Amazon Pop-Up Stores Rethink AV Retailing

While traditional electronics stores continue to close their doors at an alarming pace, Amazon is well on its way to reaching its goal of opening 100 pop-up stores in malls around the country.

The undisputed king of online retailing opened a half-dozen or so stores in 2015 and now has 31 stores in 15 states: Arizona (1), California (5), Colorado (1), Connecticut (1), Florida (2), Georgia (3), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (2), New Jersey (2), New York (2), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (5), Virginia (2), and Washington (2).

Using the slogan “let’s meet at our place,” here’s how Amazon describes its stores:

Experience the full range of Amazon devices (Echo, Fire TV, Fire Tablets, Dash Button, and Kindle) at your local Amazon Pop-Up store Experts are on-hand to help you find what's right for you and your family. Also learn more about Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and Amazon FreeTime Unlimited as well as learn more about Amazon Original Series like Transparent and Mozart In the Jungle.
In Apple Store fashion, product experts are also on hand to answer questions and help with setup.

And these pop-ups are separate from Amazon bookstores, which also sell electronics. Eight of those have opened over the past year or so in San Diego, Chicago, metropolitan Boston, New Jersey, and New York.

Meanwhile, Amazon is considering brick-and-mortar retail stores to sell products people are reluctant to buy sight unseen—furniture, home appliances, and, yes, electronics, according to a recent New York Times report. The idea is you would come in and check out that recliner, refrigerator, or speaker you’ve been eying up and, if it passes muster, have it shipped to home.

Tell us about recent retail experiences buying AV gear. Can retail as we know it survive?

X