Best Buy Sticks to Smartphone Focus; CEO Touts Partnerships With Carriers

Best Buy's smartphone and PC category slipped a percentage point in share of overall sales mix during Q3 ended Oct. 28, it reported Tuesday. Despite closing 287 Best Buy Mobile stores in the past year, CEO Hubert Joly said, Best Buy is investing significantly in the mobile segment -- including sales associates -- to streamline the buying process along with carriers as part of its Mobile 2020 initiative. Calling that “complex,” Joly said the company has “menu boards” to help consumers compare promotions and plans from AT&T Wireless, Sprint and Verizon. Having all three carriers is an advantage against other third-party retailers, said Joly, acknowledging carriers’ and Apple’s competitive strength in stores. This quarter, it's adding stores to do Apple screen repair as a service differentiator to meet the trend of longer phone ownership, said Mike Mohan, chief operating officer, Best Buy U.S.