Question for Brian Dunn

How can social media platforms like Blue Shirt Nation contribute to Best Buy's operating performance and shareholder value?

Saul Kaplan
Founder and Chief Catalyst
Business Innovation Factory

Via Twitter:

How do you avoid Circuit City's fate? With specifics.

@ibidibid

Via Twitter:

How is the initiative to source ideas from the bottom up going at Best Buy? ROI?

@osize

Via Twitter:

How much opportunity is there for BBY in digital music? Will the Napster brand expand to new products & services, like Geek Squad?

@kimgarretson

Via Twitter:

Can BB up their Mac software offerings?

@3rddeadline

How will Circuit City's bankruptcy impact your business in the short and long term?

Neil Stern
Senior Partner
McMillanDoolittle LLP

I would slightly alter Saul Kaplan's question:

How has the social media platform Blue Shirt Nation contributed to Best Buy's operating performance and shareholder value?

@chrisflanagan

No questions--just a big thanks to him for renting out Constitution Hall in DC for the inauguration! Very innovative way to reach out to the buying public and my family will be grateful always to Best Buy for allowing us to be warm and toasty while watching the festivities.

What customer-centric initiatives, if any, do you plan to launch in the aftermath of Circuit City's demise? How do you plan to keep customers shopping with you?

@kayhaswings

In what ways will you learn from the mistakes of Circuit City, in order to avoid the same demise of your company?

Although Best Buy stores are much more customer friendly and focused than Circuit City ever was, I don't see another major big-box player stepping up anytime soon that could rival your company.

In light of the economic circumstances affecting the retail industry in general, Is Best Buy adjusting it's revenue goals at the store level now that consumers are spending only a fraction of what the were 8-12 months ago? Are employees still expected to meet what some might call "unrealistic" numbers?

With Circuit City's closing, and your company stating that capital expenses will be cut by 50%. Will Best Buy be opening new stores in the US or will you focus on expansion in China & Canada?

do you have any plans to get the retailers' crown from walmart??

Given the ease and convenience of online shopping, and the vast amount of information available to me online, why would I ever want to set foot inside a Best Buy store?

At a time when consumers seem to be just looking for "the best deals", what's your plan for capturing their imagination?

In this tough economy, what are you hearing from your customers? Are they merely looking for "the best deals", or do they think the Best Buy has secret sauce?

Via Twitter:

How much value has trusting his people added to his business?

@davidcushman

Via Twitter:

Now that Best Buy's the only game in town, will you stop the bait & switch advertising?

@JeanneYocum

Via Twitter:

What is your vision for the company over the next 5 years?

@robinsgr

Via Twitter:

nteresting that Best Buy has a 6-month transition ; unusual lately? related to turbulent times?

@michaelgoldberg

Via Twitter:

As new ceo (leader) in a rapidly deteriorating economy, where do you turn for advice, counsel + support?

@weeklyleader

Via Twitter:

What is Best Buy's supply chain strategy for 2009 as the global supplier base continues to shrink?

@codybarbierri

Via Twitter:

Who or what has been the greatest inspiration or influence on your leadership style?

@weeklyleader

Via Twitter:

Question for Brian Dunn (last one.) As a seller of tech, what tech/communication tools do U use daily to help lead your company?

@weeklyleader

Will you look to the online world, such as Amazon in order to gather information and ideas as how to become an online leader in retail, as well as brick and morter?

Good questions leader.

How much does the Geek Squad contribute to Best Buy's business?

In present era of economic downturn where reducing costs & avoiding risks are important....how do you make sure that new ideas selected will be successful. How do you choose & test the feasibility of new ideas before their actual implementation in order to make sure innovation practices are successful.

Where did Circuit City go wrong?, and what will you do avoid those mistakes?

Anyone projecting a minor Y2K event selling Digital TV’s to people who must replace their analog TV’s? Is there a plan in place for a surprise demand?

Do you plan to continue with the print version of the sales flyer - or to saved trees and huge expense - will you go to strictly an online version sometime soon?

Best Buy is at the cutting edge of many things. Among others, it's at the cutting edge of the culture of consumption. In what ways might you shift Best Buy's operating goals to emphasize "conscious consumption" instead of "conspicuous consumption"?

How do you position Best Buy in these times and have your customers come to stores and make them buy?

What is your plan to overhaul the horrendous customer relations reputation at the local store level, where warrantied repairs are often denied unless escalated to executives, and even then consumer satisfaction and a commitment to responsiveness is typically ignored at the highest echelons of management.

Given that ~70% of consumers research items before entering your store, how will you promote a connection between product information gathered online/mobile and the store buying experience?

What will be BB biggest challenge in these troubled times? What would BB do to avoid cutting jobs? How will you attract more customers?

Brian,

Being a # 1 retailer, do you think your store model is still in trouble? Take a look at Amazon.com sales. The trend is online sales. More people go to stores for a demo and buy from an online retailer and get great discount and sometimes no tax and free shipping. Where do you see yourself in couple of years.

Raj

What would be Best Buy strategy?

The old Increase profits Vs Increase sales startegy OR the currenly vogue decrease cost strategy? - by cutting jobs, new store openings, negotiate with vendors etc

Admittedly, it was a busy Saturday afternoon. But last weekend I walked out of a Best Buy store empty-handed, having failed to find anyone to help. This has happened several times before; I once left $1,200 worth of electronics on a cart when the third employee in a row went off to find the last piece I needed and failed to return. Even "take a number" would be an improvement. I must echo Dylan's question: Why would I ever want to set foot inside a Best Buy store?

Dear Mr.Dunn,

How do you think Best Buy will perform under the current financial environment if it lasts longer than predicted? What do you plan on doing to enhance the company's performance?

Thanks,
Abdulrahman

What is the possibility of Best Buy implementing more robust community offerings to better fulfill the promise of customers helping customers, removing *some* of the burden from what is now a highly scaled sales staff? And can it do that while still preserving the relationships it has with its suppliers?

Mr. Dunn,

With the U.S. economy in dire straits will Best Buy continue to place emphasis on expanding its multinational base of loyal customers--especially with a brand new store in Mexico, as of December 2008, and another due to open in Turkey?

Thank you and best wishes for your new position, sir!

Jeremiah
adlifetime.blogspot.com

Via Twitter:

Now that consumers expect major sales and promotions, will you provide and how will that impact margins?

@PaigeHolden

In keeping with some of the questions above, how do you plan to stay competitive when bargain hunting is made simple online? I can give you one instance. I found the same Plasma TV Best Buy offered for 800 dollars cheaper and all i had to do was walk 200 yards out the Best Buy door to a Costco. I actually did the search in the Best Buy store. Also got a 2 year extended Costco warranty for free.

Dear All,
Thanks so much for the great questions. Brian Dunn has now left the building. I'll post the video link here as soon as I have it.
Thanks again,
Helen

Will your Results Only Work Environment or ROWE continue as a model? Why or why not?

What product innovations or areas of innovation do you believe manufacturers should explore to create the next generation of "must-have" products to get consumers buying again?

How does your "Reward Zone" program factor into your customer retention and growth strategies?

Thanks again for the questions. As promised, here's the link to the video interview: http://is.gd/i9Y4