Best Buy Debuts New Store Format, Reports Computer Retail Week; 'Concept Four' Store Opens in Pasadena.

MANHASSET, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 1998--Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY), the country's second largest computer-products retailer opened the first retail outlet based on a new store format, according to exclusive reporting by CMP Media's Computer Retail Week.

The store, in a Pasadena, Calif., shopping center, reflects the "Concept Four" format with an "open" design, designed to be "brighter and airier" than previous formats, according to a sales associate.

Computer Retail Week Deputy Managing Editor Rebecca Smith, who visited the location, reports that the store is well lit and inventory has been removed from the tops of some shelves, so customers can easily locate all sections of the store from the moment they enter its front doors. Merchandise has been regrouped into larger, cohesive sections. Smith's reporting can be found at http://www.crw.com/news/1998/weekending101698/oct11dig01.asp.

"Concept Four" is expected to be announced at a Best Buy news conference scheduled for later this week. The format succeeds the "Concept Three" format, which was introduced four years ago in the Dallas market.

CMP Media's Computer Retail Week is the leading newspaper for technology retailers. Each week, it provides critical information about new solutions, technologies, alliances and products for a wide audience of computer superstores, software retailers, mass merchants and other channel members. Breaking news also is posted on its home page, http://www.crw.com. In addition, its specialized online Webpaper, Computer Retail Web, covers the technology, products and people driving Internet-based computer retailing at http://www.computerretailweb.com.

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