Business & Tech

Best Buy Announces Closures, Elkridge Not Included

The two Maryland stores closing are at the Inner Harbor and Hunt Valley.


Best Buy announced Saturday that it plans to close two Maryland stores.

The  and Inner Harbor locations will shutter by May 12, according to a company-issued statement.

The and will be revamped to better serve customers.

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The big-box retailer has seen declining sales in three of the last four years, according to CNN, which reported that Best Buy's CEO resigned Tuesday.

Last month, the company announced  by the end of the year while also investing in "key store remodels."

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On the list of remodels is the , which by December will include more mobile devices like tablets. Technicians will also receive enhanced training to show people how to use them.

"We are committed to making it easier for customers to shop with us, whenever and wherever they want," said Best Buy in a statement issued April 14. The company said it plans to continue building out its Best Buy Mobile stores.

But analysts have speculated that connectivity—through online sales—may be the very thing hampering Best Buy's efforts.

"The new ease of mobile shopping and price comparison is accelerating the trend of 'showrooming,' where shoppers come in to stores to see an item but buy it elsewhere," reported The Wall Street Journal.

Before the holidays, TIME magazine reported that internet giant Amazon created an app so customers in brick and mortar stores could compare prices with theirs by scanning barcodes, creating fallout with competitors ranging from book publishers to Target.

Do you use big-box stores as showrooms before buying things online? Tell us in the comments.


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