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Best Buy Americas President Mike Vitelli gives his outlook on holiday sales and the seasonal hiring.
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A lot of the big -- -- everybody at particular.
You know the name you know the company best Byron -- Circuit City no you don't you just a Best Buy like the -- a Best Buy America's president joins me now I would like how Mario.
-- back -- thanks for coming thanks victory to be here.
Let's talk about we were just looking at the retail index overall in particular with Best Buy it is about the heavy discounts today what do you -- what are your channel checks right now for the -- -- Today is a great an exciting day it's the start of a thirty day selling season for -- -- Black Friday is always a discount day.
That's part of what that's about what we've got a month -- that is going to be excited for our customers and employees for the whole season.
Look at the stock went out of about one -- a couple of things I wanna ask you about -- -- had a -- snapped on the website.
Another you recover but I am curious if you're if you're nervous now because we did expects it to influx of online shoppers that the website might -- some pressure this month.
Actually wasn't the best but I come what -- it was a reward zone because this was a special early.
Early entry to get that Black Friday deals or rewards and so -- members.
And we were disappointed that we had a couple hours that that got overwhelmed but we've we've been passed that it's in good shape right now the Best Buy -- outside itself.
Let me ask you about hiring and jobs right now 9% unemployment but yet that's by saying 151000 new blue shirts you pride yourself.
On the blue shirts for the retail customer that experience that element walking you see somebody with a blue shirt.
And you have that positive experience do you think you're being able to keep some of those workers what are you looking for those workers for the month.
Well thank you for mention it because we do think that blue shirts we know our blue shirts are the differentiation between Best Buy and so many others out there.
-- don't have as many people that are as well train.
And spent time with customers so yes this it is an opportunity opportunity for these folks to prove themselves and as the season.
Progresses -- this is something they wanna do we actually of taking people on for years after.
They've had that experience of the submitted -- like in the joint wanna continue.
It's not just -- -- -- the geeks like as well as a big piece that huge component of best buys this is we should mention that.
Which we try to use blue shirt generically -- you're absolutely right to be squads -- negates letters rates all of our folks are great and everything that we do both in this store.
And on line and on the phone we have thousands of folks that help us and help our customers all -- -- any sense right now -- of what the best selling product is today I know that the TV's.
We're expected to be big movers today LC got an amazing deal going with Smartphones right -- antisense.
You know every categories a little bit different but.
You picked out some of the big ones I would never say we have a kind of fourth quarter strategy were Smartphones tablets and but television and computing have always been -- television was very strong.
In the second half is from a unit -- for the whole industry and actually start to change a bit and then gaming -- movies or is a big thing at this time of the year.
Right one of the analysts -- that we spoke to said that they are concerned about flat sales -- Best -- for the holiday shopping season a lot of analysts at the retail sector concerned overall about retail sales being flat because of the heavy discounting.
What do you think Best -- continue in the next three weeks to get the customers in the door.
Up the sales numbers bring in profits really secure war the year the quarter progressed -- But we have planned promotions that -- set in place that literally go through those four weeks.
Our profit model is really based around not only the hardware itself but as you mentioned the Geek -- services and access read the connections on Smartphones the connections.
On Internet connected televisions and Blu-ray players all that is part of our profit model to receive our connections row and that's a big part of how we.
-- to the basket if you will of profitability with hardware accessories.
Connections and service.
What is the items one of the product -- -- this year are amongst all the retailers that that analysts say is -- -- popular video games as kids say that your stock exchange.
They want to play video games adults play video games is that where you see a bright spot.
-- had a really tough first half.
And the industry is it as a whole was actually down quite a bit in the first step but right now we're seeing at this time of the year this is the biggest time war.
Categories like digital imaging and point two cameras.
Gaming and movies so we'll watch and see what happens of -- -- today.
Mike Patel -- thank you vercammen downtown today on a busy today that York stock exchange never -- to see you noted that.
Boehner and -- -- -- -- from Best Buy it.
What might make you very much there's always great to talk to -- Mike Patel AB.
President at Best Buy Americans down.
