…Systemax is looking to grow its brick-and-mortar business from its current base of 29 CompUSA-branded stores. “We’re looking at additional real estate,” he said. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Fiorentino wouldn’t say how many storefronts or markets the company is considering, stating only, “I dream about lots of stores.”

Systemax acquired 16 CompUSA stores in 2008 and recently converted its existing 11 TigerDirect locations to the CompUSA nameplate. The company is also converting its entire store base to its new Retail 2.0 model, which provides Web access and unique descriptive content to all display TVs, computers and monitors. Remodeled stores have seen a 20 percent increase in conversion rates, he told an audience at a Consumer Electronics Association Line Shows event here last week, and the changeover should be completed by late summer. Read the rest of this entry »

…CompUSA’s new owner is turning the stores into Internet entrance ramps. PC and television monitors not only display eye-catching clips, as they do in most retail chains; each points as well to the device’s product page on the compusa.com Web site. Shoppers can also check store inventories and even browse competitors’ sites to compare prices. “We want to give people the rich experience of buying online,” says Gilbert Fiorentino, who heads the chain’s retail strategy.

…So Gilbert Fiorentino… turned to making better use of existing assets. He had in-house programmers write software linking computer monitors to each store’s inventory database. TVs were hooked up to hard drives and equipped with keyboards to make them Net-accessible, too. … The chain, which now has 24 sites, mostly in Florida and Illinois, plans to update every one this year. Read the rest of this entry »

CompUSA is forging ahead with the Retail 2.0 concept – and people are noticing. Today a BusinessWeek article on HP, Intel mentioned our “innovation” as “one of the more inventive approaches to tech-product merchandising right now.”

That’s quite a compliment – and we will continue to lead the market through our hard work, innovation and thinking outside of the box how to provide a better experience to our customers! Read the rest of this entry »

Once a haven for geeks with merchandise stacked in aisles and seemingly tossed on shelves, CompUSA seeks to make itself more buyer friendly following the collapse and liquidation of rival Circuit City. The new CompUSA allows buyers to check prices and product reviews and installation tips online before buying. The danger: Buyers may find a better deal elsewhere and buy through a competitor.

Gathering product and price information while in the store isn’t how traditional retailers such as Best Buy (BBY) do business. Typically, retailers rely on advertised prices and the chain’s reputation to draw customers. Most retailers assume customers have done their research and come to the store ready to buy. Read the rest of this entry »

After rising from the ashes of bankruptcy, CompUSA is taking another shot at brick-and-mortar retail.

One of the worst parts of a recession is the closure of retail chains across the country. CompUSA, Tweeter and Circuit City went the way of the Dodo, and now Blockbuster might be joining the bankruptcy club. However, for those who still enjoy buying media and electronics in a store and not on the Internet, CompUSA is coming back to a strip mall near you.

Back in late 2007, CompUSA went into bankruptcy and was sold to Systemax, the same company who owns TigerDirect. With new management at the helm and a new business strategy, the heralded retail chain is back in the swing of things. According to an interview with Wired, Systemax executive and TigerDirect Founder Gilbert Fiorentino claims that the new CompUSA is at the forefront of a new way of doing business. “We have invented this idea of retail 2.0,” said Fiorentino. “Every screen in every CompUSA store is now connected to the internet and making buying a richer experience for customers. We are using tech to change the retail experience for the customer and giving them access to all the information on the internet anytime they want during the buying process.” Now, if you decide to shop at CompUSA for that new HDTV or laptop, an unfettered Internet connection will help you find the best prices. No Best Buy tricks and no hassles. Read the rest of this entry »

The recession may have short-circuited Circuit City, but bankrupt CompUSA is springing back and trying to entice buyers with new retail outlets, Twitter updates and corporate services.

In addition to its Web site, the company now has 23 brick-and-mortar stores, considerably less than the 126 stores it operated in better times. The stores are now located mainly in Florida, with two more to open there next week. In addition, there are some outlets in Illinois, North Carolina, Texas and one in Puerto Rico.

Instead of moving forward with plans to liquidate, the struggling retailer was saved in January 2008 when retail and business-to-business provider Systemax acquired CompUSA in a deal said to be worth approximately $31 million. Under terms of the deal, Port Washington, N.Y.-based Systemax bought 16 CompUSA stores, the brand name and its e-commerce sites. Systemax said part of its strategy behind the purchase was to complement its TigerDirect e-commerce and retail stores. Read the rest of this entry »

As you know, CompUSA went bankrupt a while ago and were sold to Systemax. However, the computer stores are slowly making a come back, but there are a few changes this time around. For instance, 30 new stores will open and they will all have an open Internet policy.

This policy will make it so shoppers are encouraged to use the Internet on the demo units for price comparisons and reading product reviews. Supposedly, customers will also be able to check regular websites as well like news sites and even Facebook. Read the rest of this entry »