Best Buy, Intel Partner To Drive In-Store Traffic And Sales

By Megan Zielinski, contributing writer

Best Buy and Intel have come together, creating a new in-store exploration center for customers to learn about cutting-edge technologies—by the end of October, the Intel Technology Experience Center will be included in 50 major Best Buy locations across the U.S.

The department will include four specific stations for customers to discover and test the capabilities of the latest innovative products provided by Intel—including tablets, PCs and other latest technologies. At the 3-D Printing Experience, customers can create and design their own customized mini robot and print it out in a three dimensional figure by using the featured touchscreen Intel laptop. With the handheld Intel tablet, customers can take a real-life augmented journey to mars with a virtual space rover at the Mars Escape Augmented Reality Experience. Music enthusiasts who want to spin a virtual beat will enjoy the DJ Remix Experience—using the Intel 2 in 1 devices to control the stage scene, set the lighting, and play with tracks from well-known hip hop artist, Ne-Yo.

The exploration zones will change with the newest wave of Intel products to be sold at Best Buy stores each season. The first stores to incorporate the Experience centers include Los Angeles, Austin, Daytona Beach, and other main regions—with the first opening last week in Portland, Ore., Intel’s manufacturing site.

By integrating store-within-store concepts, Best Buy hopes to increase in-store traffic and sales as the experience centers evoke engagement between customers and employees, while showcasing products from leading brand partners. Over half of Best Buy stores now include the new Samsung and Sony Experience Centers, launched in stores this May. By empowering customers to touch, see, and try out products, Best Buy is developing trust with customers—driving purchases and bringing satisfied customers back.  

“People don’t normally have the opportunity to experience the kind of cutting-edge technology that will be featured in these shops,” said Jason Bonfig, senior category officer for computing and tablets at Best Buy. “It’s a natural extension of our goal to showcase the endless possibilities of technology and ignite our customers’ imaginations.”