50% share in Europe's largest independent mobile phone retailer, The Carphone Warehouse, and opened its first branded UK Best Buy store near the giant Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, Essex, Friday 30th April 2010.
Best Buy in the UK
The opening of the Best Buy store in Thurrock was a huge success with the first three days reported as being the "biggest ever opening weekend for a Best Buy store anywhere in the world by volume of sales," according to General Manager Kam Prajapati. There were over 1,000 people queueing by the time the doors opened at 7am and a tailback on the M25 also developed with cars trying to get into the car park. A major reason for the store's opening success was that some products, including mobile phones and TVs, had their prices slashed by as much as 50%.
The second UK Best Buy store opened near the M27 in Hedge End near Southampton on Friday 28th May and there were again hundreds of people queueing to get in by 7am to snap up the bargains, with some even arriving the evening before.
Best Buy opened its third UK store on Friday 25th June at the Merry Hill Centre in West Midlands. New UK stores will also open at Aintree near Liverpool and Croydon in Surrey later in 2010. A sixth UK Best Buy store has been confirmed on the company's online store locator for Bristol in 2011.
The Financial Times has reported that Best Buy has plans to open 200 stores in the UK as part of a joint agreement with The Carphone Warehouse.
Best Buy UK Competition
Best Buy's main UK competition in the electronics retail market includes stores such as Currys, PC World, Comet, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Currys and PC World are both owned by the same company, DSG International, who have over 700 stores in total across the UK, either in high streets or as larger outlets in out-of-town retail parks like Best Buy. Almost all of Comet's more than 250 stores are also in retail parks.
The John Lewis and Marks & Spencer department stores are located in a combination of high streets and out-of-town retail parks. John Lewis stores often have large electrical divisions with dedicated and knowledgeable staff and this is an area where Marks & Spencer have also recently been expanding.
SOURCE:
http://retail-sector.suite101.com/article.cfm/uk-best-buy-store-expansion
Best Buy in the UK
The opening of the Best Buy store in Thurrock was a huge success with the first three days reported as being the "biggest ever opening weekend for a Best Buy store anywhere in the world by volume of sales," according to General Manager Kam Prajapati. There were over 1,000 people queueing by the time the doors opened at 7am and a tailback on the M25 also developed with cars trying to get into the car park. A major reason for the store's opening success was that some products, including mobile phones and TVs, had their prices slashed by as much as 50%.
The second UK Best Buy store opened near the M27 in Hedge End near Southampton on Friday 28th May and there were again hundreds of people queueing to get in by 7am to snap up the bargains, with some even arriving the evening before.
Best Buy opened its third UK store on Friday 25th June at the Merry Hill Centre in West Midlands. New UK stores will also open at Aintree near Liverpool and Croydon in Surrey later in 2010. A sixth UK Best Buy store has been confirmed on the company's online store locator for Bristol in 2011.
The Financial Times has reported that Best Buy has plans to open 200 stores in the UK as part of a joint agreement with The Carphone Warehouse.
Best Buy UK Competition
Best Buy's main UK competition in the electronics retail market includes stores such as Currys, PC World, Comet, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Currys and PC World are both owned by the same company, DSG International, who have over 700 stores in total across the UK, either in high streets or as larger outlets in out-of-town retail parks like Best Buy. Almost all of Comet's more than 250 stores are also in retail parks.
The John Lewis and Marks & Spencer department stores are located in a combination of high streets and out-of-town retail parks. John Lewis stores often have large electrical divisions with dedicated and knowledgeable staff and this is an area where Marks & Spencer have also recently been expanding.
SOURCE:
http://retail-sector.suite101.com/article.cfm/uk-best-buy-store-expansion