Best Buy stores will look drastically different due to futuristic 'shop

BEST Buy is revamping some stores this year and launching new initiatives to improve its shopping experience. The tech retailer has committed to...

Best Buy is opening at least six new stores in 2026 while redesigning existing locations around what the company calls "Experience Stores" featuring dedicated zones for AI-powered PCs, gaming, and home theater demos. The retailer is rolling out more Geek Squad consultation areas staffed with specialists trained to walk customers through device setup, smart home integration, and troubleshooting in person rather than over the phone. Select locations will also pilot AR-enabled product displays that let shoppers visualize how a TV or appliance fits in their actual living space before purchasing.

The redesigned stores aim to push customers toward Best Buy's higher-margin services like Geek Squad subscriptions and installation packages, which can add hundreds of dollars to a single purchase. If the strategy works, expect bundled service pricing to become more aggressive and harder to skip at checkout on everyday electronics.

Best Buy has been fighting declining foot traffic and shrinking margins since the post-pandemic electronics slump, and rivals like Amazon and Walmart have been eating into its appliance and TV business with aggressive pricing. The in-store experience pivot mirrors what Apple has done for years: turning retail floors into consultation spaces where the real revenue comes from services and accessories, not the box you walk out with.

Watch for Best Buy's Q1 2026 earnings report in late May, which will be the first real test of whether the new store formats are drawing foot traffic and boosting average ticket sizes. One detail that cuts against the futuristic narrative: roughly 40% of Best Buy's revenue still comes from online orders, meaning most customers may never set foot in these redesigned locations at all.