Best Buy employee Mohammed Bukhari, left, assists customer Salil Necholy with a computer purchase in the San Francisco store Friday, April 6, 2007. Best Buy, the nation's No. 1 electronics retailer, this week posted an 18 percent rise in fourth-quarter profits despite a bruising environment of flat-panel TV price drops. No. 2 Circuit City, on the other hand, swung to a loss in the quarter and is shaving its total work force by 8 percent, laying off 3,400 of its most experienced (and expensive) clerks. Analysts say Best Buy is executing well on all fronts. Its rapid expansion and earlier investments in its Geek Squad tech support service and high-end Magnolia home theater segment, all part of its "customer centricity" strategy, are paying off. AP Photo logo AP Photo 32 months ago

Best Buy employee Mohammed Bukhari, left, assists customer Salil Necholy with a computer purchase in the San Francisco store Friday, April 6, 2007. Best Buy, the nation's No. 1 electronics retailer, this week posted an 18 percent rise in fourth-quarter profits despite a bruising environment of flat-panel TV price drops. No. 2 Circuit City, on the other hand, swung to a loss in the quarter and is shaving its total work force by 8 percent, laying off 3,400 of its most experienced (and expensive) clerks. Analysts say Best Buy is executing well on all fronts. Its rapid expansion and earlier investments in its Geek Squad tech support service and high-end Magnolia home theater segment, all part of its "customer centricity" strategy, are paying off.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: Best Buy Inc.'s employee Ana Gomez (R) helps Maria Vides as she pays for a digital camera at the store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.
  2. Customers enter a Best Buy store in Alexandria, Virginia, September 15, 2009. Best Buy Co's quarterly profit missed estimates on Tuesday as sales of lower-margin products like notebook computers and promotional efforts to woo shoppers ate into the top U.S. consumer electronics chain's margins. Best Buy, however, raised its forecast for the fiscal year as it saw sales trends improving, customer traffic stabilizing and continued to gain market share after main rival Circuit City closed its doors early this year.
  3. A Best Buy sign is seen on a store in Alexandria, Virginia, September 15, 2009. Best Buy Co's quarterly profit missed estimates on Tuesday as sales of lower-margin products like notebook computers and promotional efforts to woo shoppers ate into the top U.S. consumer electronics chain's margins. Best Buy, however, raised its forecast for the fiscal year as it saw sales trends improving, customer traffic stabilizing and continued to gain market share after main rival Circuit City closed its doors early this year.
  4. Michele Turco leaves a Best Buy store with her purchases in Alexandria, Virginia, September 15, 2009. Best Buy Co's quarterly profit missed estimates on Tuesday as sales of lower-margin products like notebook computers and promotional efforts to woo shoppers ate into the top U.S. consumer electronics chain's margins. Best Buy, however, raised its forecast for the fiscal year as it saw sales trends improving, customer traffic stabilizing and continued to gain market share after main rival Circuit City closed its doors early this year.
  5. Television screens at a Best Buy store in Omaha, Neb., show President Barack Obama delivering in Washington a speech on healthcare to a joint session of Congress, Wednesday, Sept., 9, 2009.
  6. SanDisk slotMusic cards are now available in mobile retail stores, including Best Buy Mobile and Cricket Stores nationwide. Artists on slotMusic include Lady Gaga, Keith Urban, Black Eyed Peas, Incubus and P!nk. www.slotmusic. org.
  7. SanDisk slotMusic cards are now available in mobile retail stores, including Best Buy Mobile and Cricket Stores nationwide. Artists on slotMusic include Lady Gaga, Keith Urban, Black Eyed Peas, Incubus and P!nk. www.slotmusic. org.
  8. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: Vannessa Obermaier helps customer Leandro Dacosta (R) as he shops at a Best Buy Inc.'s store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.
  9. Brian Dunn, CEO of Best Buy, speaks at a media preview of the company's retail outlook for the holidays, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 in New York. Dunn said Wednesday that the nation's largest electronics retailer has gained more share than others since chief rival Circuit City liquidated, but added it still faces tough competition from discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and online retailers including Amazon.com during the upcoming holiday season.
  10. Brian Dunn, CEO of Best Buy, speaks at a media preview of the company's retail outlook for the holidays, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 in New York. Dunn said Wednesday that the nation's largest electronics retailer has gained more share than others since chief rival Circuit City liquidated, but added it still faces tough competition from discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and online retailers including Amazon.com during the upcoming holiday season.
  11. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: Vannessa Obermaier helps customer Leandro Dacosta (R) as he shops at a Best Buy Inc.'s store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.
  12. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: Chris Mora shops at a Best Buy Inc.'s store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.
  13. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: Linnette Gomez helps Lidia Ester as she shops for a computer at a Best Buy Inc.'s store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.
  14. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: Paulo Dacosta and Leandro Dacosta (R) shop at a Best Buy Inc.'s store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.
  15. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: Vannessa Obermaier (C) helps customers Paulo Dacosta and Leandro Dacosta (R) as they shop at a Best Buy Inc.'s store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.
  16. MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 15: (L-R) Maria Auxiliadara, Patricia Bara wait as Maria Vides prepares to pay for a digital camera she was buying at a Best Buy Inc.'s store on September 15, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent last month with the sales of electronics, appliances, department and sporting goods stores helping boast the number along with car sales. Even as Best Buy's fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a bigger-than-expected 22% the company reports that the number of customers visiting their store increased as they continue to gain market share because of the closing of Circuit City stores.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe holds the match ball after scoring five goals in the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Tottenham Hotspur won the match 9-1. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  2. Espanyol's coach Mauricio Pochetino of Argentina gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Getafe at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.
  3. Espanyol's Luis Garcia, left, duels for the ball against Getafe's Adrian Gonzalez during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.
  4. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Niko Kranjcar of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring their ninth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2009 in London, England.
  5. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Chris Kirkland of Wigan Athletic looks dejected during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2009 in London, England.
  6. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Aaron Lennon of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring their fifth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2009 in London, England.
  7. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Aaron Lennon of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring their fifth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2009 in London, England.
  8. HAMBURG, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 22: Marcell Jansen of Hamburg reacts during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and VfL Bochum at the HSH Nordbank Arena on November 22, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany.
  9. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: David Bentley of Tottenham Hotspur scores their eighth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2009 in London, England.
  10. Espanyol's Raul Tamudo gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Getafe at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.
  11. Tottenham's Jermain Defoe celebrates his fourth goal against Wigan during their English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane in London November 22, 2009.
  12. Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina reacts during his ATP World Tour Finals first round tennis match against Andy Murray of Britain in London November 22, 2009.
  13. Tottenham's Jermain Defoe celebrates his fourth goal against Wigan during their English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane in London November 22, 2009.
  14. Tottenham's Jermain Defoe (L) celebrates his goal with Peter Crouch during their English Premier League soccer match against Wigan at White Hart Lane in London November 22, 2009.
  15. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, right, and London based businessman Raj Kundra pose for the media after their marriage ceremony in Khandala around 110 kilometers (69 miles) from Mumbai, India, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.
  16. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, right and London based businessman Raj Kundra pose for the media after their marriage ceremony in Khandala around 110 kilometers (69 miles) from Mumbai, India, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.