Comments on: “A Bigger World” http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world Updates from the CMO of Best Buy Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:33:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tim http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-770 Tim Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:45:52 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-770 Very interesting post Mr. Judge. In what way do you plan to apply the Nike golf club and glof show model to the Learn.Play.Enjoy? Very interesting post Mr. Judge. In what way do you plan to apply the Nike golf club and glof show model to the Learn.Play.Enjoy?

]]> By: barryjudge http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-762 barryjudge Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:40:46 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-762 Gerald: Appreciate the comments and the tip to look at your blog. Will take a look at it. Hope you are well. Gerald:
Appreciate the comments and the tip to look at your blog. Will take a look at it. Hope you are well.

]]> By: Gerald Nanninga http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-761 Gerald Nanninga Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:13:46 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-761 Barry; Long time no see! You article reminded me of the time (back in the day) when we looked at the possibility of Best Buy acquiring Guitar Center. At the time, we decided the market was too thin to get our money back out of such a large investment. This new approach, however, makes more sense. As technology becomes a commodity, it is the original creativity that comes from using the technology tools which adds the value. The more BBY connects to creative output (versus just thinks you plug in the wall), the more value it can add. You might enjoy my strategy blog at http://planninga-from-nanninga.blogspot.com. Barry;

Long time no see! You article reminded me of the time (back in the day) when we looked at the possibility of Best Buy acquiring Guitar Center. At the time, we decided the market was too thin to get our money back out of such a large investment. This new approach, however, makes more sense. As technology becomes a commodity, it is the original creativity that comes from using the technology tools which adds the value. The more BBY connects to creative output (versus just thinks you plug in the wall), the more value it can add. You might enjoy my strategy blog at http://planninga-from-nanninga.blogspot.com.

]]> By: Ray Ortega http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-759 Ray Ortega Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:10:16 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-759 Hello Barry: We are very fun of your Learn.Paly.Enjoy growth plan. This program can be use to promote many other family programs that can greatly increase sales and loyalty with your Hispanic Community which is marketing segment that we specialize. Since Hispanics are so fun of Music, musical instruments, movies and all type of electronics, you can expand the program to establish inSpanish: 1. Mothers Days Promotion 2. Father Days Promotion 3. Sprint Fest at Best Buy 4. B-Days at Best Buy 5. Music estravanganza Ect. Please let me know how we can help you with these programs at the Development or Implementation phase. Hello Barry: We are very fun of your Learn.Paly.Enjoy growth plan. This program can be use to promote many other family programs that can greatly increase sales and loyalty with your Hispanic Community which is marketing segment that we specialize. Since Hispanics are so fun of Music, musical instruments, movies and all type of electronics, you can expand the program to establish inSpanish:
1. Mothers Days Promotion
2. Father Days Promotion
3. Sprint Fest at Best Buy
4. B-Days at Best Buy
5. Music estravanganza
Ect. Please let me know how we can help you with these programs at the Development or Implementation phase.

]]> By: Errick http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-756 Errick Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:13:04 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-756 Hey Barry. Since we both work for the same company, I just wanted to say, one great example of the Learn.Play.Enjoy growth plan would be Best Buy's new venture into Musical Instruments (which is the dept I work for). Most customers come into the Musical Instruments deptarment thinking Best Buy is just copying Guitar Center, but are surprised to see we offer lessons and other services. Best Buy has empowered myself and my coworkers with the power to teach our customers how to play an instrument. Having such an influence on individuals who want to pick up an instrument and learn how to play has actually not only had an effect on the customer, but myself. I have customers who are well versed and fully experienced with guitars, pianos, ect., but some of them even look to us to teach their family members or friends. So we teach them for the time they paid, but we always invite them back to jam along with us, or better yet record what they have learned (this hasn't happened at our store yet, but we are getting there). We ensure that they have a good time in our department. Its about the relationship and the trust that is developed in the store, and can not be replicated online (for now). Hopefully this experience can be further expanded to the other departments, and have our customers know that we Blue Shirts are not just Sales People, but Blue Shirts that influence and help our customers further understand the products they purchase, and what it can do for them. Hey Barry. Since we both work for the same company, I just wanted to say, one great example of the Learn.Play.Enjoy growth plan would be Best Buy’s new venture into Musical Instruments (which is the dept I work for). Most customers come into the Musical Instruments deptarment thinking Best Buy is just copying Guitar Center, but are surprised to see we offer lessons and other services. Best Buy has empowered myself and my coworkers with the power to teach our customers how to play an instrument. Having such an influence on individuals who want to pick up an instrument and learn how to play has actually not only had an effect on the customer, but myself. I have customers who are well versed and fully experienced with guitars, pianos, ect., but some of them even look to us to teach their family members or friends. So we teach them for the time they paid, but we always invite them back to jam along with us, or better yet record what they have learned (this hasn’t happened at our store yet, but we are getting there). We ensure that they have a good time in our department. Its about the relationship and the trust that is developed in the store, and can not be replicated online (for now). Hopefully this experience can be further expanded to the other departments, and have our customers know that we Blue Shirts are not just Sales People, but Blue Shirts that influence and help our customers further understand the products they purchase, and what it can do for them.

