Computers

Hoping to woo electronics shoppers away from Amazon’s Prime Day, Newegg is planning its own shopping extravaganza.   For the third year, the electronics e-retailer will hold its annual "FantasTech" sale. The three-day event, which kicks off on July 11, will feature will offer “deep discounts” on hundreds of products across all tech product categories.   

Best Buy is looking to grab share in one of the hottest categories of the "smart" home market: voice-activated devices.   The retailer is adding Amazon Alexa and Google Home "experiences" to about 700 Best Buy stores nationwide. The new interactive displays will start arriving in stores in July, with the rollout complete by the end of the year.  In addition, there will be an enhanced online presence for the devices on Best Buy's e-commerce site.  

An electronics giant might is eyeing a program that could give it a leg up on online rival Amazon.  

Online shoppers are demanding more flexibility and control in their delivery experiences — and Newegg is responding.   The electronics e-retailer now enables its Canadian shoppers to ship purchases to more than 6,000 Canada Post retail post offices. Newegg created the program through a partnership with air freight shipping company Purolator International and Canada Post.   

Apple will be busy on March 25.    The company will open three new stores on that day,  including a flagship at Brickell City Center, a new mixed-use development  in downtown Miami.  It will be Apple’s fifth location in the Miami area.    The new Miami store will have  13-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, and a forum space with an oversized video display, according to TechCrunch.  

Facebook is scaling back its first big brick-and-mortar retail push.   The social media giant is closing approximately 200 of its 500 Oculus virtual reality (VR) pop-up stores operating in Best Buy locations across the United States, Business Insider said.    Facebook launched the program in 48 stores last May, and the technology — which was available for demonstrations and sales — was rolled out to 500 stores in August, Engadget said.  

Office Depot has named a successor to CEO Roland Smith, who previously announced his intention to retire from the company. The company also named a new chairman.    The retailer has appointed Gerry P. Smith as CEO, effective Feb. 27. Smith currently serves as executive VP and COO of Lenovo Group, a $45 billion global technology company.  

Hoping to bolster sales across its home appliance category, Best Buy opened five outlet locations dedicated to major appliances.   The outlet stores are located in San Antonio and Famers Branch, Texas, Raleigh, N.C., Newark, Del., and Moreno Valley, Calif. All five locations opened this month, according to The Dallas News.