The Demo Site

(November 19) You have a new place to shop for running related gadgets. Electronics giant Best Buy has announced it is branching out into the Health and Fitness market. According to a press release, the retail chain will be selling treadmills, ellipticals, pedometers, heart rate watches and other items at 40 stores this week.

The Geek Squad will be getting in on the activity. The company says they’ll be available on consultations to merge the fitness equipment with electronics – think surround sound for a treadmill or how to get you PC to download the latest workout info from you GPS.

Here’s to hoping another player in the fitness market will mean lower overall prices for runners. Given this economy we could all use a break. Still this is not a positive sign for Best Buy. After the bankruptcy of Circuit City they were the last player standing in the electronics retail marketplace. Things should be looking up. But this is an indication of that falling margins on flat screen TV’s and the erosion of the DVC/CD business has the company searching for other options. Factor in Wal-Marts recent expansion into the electronics marketplace and they need a way to draw new customers into their stores. Time will tell if this is the answer but another player in the health and fitness market is a good news for runners.