Samsung to open mini-stores inside 1,400 Best Buy stores in the US

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is planning to install its brand shops in more than 1,400 Best Buy Co Inc stores this year, a move that some on Wall Street said could help the world's largest consumer electronics chain boost in-store traffic, sales and profitability.

The news pushed Best Buy shares up 12.5 percent to $24.36 on Thursday.

The store-within-a-store effort is a key element of Best Buy's turnaround plan, which includes dedicating more space to more-profitable products like tablets and mobile phones. The company is also trying to use its clout with suppliers to fight online and discount rivals.

JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers said the Samsung deal was "another step in the right direction" and better positioned Best Buy against online retailer Amazon.com Inc.

"Retailers and vendors are learning how to better cope with online and pricing challenges to become more profitable omnichannel retailers," Horvers said.

The expanded partnership with Samsung is akin to the Best Buy's tie-up with Apple Inc as well as Dick's Sporting Goods Inc's partnerships with vendors Nike Inc, Under Armour Inc and North Face.

Best Buy's latest move "is a clear indication" that the retailer is better using its key partnerships to boost traffic and sales, Horvers said.

Janney Capital Markets analyst David Strasser said the move was "a wakeup call" for Best Buy's other key partners - Google Inc, Sony Corp and Microsoft Corp.

"These vendors will also need to take up more space and invest more heavily in Best Buy as a distribution partner," Strasser said.

Retailers such as Best Buy are also trying to find ways to appeal to shoppers who own more than one mobile computing device and are looking to connect them together and share content across multiple screens.

The "Samsung Experience" shops will showcase the entire range of the manufacturer's mobile products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, connected cameras and accessories.

Some Best Buy stores will also have Samsung employees to help customers buy and activate their mobile devices. The specially trained Samsung staff will also help with product demonstrations, warranty registration and post-purchase support.

The shops will vary in size, with the largest being about 460 square feet.

© Thomson Reuters 2013