Best Buy Test Drives New Categories
By Caren Putterman
Best Buy is expanding its product assortment again to include electric scooters and outdoor furniture in tests at several California stores.
A store in San Francisco currently carries an oversized window cling encouraging shoppers to test drive an electric scooter. Inside, an endcap is devoted to Segway scooters, which rolled into a few stores at the end of 2008.
Some California stores have also begun merchandising grills, heaters, patio furniture and other outdoor products. The SKUs are available on Best Buy's website, where the chain also recently began selling exercise equipment.
The impetus for the new merchandise stems in part from an analysis of search terms often entered on Best Buy's site, according to media reports.
In summer 2008, Best Buy added musical instrument departments to select stores after conducting successful tests in some California and Minnesota locations. (See Related Articles.)
In other news, TWICE magazine reported that the chain has given Scott Hagen, director and merchant leader of home audio and video, additional responsibility over mobile electronics to replace the departed Rob Cummins.
Best Buy, Minneapolis, operates 1,119 U.S. stores, including 1,031 flagship locations, 39 stand-alone Best Buy Mobile stores, 29 Pacific Sales showrooms, 13 Magnolia Audio Video stores and seven stand-alone Geek Squad sites.