]]> By: Ray Ortega http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-754 Ray Ortega Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:54:52 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-754 Hello Mr. Barry. Learn.Play and Enjoy is an excellent category to be applied the largest generation of Hispanics where your Company can be the leader and take advantage of this multimillion dollar opportunity. How is your Company approaching this community in the different sectors such as in the Southeast that has the larger increse in Hispanic population. Would like to know your interest in marketing to this community. Hello Mr. Barry. Learn.Play and Enjoy is an excellent category to be applied the largest generation of Hispanics where your Company can be the leader and take advantage of this multimillion dollar opportunity. How is your Company approaching this community in the different sectors such as in the Southeast that has the larger increse in Hispanic population. Would like to know your interest in marketing to this community.

]]> By: perspicaciousgirl http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-752 perspicaciousgirl Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:37:31 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-752 I agree with Scott K on the repackaging of current products. It's one thing to sell to small business, it's another to target the legions of cubicle jockeys who operate within a large corporate mainframe. Just look at the popularity of the workspaces group started by Lifehacker on Flickr. The average office worker is always trying to (safely) assert their identity & forward their careers. How can BBY be a part of that? Home theater systems are often set up to show people the immersive experience they could have in their own home. Imagine setting up a cubicle example that's outfitted with Best Buy products. It needs to be 2 parts aspirational, 1 part practical. The better work environment would make you more productive & happy (helping you to keep your current job in this recession). I'm thinking PDAs or smart phones, digital clocks, electronic notebooks, digital picture frames, headphones/ipods for industry podcast/music to keep you productive (could do portable satellite radio as well), mini-fridge for healthy foods, GPS unit w/ traffic updates to get you to work on time, USB drives...all items that fit within a greater corporate environment. Then, of course, the other items like a laptop, printer, scanner, etc could relate ideas for the new wave of small businesses/consultants working from their new home offices. I sense that Best Buy is usually targeting the aspirational part of my home life, home theater to family videos, etc. However, I spend 8+ hours a day in a barren cubicle, especially in this day & age when I want to keep my job. Now if only I had a smart phone that would help me keep track of everything from the latest grocery deals to important work emails... I agree with Scott K on the repackaging of current products. It’s one thing to sell to small business, it’s another to target the legions of cubicle jockeys who operate within a large corporate mainframe. Just look at the popularity of the workspaces group started by Lifehacker on Flickr. The average office worker is always trying to (safely) assert their identity & forward their careers. How can BBY be a part of that?

Home theater systems are often set up to show people the immersive experience they could have in their own home. Imagine setting up a cubicle example that’s outfitted with Best Buy products. It needs to be 2 parts aspirational, 1 part practical. The better work environment would make you more productive & happy (helping you to keep your current job in this recession). I’m thinking PDAs or smart phones, digital clocks, electronic notebooks, digital picture frames, headphones/ipods for industry podcast/music to keep you productive (could do portable satellite radio as well), mini-fridge for healthy foods, GPS unit w/ traffic updates to get you to work on time, USB drives…all items that fit within a greater corporate environment. Then, of course, the other items like a laptop, printer, scanner, etc could relate ideas for the new wave of small businesses/consultants working from their new home offices.

