CompUSA Retail 2.0

"CompUSA took the model of its web site -- one of the best for providing information, pictures and how-to videos, among other things -- and brought it into the retail stores, said Fiorentino. "Shoppers will get the online experience inside the store. They will know everything about the product before getting it home and unpackaged."

Among the highlights of Retail 2.0 at Dadeland (the Miami prototype store), and planned for other stores in the future:

-- All desktops, laptops, monitors and televisions -- more than 170 total screens -- are connected to dedicated computers, providing direct, single key access to all production information on the item from the Internet and allowing further discovery -- even outside of the CompUSA website.

-- In every aisle, additional stations are available so customers can obtain buying advice, type in a printer name to find out what ink they need or their computer model to determine what RAM to add for the capabilities they want.

-- CompUSA will offer workshops every weekend that will be podcast on its web site as well. Look for sessions such as 'How to build a PC at home,' or 'How to design a Facebook page.'"

Here's a video (in HD - but it should ask if you want to run in lower resolution)

Comments

[Mike]

It might be more accurate to call what CompUSA is doing Retail 1.5. Take a look at what Best Buy is doing with Mashery to extend its online footprint by opening up its catalog API:

http://blog.mashery.com/2008/09/25/mashery-and-best-buy-the-e-commerce-api-and-killer-christmas-lists/