BEST-BUY SIZES UP 30 STORES FOR UK LAUNCH

[Anonymous]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/19/retail
Best Buy sizes up 30 stores for UK launch
Best
buy is in advanced talks to open in the region of 30 UK outlets as the
American giant prepares to enter the market with all guns blazing next
year.
The retailer will
launch stores in tandem with its website when it finally lands in the
UK next spring. “We are delighted with the number of sites that are
becoming available,” said the chief executive of Best Buy’s
international operations, Bob Willett, who was in London last week
ahead of Wednesday’s fourth quarter trading update from partner
Carphone Warehouse.

Best Buy joined forces with Carphone last
year, buying a 50% stake in the retail arm of the British group for
£1.1bn. But given the tough climate on both sides of the Atlantic,
Willett said the current focus was to “sweat existing assets”, with
more Best Buy products set to flow into Carphone’s existing stores. Its
computer accessories brand Rocketfish is set to launch in the UK while
Carphone will help strengthen its mobile phone business in its Canadian
stores.Willett said: “Up to a third of our business will be done on the
web, so you don’t need hundreds of stores.”The consumer electronics
retailer specialises in laptops, TVs and consoles.

[Author]

April 21, 2009 at 11:23 AM