Best Buy has unveiled its first ever small-format, digital-first store.
Located in Monroe, North Carolina, the store is only about 15% the size of your average Best Buy store, which averages about 35 to 40,000 square feet—making it smaller than most Apple Stores as well. Best Buy has been working on creating smaller spaced stores since last year. As reported by Bloomberg, the company was testing out downsized locations of about 15,000 to 27,000 square feet in Charlotte to approach a more outlet-style for their stores.
“The smaller shopping space isn’t the only new thing customers can expect to see at the Monroe store. We’re also piloting a new digital-first shopping experience that encourages customers to shop, get advice and check out digitally,” reads an official statement.
Upon entry of the “digital first” store, customers are greeted with a 7-foot screen on what the store offers. The store includes Best Buy’s website, apps, and lockers for online pickups. However, there is a downside; Unlike other Best Buy stores, this one has no large appliances or electronics. Instead, it consists of a “curated selection,” which includes large TVs, computers, headphones, wearables, cell phones and more.
Similar to the Apple Store, most items could be accessed from the sales floor, and all you would have to do to purchase is scan a QR code. The shop also has many friendly staff in blue.
Best Buy is testing a tiny digital-first store that opens its doors Tuesday https://t.co/tvAbCcpIjA pic.twitter.com/C30itIWTwM
— The Verge (@verge) July 25, 2022
Photo | iStock
