According to business analysts, Best Buy Canada’s decision to close 66 Future Shops across the country and convert another 65 to Best Buys makes sense, given the consumer trend towards online shopping.
University of Winnipeg student Felix Mintu considers himself a technology junkie, but he hasn’t set foot in an electronics store in more than a year.
"Sometimes I find something interesting on the Internet, like electronics, gadgets, I usually buy it there,” said Mintu. “The only thing I really buy in a brick and mortar store is probably groceries."
Best Buy Canada’s decision to reduce its retail footprint came as no surprise to business consultant Karen Keppler, who said online shopping and consumer electronics go hand in hand.
"Women's clothing and books and then electronics,” said Keppler. “So electronics holds the third spot on all online shopping so that's a huge amount."
Best Buy still has three locations in Winnipeg, which comes as a relief to shoppers who still prefer having a salesman to walk them through their options.
"I like talking to people who know what they're dealing with one on one so they can help me understand it a little bit better,” said U of W student Jessica Shapansky, who said she does shop online for some things, just not electronics.
Sean Banks, owner of Winnipeg’s K & S Electronics, has built an entire business on the premise people still need salespeople and installers.
The company specializes in the emerging market of home automation.
From anywhere in the world, K & S customers can control the temperature, lighting, security and home theatre systems in their homes.
"We couldn't really do strictly online because of the integration aspect of it,” said Banks. “We have to tie everything in the system together for you whether it's lights, blinds, security, all your audio/video."
Banks said the kind of customization he does requires relationship building with customers, so he doesn’t see Best Buy’s commitment to invest up to $200 million in the online side of its business as a threat to small companies.