I sense that Best Buy is usually targeting the aspirational part of my home life, home theater to family videos, etc. However, I spend 8+ hours a day in a barren cubicle, especially in this day & age when I want to keep my job. Now if only I had a smart phone that would help me keep track of everything from the latest grocery deals to important work emails…

]]> By: Consumer Equalizer http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-751 Consumer Equalizer Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:58:56 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-751 Barry - As a consumer advocate I must say I'm pretty disgusted about how one of your customers was treated in Georgia, and sadly, this story is all too typical of a myriad of consumer postings about Best Buy around the internet. You may call this customer focus, I call it abuse of customers. http://consumerist.com/5164262/best-buy-sells-busted-cam-as-new-blames-you-oops-employee-pix Store #519 in Douglasville, Georgia What are you doing about it, why should people trust your stores with this kind of thing going on? Barry – As a consumer advocate I must say I’m pretty disgusted about how one of your customers was treated in Georgia, and sadly, this story is all too typical of a myriad of consumer postings about Best Buy around the internet. You may call this customer focus, I call it abuse of customers.

http://consumerist.com/5164262/best-buy-sells-busted-cam-as-new-blames-you-oops-employee-pix
Store #519 in Douglasville, Georgia

What are you doing about it, why should people trust your stores with this kind of thing going on?

]]> By: KKDUB http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-746 KKDUB Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:36:04 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-746 Bring back playtime! Loving the idea of moving forward into new categories by reaching back to what really engages us. And success of a new category, particularly in retail, seems to rest on our ability to engage the consumer in just enough playtime, just enough theater, to get beyond the simple facts that BBY has never sold [insert widget/service here] before and that buying [same widget/service] at BBY seems a little bit odd. Playing with objects allows us to see them in a new way, to recontextualize. The same theory probably applies to playing with our sense of what "works" and what "doesn't" in the retail space. Bring back playtime! Loving the idea of moving forward into new categories by reaching back to what really engages us. And success of a new category, particularly in retail, seems to rest on our ability to engage the consumer in just enough playtime, just enough theater, to get beyond the simple facts that BBY has never sold [insert widget/service here] before and that buying [same widget/service] at BBY seems a little bit odd. Playing with objects allows us to see them in a new way, to recontextualize. The same theory probably applies to playing with our sense of what “works” and what “doesn’t” in the retail space.

]]> By: Scott K http://barryjudge.com/a-bigger-world/comment-page-1#comment-745 Scott K Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:06:02 +0000 http://barryjudge.com/?p=253#comment-745 Sometimes it is not necessarily new categories, but the re-packaging of the products that you have. If you think about all the new small businesses, consultants, etc that are now in the market, setting up offices either at home or finding office space, they are disperately in need of all the necessary hardware, software, copiers, websites and even small refrig's for the office! Being a small business owner and taking that leap into starting a business after 9/11 (much like the current economic environment) there are several issues getting all of this set up. First, many of these new business owners and consultants will be coming from large companies where there was an IT department that took care of all their issues. There was a finance department that took care of any financial issues, they didn't have to worry about money. Now they are on their own. They are busy trying to generate business and do not have time to "learn" about how to set all this up. They want to go thru a menu or better yet, look at a package A, B or C and buy the package. The other part to this.....CASH. As a small business owner or consultant, CASH is KING. This is an opportunity to sell this package with a fixed monthly payment. If this is set up as a lease, you then set up the entire idea of trading out equipment, providing upgrades, etc. You could even look within the recent group that has was part of the voluntary seperation to see what their needs are/will be! Pool a group of small business owners, like you have the WOLF group and I think you could learn that their is amazing opportunity using the "things" you already have, just packaging and selling in a different way. Sometimes it is not necessarily new categories, but the re-packaging of the products that you have. If you think about all the new small businesses, consultants, etc that are now in the market, setting up offices either at home or finding office space, they are disperately in need of all the necessary hardware, software, copiers, websites and even small refrig’s for the office!

Being a small business owner and taking that leap into starting a business after 9/11 (much like the current economic environment) there are several issues getting all of this set up.

First, many of these new business owners and consultants will be coming from large companies where there was an IT department that took care of all their issues. There was a finance department that took care of any financial issues, they didn’t have to worry about money.

Now they are on their own. They are busy trying to generate business and do not have time to “learn” about how to set all this up. They want to go thru a menu or better yet, look at a package A, B or C and buy the package.

The other part to this…..CASH. As a small business owner or consultant, CASH is KING. This is an opportunity to sell this package with a fixed monthly payment.

If this is set up as a lease, you then set up the entire idea of trading out equipment, providing upgrades, etc.

You could even look within the recent group that has was part of the voluntary seperation to see what their needs are/will be! Pool a group of small business owners, like you have the WOLF group and I think you could learn that their is amazing opportunity using the “things” you already have, just packaging and selling in a different way.

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