Best Buy CEO Rejects Notion Co Driving Share Via Discounting
September 30 2009 - 10:11AM
Dow Jones News
Best Buy Co. (BBY) President and Chief Executive Brian Dunn on
Wednesday rejected the notion that the consumer electronics
retailer is driving its market-share gains by discounting.
Speaking during a holiday preview for the media in Manhattan,
Dunn said that Best Buy intends to "bet on price points" for
specific items, and stock inventory according to demand. But he
said the company's emphasis on service through its Geek Squad
business will help differentiate it among shoppers.
Concerns that aggressive promotions will weigh on Best Buy's
profits in coming quarters have pressured shares since the retailer
reported second-quarter results Sept. 15. Shares recently traded
down 1.56% at $37.27.
Without providing specifics, Dunn also said Best Buy will hire
more holiday workers this year than in 2008.
A recent survey by human resources consulting firm Hay Group
Inc. found nearly half the nation's 25 biggest retail chains expect
to hire fewer holiday workers this season than they did last
year.
(Mary Ellen Lloyd contributed to this story.)
-By Veronica Dagher, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2261;
veronica.dagher@dowjones.com