The document provides a SWOT analysis of Best Buy, highlighting its strengths as a leading consumer electronics retailer and its strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing customer loyalty and service. It outlines current market challenges, including competition from discount retailers and economic conditions that may impact sales, while also detailing plans for international expansion and improved online experiences. Additionally, it notes future opportunities for growth through product innovation and targeted marketing strategies to meet diverse customer needs.

1. A SWOT ANALYSIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAxG3lgRKUU

2. BY PRASHANT RAJOPADHYE MIGUEL EDWARDS GERALD ONUKWUGHA RENE CACCIABAUDO ZAHID MAQSOOD A SWOT ANALYSIS

3. Best Buy is: The largest specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States and Canada An innovative Fortune 100 growth company continually striving to create superior customer service As of November 30, 2006, the company reported 1,100 stores in the United States, Canada, and the People’s Republic of China. Locations average about 44,000 square feet in size, offering consumer electronics, appliances, entertainment software, and home office equipment and software In its fiscal year 2006, Best Buy reported total revenue of $30.85 billion. Bust Buy includes. Company Profile

4. Distribution Channel and Complementary Offerings/Services include: A significant online presence leveraging BestBuy.com, BestBuyCanada.ca, FutureShop.com). Geek Squad Magnolia Audio Video Ebay outlet store. Company Profile (cont.)

5. Revenue Mix

6. Consistent Growth

7. Major Retailers Circuit City WalMart Target Costco Online Retailers Amazon.com Competitors

8. To make life fun easy for consumers Believes that’s its stores offer consumers meaningful advantages in atmosphere, product value, product selection, and customer service Best has four strategic initiatives: Customer Centricity Efficient enterprise Win with service Win in entertainment Vision & Strategy

9. Best Buy has seen large increases in revenues over the past few years because of the demand for flat-panel TVs. Revenue increased 12.45% overall in fiscal 2006 and 16.49% overall in fiscal 2007. It is unlikely that these margins will continue due to slowed demand and decreased prices for the TVs. Best Buy will focus on increasing stores both domestically and internationally going forward, which means that the company will have high costs associated with its increases in revenue. So far this strategy has worked, as Best Buy reported a 21% revenue increase in 4th quarter 2006.1 There is, however, much more risk in this strategy than maximizing revenue margins at individual stores. Best Buy will attempt to counter these decreases in demand for flat-panel TVs with increased customer support, especially from its computer-repair service named the “Geek Squad.” A future goal of Best Buy is to convert all of its stores into what the company calls a “customer centricity” format, which is expected to increase customer service and customer loyalty. Best Buy defines customer centricity as “treating each customer as a unique individual, meeting their needs with end-to-end solutions, and engaging and energizing out employees to serve them.” The Future Relies on Expansion

10. Barry: Affluent, time-starved males looking for the highest quality product and services. BBFB: Small business owners with one to nine employees looking for technical solutions to meet their business needs. Ray: Married dads who spend a disproportionate amount of their income on technology and entertainment solutions. Buzz: Males in their 20s looking for the latest entertainment for themselves and their buddies. Jill: Stay at home moms with two or more children. She’s looking to enrich her children’s educational and social development. Customer-centric Segmentation

11. Proven Customer Centric Model Greater Customer Loyalty Improved Employee Retention Increased market share Innovation – bringing new technology to market, faster External PC Drive Slingbox Breadth of Offerings Online Distribution Geek Squad offers support Magnolia offers higher end sales Strengths

12. “ Devil customers” return products after already receiving the rebate or intend to repurchase the returned item at an open box price High one-time conversion costs to turn stores into “customer test labs” The selling, general and administrative costs were higher in the converted stores, resulting is lower operating income CEO, Bradbury Anderson, admitted that the company may have overestimated its capacity for change and moved too quickly into the new business model Due to the organizational struggles to meet demands for change, stores only enjoyed partial success in limited areas Weaknesses (cont.)

