Best Buy is testing a small digital store that opens Tuesday

Best buy is Open a small digital store first Tuesday in Monroe, North Carolina, which takes a very different approach than most “big box” retail locations. The 5,000-square-foot location is only about 15 percent of the typical Best Buy’s 35 to 40,000-square-foot location, which is smaller than many smaller Apple stores, which typically range from 6,000 to 8,500 square feet.

Bloomberg mentioned Last year Best Buy was testing microsites of about 27,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet, but that’s much smaller, squeezing close to Best Buy Mobile is now closed Effects. This test store is located in the Charlotte area, where Best Buy has also launched five other test stores last yeartry experiments ranging from reconfiguration to executing method.

In contrast to Best Buy outlet stores and big websites with many large appliances and electronics, this new store will be equipped with an ‘eclectic selection’ of Best Buy merchandise that includes large TVs, computers, headphones, wearables, cell phones, etc. It doesn’t have any of the big hardware.

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The “digital first” store experience includes the Best Buy website and its apps — it also has lockers for online order pickups — but in-store, it starts where visitors are greeted at the entrance with a 7-foot screen with information about what the store has to offer.

Just like the Apple Store, you’ll be able to browse items on the sales floor, but with the exception of smaller items that are eligible for mobile self-pay (charging cords, phone cases, and gift cards), most are simply displayed as units. When you want to buy something, all you have to do is scan the QR code on the product to start Best Buy’s Just Scan It process. Someone will go back and take out the item for you to buy.

Fear not if you’re concerned about whether the site will feature human interactions from a blue shirt, as it includes members of the Geek Squad and has other customer advisory areas in the store. You can also get live shopping help while you’re in store with an expert from someone in Best Buy’s “virtual store” via a voice call, video call, or online chat.

Best Buy is just one retailer reevaluating its usual operating plans after customer behavior changed during the pandemic, as we’ve seen Walmart, for example, expand. Delivered directly to your refrigerator. On the other hand, Amazon has opened Brick and mortar clothing store In May, it implemented a new technology to improve in-person shopping for things an online experience can’t replace.