Best Buy's plans to dominate the British electronics-retail market took another major step forwards today with the launch of its UK web store.
As you'd expect from a company like this, the online presence isn't half baked. There are already a full range of products and you'll find all of the categories of goods that you'd expect to see in store. As well as offering home delivery, you'll be able to order online and collect in store, should there be a retail location near to you.
According to the managing director of the online business, deVere Forster, "the launch of our e-commerce store on BestBuy.co.uk marks a key milestone for the business and helps to make buying technology simple, inspiring and tailored to each of our customers".
Best Buy's online storefront arrives as the company's retail operations really start to gather pace. The first UK store opened in Thurrock in April, with a second welcoming customers a month later. The presence has continued to grow, and this week there's a flurry of activity with the web store launch sandwiched between the opening of new locations in Croydon and Derby.
While Best Buy is only going up against one or two major competitors with its brick-and-mortar superstores, the online space is going to be a lot more crowded. As well as the digital presence of Curry's, PC World and Comet, the company will be facing-off against the likes of eBuyer and Scan - which are increasingly expanding into consumer electronics - and fellow US-import Amazon.
Unfortunately, Best Buy's competitive advantages - airy, open-plan superstores and non-commissioned staff - don't exactly translate over to the virtual arena. However, the site will host a collection of 'Inspiration and Advice' guides - more than 350 as of today - to help prospective buyers get a handle on the latest technology. There will also be a price match guarantee against a number of the retailer's key competitors.
