Best Buy has been moving far beyond selling just electronics and appliances into everything from baby gear, to makeup and toiletries. And now, the latest venture will be offering wedding registries for couples getting ready to walk down the aisle, reports The New York Times.
Apparently, the registry service launched quietly last month, allowing brides and grooms to tag flat-screen TVs, speakers, and a brand spanking new iPad along with a set of pots, bakeware, and decorative vases. Want to make your selections via mobile device? The registry feature will be coming to Best Buy’s mobile app next week, along with the capability to sync registry lists with other Websites, like TheKnot.com. Beginning this April, Best Buy intends to add 1,000 in-store kiosks where customers can view registries and print lists — similar to other known wedding registry destinations.
It’s a smart idea – men are far more likely to get excited about a wedding registry when they get to tag items at Best Buy rather than the local department store – maybe a video gaming system, the hottest new drone, or new receiver might make its way to the list. And women will still be satisfied – after all, as noted, Best Buy also sells traditional wedding registry items, ranging from coffee makers and mixers, to glassware and pots and pans. And let’s face it – who wouldn’t love to get a fancy, new 4K TV as a wedding gift?
From Best Buy’s perspective, diversifying into new categories is a great way to ensure continued success as profitability in certain consumer technology categories wane. From a customer segment perspective, it’s a great move. Will baby registries be next?
