Future Shop opening new web integrated "Futureshop.ca" store in Vancouver

New concept store with smaller footprint officially opens November 2

Announcement Highlights:

1. Future Shop is pleased to announce the opening of its very first integrated and most tech-forward "Futureshop.ca" store on Friday, November 2, 2012.
2. The new store concept offers an exciting new way to shop, creating a seamless experience between in-person and online shopping within 5,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and endless aisles accessible through the web.
3. Next month, Future Shop will open a second Futureshop.ca store in Brockville, ON.

NORTH VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Future Shop, Canada's largest retailer and etailer of consumer electronics, is pleased to announce the opening of "Futureshop.ca," its first small format store filled with the latest tech-forward products on Friday, November 2, 2012 in North Vancouver, BC. The 5,000 sq. ft. store footprint is about one fifth the size of a typical Future Shop (27,000 sq. ft.), and it offers an array of the latest cutting-edge technology with a transactional experience unmatched by any other retailer in Canada.

"We are pleased to invite customers in the lower mainland to experience our incredible multi-channel retail storefront, combining the strengths of our knowledgeable Product Experts and brick-and-mortar stores, with our robust eCommerce and mCommerce offerings," said Sanath Munasinghe, Vice President of Store Design,  Construction and Properties, Future Shop. "Not only can customers purchase our top selling products in-store, they can order line extensions and our expanded assortment, such as baby care, tools, furniture and luggage with the convenience of shipping to a preferred address, or next day pickup."

Future Shop's Futureshop.ca store offers an exciting new way to shop, creating a seamless experience between in-person and online shopping. It also provides a connected environment inviting customers to touch, feel and play with the best selection of the latest technology.

The store is stocked with 1,000 of the top-selling products at Future Shop. More than a dozen tablets and desktop computers are placed throughout the store giving customers access to a deep catalogue of nearly 60,000 skus offered online. Every Product Expert (PE) within the store is equipped with a tablet to assist customers with their purchases, including sharing demonstrations and price comparison shopping, all from the palm of their hands.

"Our Futureshop.ca store's Product Experts are crossed-trained, meaning they are knowledgeable in every department of the store with flexibility to help customers from one department to the next," said Munasinghe. "We know customers will love this personalized shopping experience, surrounded in Canada's most connected retail environment."

Additionally, customers who purchase items online from the Futureshop.ca store will have several expedient delivery options:

• In-store. Orders placed at the Futureshop.ca store will have their orders delivered to the store the very next day (Monday through Friday).
• Ship anywhere in Canada. Customers can speak with our Product Experts within the Futureshop.ca store and arrange to ship orders anywhere in Canada. Free shipping applies to orders $20 or more.
• Ship to another Future Shop location. Customers can have their orders delivered to any one of 149 Future Shop stores in Canada, free.

Futureshop.ca store officially opens Friday, November 2, 2012

Future Shop is officially grand opening the Futureshop.ca store in North Vancouver on Friday, November 2, 2012. To celebrate the opening, the Futureshop.ca will be offering door-crasher deals on today's hottest tech all weekend long. The first 200 customers who place orders and ship to the store or preferred mailing address will receive a free gift card ($10 to a maximum of $50).

Additionally, on Saturday, November 3 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. PST, local soccer stars, Christine Sinclair, Brittany Timko and Emily Zurrer of Canada's Olympic Women's Soccer Team who won bronze at London 2012, will be meeting fans and adorning their medals.

Adding further excitement to the grand opening of the Futureshop.ca store, an online contest called "Check-out Challenge" will be offered from November 2-4, 2012. Check-out Challenge gives customers the chance to win amazing prizes by playing a fun-filled game simulating a virtual shopping spree.

Next month, Future Shop will open a second Futureshop.ca store in Brockville, ON.

About Future Shop
With 149 stores across the country and the nation's premier web store (www.futureshop.ca), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. The company employs more than 10,000 technology enthusiasts, has enabled its website, Futureshop.ca, to deliver unparalleled content about the products it sells. Futureshop.ca also hosts an online community forum and tech blog called Tech Yeah for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (www.futureshop.ca/techyeah). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop has developed solutions to recycle used electronics and is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profit organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders (see www.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration).

SOURCE: Future Shop