Best Buy CEO Corie Barry recently detailed the three most impactful changes the company experienced when the pandemic first hit in March 2020 that are still having a significant impact as of January 2021. Those three changes, that are still “sticking†today are listed below. (I have also included the article which has her comments). 

1. Technology became instantly more vital for everyone. Suddenly children were learning from home and a large portion of the population was working remotely — triggering a need for home computing equipment and accessories. 

2. The way retailers were able to provide those products instantly changed. Customers were leveraging digital shopping tools at an unprecedented rate and new fulfillment options like curbside pickup were becoming table stakes. 

3. Employees needed to work differently. Prior to the pandemic they had very structured jobs and responsibilities. New operational structures think curbside pickup, requires a more flexible workforce. Deliverable You are a product manager who has led initiatives much admired by Ms. Barry. Thus, she puts you on the task force to address these three long-lasting impacts. 

You must:

1) Map out the opportunities that are abound with each of the three “sticky†changes. You will do this by providing recommendations on how Best Buy can leverage each impact and turn them into revenue drivers that separates Best Buy from competitors. Along with articles you find on the web, you should cite strategies, philosophies, and tactics that former CEO Hubert Joly and senior executives, such as Ms. Barry, used to turnaround Best Buy, as they could prove useful in mapping out your recommendations.

 

  

Obviously, the ongoing health crisis has thrown retail for a loop. While small mom and pops and mall-based retailers have been hit hard by the pandemic and may never regain their pre-COVID swagger, some retailers have been able to capitalize on the disruption. Grocers, home goods, building supplies, and electronics have all enjoyed a COVID-induced rally. And while this boost in sales has certainly been welcome, it has not been without challenges. At CES 2021, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry and Fortune Media CEO Alan Murray sat down to discuss how Best Buy has pivoted its operations and its plans to continue to meet changing consumer behavior post-pandemic. The conversation started with Barry laying out the three biggest changes Best Buy witnessed when the pandemic first hit in March 2020 that are still impacting operations today: