Wal-Mart hopes to better compete with Best Buy and other specialty electronics store by re-organizing and offering more name brand products for consumers to choose from.
During 2008, Wal-Mart began re-organizing its HDTV displays to mimic the way Best Buy, Target, Circuit City (before it closed), and other electronics retailers are able to draw consumers into the area.
Around 13% of Wal-Mart total sales -- $33 billion -- have been generated from its growing electronics business, which include digital cameras, HDTVs, PCs, MP3 players, and other popular consumer gadgets. Electronics could become a more important business sector in the next year -- and the company wants to offer the Apple iPad tablet and other in-demand products.
Executives didn't say when Wal-Mart will stock iPads in select stores, but the tablet should be available sometime before the end of the year. The iPad is available through Apple stores and at Best Buy -- offering the tablet could be a major success.
The two closest Wal-Marts in my location are complete disasters every time I enter the electronics section. Almost all of the video games are in locked cases - and employees are lazy and uninspired - and the TV/PC displays are cluttered and disorganized.
The company needs to open up its displays and give shoppers the option of interacting with electronics -- and keep them working -- which simply doesn't happen at any of the Wal-Marts I've recently visited.
These negative aspects make me hesitant to purchase electronics from Wal-Mart stores, but I'm willing to wait to see what, if anything, the company does to turn things around.
