Best Buy launching wedding registry Feb. 16

When starting a new life together, it's important couples are equipped with the essentials: Smart TVs, home theater systems, Go Pros and Xbox and Playstation consoles. 

So Best Buy is launching a wedding registry Feb. 16. And by early April, Best Buy stores across the country will have kiosks where couples can view and print registry lists. Couples also have the option of syncing their registries with MyRegistry.com and TheKnot.com. 

The electronics company said its registry offers the option of group-gifting for multiple shoppers who want to go in on a pricier item, as well as free shipping on all gifts.

“Electronics and small appliances are as important to today’s newlyweds as silverware and towels,” said Wendy Fritz, Best Buy head of gifting strategy, in a statement Wednesday. 

Interestingly, MyRegistry.com said men registered for wedding gifts 30 percent more in 2014 than 2013, CNBC reported, and they selected items like power drills and sporting equipment. So the company's declared 2015 "the year of the groom," and is in talks to partner with other "male-centric" retailers (including Best Buy.)

According to Best Buy's website, the company operates 10 stores in Charlotte. 

Best Buy in Monroe set to close

Best Buy, struggling with mounting losses and the unexpected resignation of its CEO, said Saturday that it will permanently close its store on Highway 74 in Monroe next month.

The complete list of stores Best Buy plans to close was released early Saturday. The only other store in North Carolina targeted for shut down is in Rocky Mount.

The company said employees at the stores have been notified, and Best Buy is "working to help these employees find other positions." They'll get a severance package if they decide not to move to a new location, Best Buy said.

The Monroe store's final sale will begin immediately, on Sunday, April 15. Sales of up to 20 percent off select items will be offered to start. The store will permanently close on May 12. There are 12 other Best Buy stores and four smaller standalone Best Buy mobile locations in the Charlotte area.

Some of the hardest-hit markets are around Minneapolis, which is losing six stores, Chicago, also losing six, and California, which is losing seven.

Best Buy posted a $1.7 billion loss in its most recent quarter, after holiday season that missed analysts' revenue forecasts. Sales at stores open a year or more, a key measure of a retailer's health, also continued to slide. The retailer is closing 50 of its biggest big-box stores to focus on the smaller Best Buy Mobile format.

And in another blow to the company, Best Buy's CEO Brian Dunn - who worked his way up from sales associate to helm the company - abruptly quit this week. The company initially said, "There were no disagreements between Mr. Dunn and the company on any matter relating to operations, financial controls, policies or procedures. There was mutual agreement that it was time for new leadership to address the challenges that face the company." 

However, since then, the Wall Street Journal has reported that Dunn resigned in the midst of an investigation into whether he misused company resources to carry on an alleged relationship with a 29-year-old female employee.

Best Buy has been grappling with ever-increasing competition from online retailers such as Amazon.com and the electronic boutique juggernaut that Apple created with its retail stores. Those market forces already claimed big box competitor Circuit City.


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Best Buy not filling some online orders

Wobbly retail giant Best Buy can't seem to catch a break lately. The chain recently said its Black Friday discounts were so deep they sliced its own profit margins; now, Best Buy says it can't even fill some orders.

As this story from TheStreet lays out, customers are upset that their orders - confirmed and paid for - are being canceled by Best Buy.

Here's Best Buy's statement: "Due to overwhelming demand of hot product offerings on BestBuy.com during the November and December time period, we have encountered a situation that has affected redemption of some of our customers' online orders. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused and we have notified the affected customers."

Black Friday 2011 might be remembered as a dark day for the company. Have any of you had problems with ordering from Best Buy?