Best Buy

Best Buy is the largest consumer electronics specialty retailer in the United States, operating over 1,000 stores alongside a major and growing e-commerce platform. Founded in 1966 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, originally as an audio equipment store called Sound of Music, Best Buy has navigated the near-complete collapse of big-box electronics retail — surviving where Circuit City, CompUSA, and Radio Shack did not — through service differentiation, vendor partnerships, and genuine omnichannel investment.

The company generates approximately $44-47 billion in annual revenue. Its customer base skews toward tech-engaged American households who want to touch, test, and get advice on electronics purchases before committing — a need that has kept physical retail relevant even as much of the category moved online.

Product categories

Best Buy's core categories include consumer electronics (TVs, audio, cameras), computing (laptops, tablets, desktop PCs), mobile phones and accessories, gaming consoles and software, home appliances, smart home devices, and car electronics. The Geek Squad — Best Buy's in-house technical support and installation service — is one of the company's most important differentiators, offering device setup, home appliance installation, and ongoing tech support subscriptions.

Best Buy Marketplace

Best Buy operates a selective third-party marketplace on bestbuy.com. The marketplace is curated — Best Buy maintains quality standards in its seller base and product assortment. For brands in consumer electronics and adjacent categories, Best Buy Marketplace offers access to Best Buy's enormous audience of tech-savvy American shoppers who trust the Best Buy brand as a quality filter.

Vendor relationships

Best Buy's relationships with major technology manufacturers — Apple, Samsung, Sony, LG, Microsoft — are central to its business model. The company provides premium in-store display space, trained sales staff, and co-branded marketing. For smaller or mid-market electronics brands, Best Buy's marketplace and vendor programme offer a path into one of the most trusted consumer electronics retail environments in North America.