Best Buy has announced a radical new expansion of its product offer, saying it will now be selling health and fitness equipment alongside its traditional consumer electronics ranges at select stores. Effective yesterday, the chain began offering such products at 40 of its outlets, located in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas.

The stores will see Best Buy offer equipment such as pedometers, yoga mats, scales, blood pressure monitors, treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical machines. The products are also available at its online shop, and customers can trial some of the products in certain stores.

The company insisted the move was a natural extension of its current offer, saying it was in keeping with recent moves into selling musical instruments and DJ equipment and expanding its mobile offerings.

Best Buy also announced the retirement of the head of its international operations, and was forced to insist that it is committed to expanding in Europe. The chain said that Robert Willett would retire at the end of the year – and that it does not plan to name a successor. It added that CEO Brian Dunn is working with Willett to ensure a smooth transition.

The chain stressed that Willett's retirement will not change its plans for Europe, and it still intends to open five outlets in the UK next year, as well as an outlet in Turkey.

NamNews - Thursday 12th November 2009

 

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