13. Products: Best Buy can benefit from the release of new items in the near future, such as the recently released computer technology like Windows Vista which can drive computer or software sales, or the release of Apple's iPhone or the price cuts in XBox 360 / Sony PS3 / Nintendo Wii consoles, release of new franchise games such as Halo 3, NFL, etc. may also drive up sales of consumer electronics as well as entertainment software. Global Expansion: One of Best Buy's goals for fiscal 2007 was to examine the possibility of opening stores globally, and that goal is becoming a reality. Best Buy is currently planning on opening new stores in China by mid-2008, and its local partner (Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co.) will also open 25 new stores.19 Best Buy already opened a store in China in December, which reportedly exceeded sales expectations by 40%, and on January 1st attracted more than 20,000 customers Rich online Experience: A recent national survey found that an overwhelming 83 percent of consumers would purchase more online if retailers provided more interactive and interesting sites. It is clear that by providing more engaging shopping experiences based on customer segmentation, it creates a huge opportunity for BestBuy.com to gain a competitive edge. Opportunities

14. COMPETITORS Best Buy major competitors include discount stores like Target, Wal mart, Lowes, Home Depot and Costco wholesale. It also includes online recruiters like Circuit City. To a great extent, Best Buy business is threatened by the litany of competitors that offer a one stop shopping environment. A case in hand; Costco offers products at a reduced price with the purchase of a membership. This makes prices much more attractive to consumers who don’t want to spend a lot of money on top end products. GLOBALIZATION In a bid to make up for store margins, Best Buy plans to expand globally come next year, 2008. It plans on pursuing international growth opportunities. This mission will not be an easy task. Possible threat from international business community abounds. This mission is like threading into an unknown zone. However, Best Buy is bent on taking this possible risk. CONSUMER INCOME Best Buy deals only on discretionary items. Based on this, if consumer income decreases or if there is an increment on other inelastic items like gasoline, Best Buy’s sales will be seriously affected. Threats

15. POOR ECONOMIC CONDITION The poor state of the economy is another factor that could affect Best Buy. Some of the things that could affect Best Buy during a poor economic condition include but are not limited to the following; Decreasing growth in GDP, Constant increase in CPI and an unpredictable employment rate. NEGATIVE PUBLICITY Negative publicity could be a major threat to any company that falls prey to it. Best Buy has been a victim of this threat in the recent time. It has been alleged that Best Buy has misquoted prices to consumers a couple of times. This projection if affirmed could decrease future consumer loyalty and eventually overall revenue. INFLATED STORE MARGIN Best Buy experienced an inflated store margin over the past year. The reason for this was the high demand for flat panel TV. In the same vein, whatever goes up must come down. With the demand for TV as well as the price of TV going down, the store margin will most likely be deflated. Threats (cont.)

16. Increase market share in China. Increase stores in mainland China to 300. Period: 5 years. Person responsible: President: Best Buy China division. Create rich online experience Implement customer segmentation and site design. Period: 1 year. Unit responsible: IT Division Marketing Goals

17. BestBuy.com can employ some new strategies and technologies to leverage the interactive nature of the customers' online experience to determine and respond to customer needs in real time. Delivering a personalized, dynamic customer experience can instill loyalty and increase customer conversion rates: Leverage Intelligent Search interactions to engage online customers in dialogue that uncovers current customer needs. Deliver messages on merchandising focused on Ajax-based product detail panes and interactive imagery. Implement business controls and automated processes to understand and personalize marketing messages based on Best Buy's understanding of the customer's purchase intent. Test, measure and revamp the effectiveness of Best Buy marketing campaigns and offers on the basis of how well those campaigns satisfied specific customer needs. Identify "marketing leakage", or opportunities for the marketer to fine-tune marketing messaging to appeal to previously unrecognized customer needs. Targeted expansion into emerging markets (China) Recommendation