Retailing Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Oct 17 2011 - 4:01am

hhgregg Revamps Website

INDIANAPOLIS – hhgregg has re-launched its e-commerce site in advance of the holiday selling season. The company said the revamp provides enhanced functionality to help bring the chain’s in-store experience online. New features include instant access to in-store and online product availability, improved navigation and guided search, personalized recommendations, expanded educational content, and access to the chain’s lowest pricing.

“We want our customer service to be a part of their shopping experience both in our stores and online,” said president/CEO Dennis May. “The new hhgregg.com, with its ability to offer our best pricing and helpful product information, is an important component of our brand strategy and something we believe will resonate with our customers.”

To celebrate the launch the company has partnered with Sharp to give away one 70-inch LED TV daily throughout October, and will award a grandprize 80-inch LED TV and home-theater package on Oct. 31. Visitors will also have a chance to win weekly $1,000 shopping sprees at the stores.

Best Buy Marks 250th Mobile Store

MINNEAPOLIS – Best Buy will open its 250th Mobile store this month and is on track to have 275 of the stand-alone specialty shops up and running by Thanksgiving. The company currently operates 240 freestanding Mobile stores, having added more than 30 new locations over the past two months alone, and plans to ultimately operate 800 stores within five years. The company also maintains Mobile departments within all 1,104 of its big-box flagship stores, and is devoting additional square footage to the areas.

In other news, the No. 1 CE chain said it plans to build out its IT function over the next 12 months with the addition of more than 200 new positions. The retailer is recruiting professionals in e-commerce, business analytics, application development, engineering and project management, and plans to post the first 100 jobs within several weeks at www.bestbuy-jobs.com

Targets Adds Nook

MINNEAPOLIS – Target has added Barnes and Noble’s Nook Color and Simple Touch models and accessories to its e-reader assortment. The discounter joins a growing list of Nook dealers including Best Buy, Books-A-Million, Fred Meyer, Office Max, P.C. Richard & Sons, RadioShack, Staples and Walmart, as well as Barnes & Noble. Target also carries Amazon.com’s Kindle, as well as e-readers by Aluratek, Kobo, Pandigital, iRiver and Sony.