Best Buy now announces more painful stores closures coming soon after it already shuttered dozens of locations this year.
Best Buy has announced the closure of another location, following a series of shutdowns last year, with additional closures anticipated in 2025.
The consumer electronics retailer confirmed that it closed 24 stores in 2023 and indicated that 10 to 15 more locations will likely shut down in 2024, with a similar number expected in 2025.
This means that over 25 stores could potentially close by the end of 2025.
CEO Corie Barry noted that the company is working to balance its workforce with shifting consumer interests.
CFO Matthew Bilunas added that Best Buy would continue to evaluate its traditional store locations as leases come up for renewal.
The closures are attributed to several factors, including changes in consumer spending habits, inflation, and lingering supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently closed locations include stores in California, Colorado, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, and Virginia, with a new closure in Gaithersburg, Maryland, set for October 26.
The Gaithersburg store, which opened in the 1990s, is one of approximately 100 locations that have shut down in the past five years.
Best Buy currently operates 1,053 stores, according to its website.
Financial performance has also been a concern, with Best Buy reporting a revenue drop from $9.6 billion to $9.3 billion in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2023.
The company experienced an overall revenue decline of 6% last year.
Barry emphasized that Best Buy is adapting to new consumer behaviors, including a focus on value during sales and willingness to invest in higher-priced technology when necessary.
Despite the challenges, she expressed confidence in the company’s future, stating that there are no indicators suggesting a significant shift in customer behavior.
In addition to store closures in the U.S., Best Buy is expanding in Canada, partnering with Bell Canada to open 167 Express stores by the end of the year.
These smaller locations will feature a curated selection of technology products and will offer in-store pickup for online orders, along with Geek Squad services.
As Best Buy navigates these changes, it continues to face scrutiny over its return policy, with some customers finding ways to circumvent perceived restrictions, while others are eager to snag deals on items like a $149 4K TV before promotions expire.
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A massive rental company with 34k locations now shuts down its operations after filing for bankruptcy and 22 years in business.
Users of movie rental company Redbox were left saddened after it was announced that it would be shutting down operations.
The announcement comes after the rental company’s parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
According to court documents obtained by the Washington Post, the Connecticut-based company claimed to be one billion dollars in debt.
As a result, Redbox, which was a staple of many grocery stores including Walgreens, and CVS will be shuttered.
Many fans took to social media to express how upset they were with the loss.
“I knew it was coming, sadly,” UltraVada wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“It was inevitable,” a second person mourned.
“I knew this would happen when I heard they filed for Bankruptcy but its still sad to hear. I have a lot of fun memories of Redbox,” a third person lamented.
“I still don’t think this will be or ever be the end of physical media as we do still get remasters of some movies in 4k/Bluray.”
One person revealed that they had forgotten the rental service had existed.
Some users were not surprised by the announcement.
“Not surprised since nobody really rents videos anymore with the rise of streaming and what not,” one user admitted.
“Also kinda remember getting into a feud with them on here.”
One user also pointed out that the last remaining Blockbuster, located in Bend, Oregon, managed to outlive Redbox.
Redbox was acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSSE) in 2022 and became one of the company’s flagship video-on-demand streaming services.
At its peak, CSSE operated more than 20,000 DVD rental kiosks across the country.
The company’s filing means that the company’s more than 1,000 employees will be laid off, per The Wall Street Journal.
It was also reported by Deadline that many employees at CSSE hadn’t received their paychecks and had medical benefits cut in late June.
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