Best Buy Ups Presence At International CES
By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 1/18/2010
LAS VEGAS — Best Buy mounted a major presence at International CES with its first-ever exhibit space, live Webcasts from the show floor, and the launch of a new informational Web platform.
After keeping a low profile at CES in recent years, Best Buy waved the blue and yellow flag from its mobile tractor trailer, which took up residence in the Las Vegas Convention Center's outdoor exhibit area in the Central Plaza. The trailer, which appears at public events around the country, showcased the retailer's products and services, including battery-powered motorbikes and Geek Squad vehicles.
Best Buy also launched an online platform during the show that culls company news, information and multimedia content from the Internet, and provides real-time Twitter and blog updates from executives and employees.
The beta site, dubbed The BBY and located at www.bby.com, was designed to deliver news and information in ways that “truly reflect a digitally connected world,” the company said.
Best Buy also sent teams of Blue Shirt sales associates and Geek Squad staffers throughout the show to highlight technology developments “from a consumer perspective,” and to share them in “a fun, optimistic, futuristic way” via live, streaming reports on The BBY.
The live streams were carried at 10:00 a.m. each morning of the show, along with CES-related perspectives and updates from CEO Brian Dunn and chief marketing officer Barry Judge.
Dunn told TWICE that Best Buy's high profile at CES represented a show of support for the industry and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
Other planned features of the new online platform include:
searchable content, news and information from more than 25 Best Buy-related Web sites such as Geek Squad and Insignia Products;
• direct links to all branded and social sites across Best Buy, including the Twelpforce, Community Forums and IdeaX customer support pages;
• multimedia press releases; and
• industry news and perspectives from select media networks and industry blogs.
CE Holiday Sell-Through*
| Unit % Chg. | Dollar % Chg. | Avg. Selling Price | Avg. Selling Price % Chg. | |
| *CE/IT retail sales from Nov. 22-Dec. 26, 2009. Excludes video gaming and mobile phones. Source: The NPD Group/Weekly Tracking Service © TWICE 2010 |
||||
| Notebook PCs | 68% | 30% | $528 | -23% |
| Camcorders | 40% | 12% | $182 | -20% |
| Blu-ray Disc Players | 44% | -5% | $151 | -34% |
| Desktop PCs | 28% | 27% | $643 | -1% |
| Flat-Panel TVs | 16% | -12% | $525 | -25% |
| D-SLRs | 13% | 16% | $698 | 2% |
| Wireless Network Devices | 8% | 11% | $61 | 2% |
| Multifunction Printers | -4% | 7% | $110 | 11% |
| Compact Cameras | -5% | -8% | $128 | -3% |
| MP3 Players | -14% | -6% | $142 | 10% |
No related content found.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES