I was walking around Best Buy last night (yeah, that’s what geek guys do) and noting the deplorable state of the store. In addition to the overall “man cave” aesthetic, it was just plain messy, like a forlorn hardware store.
See what I mean….
Now, it’s instinctive to compare this situation (like all tech topics) to Apple. The Apple store just up the street is far more pleasant – even beautiful. But Apple is a single company with a limited line of high-margin products. It’s stores are boutiques, and Best Buys are big-box warehouses. So, not a fair (or even relevant) comparison.
But what about Bed Bath & Beyond?
It’s also a warhouse, with tens of thousands of products (many low-margin) from many vendors. But the experience is so much more pleasant – for both women and men. So what’s different?
Looks matter. A lot
BB&B has a few touches that make the space more pleasant, such as wood floors in the aisles. But the real difference is in how it’s stocked. The store is packed with products, just like BB, but they are neatly organized, and the shelves or racks are always full – giving hte appearnace of bundle of goodies rather than a picked-over flea market. See for yourself…
Best Buy
Bed Bath & Beyond
(yes, they also sell electronics)
Stimulating, but not overly so
BB&B is gernally quiter than BB. They play mellow music, not too loudly. (Although the scented candles do annoy.)
Contrast that with the blaring music and blasting action movies at BB. Sure. the latter has to show off its wares, but does popping people’s ear drums really achieve that. Any audio fan knows that turning up the volume makes the music sound worse, not better. And how can you listen to something will all the crosstalk from other gadgets? Would it be so hard to build a few listening booths with a bunch of audio systems and speakers to choose from? Or to equip the big-screen TVs with headphones?
Everything is touchable
Sure, it’s harder to break a can opener of metal mixing bowl than a camera. But the fact is, people want to touch – and real, working items, not replicas surrounded by spec gobledygook. And here I will compare to Apple. Somehow, they allow consumers to fondle dozens of super-expensive, delicate products without having a masacre of innocent electronics. Possibly because of the attitude. Apple shows more respect for its stores (as does BB&B) so the customers do, as well.
Best Buy
Bed Bath & Beyond
