by John Miller

Best Buy, the electronics giant based in Minneapolis, will be expanding its operations into 11 new countries in the coming months. The electronics retailer has plans to push into new markets in Mexico, Europe and Turkey. Thus, it will be doing so before another Minneapolis-based retailer: Target. 
 
Best Buy currently has one-fifth of the U.S. electronics market and will have opportunity for more if Circuit City can't get its fortunes turned around. The global expansion will provide an opportunity for Best Buy to become a major player overseas as well.  As home to three major retailers (Target, Supervalu and Best Buy), Minneapolis's position as a major force in the consumer product industry will grow as Best Buy expands.

You can read about Best Buy's global appetite and the challenges ahead at Twincities.com.

With skilled talent already scarce, Best Buy's expansion, if successful, could prompt suppliers to bid up the talent in Minneapolis. Account and category management experience will be at a premium, as will the the need for analysts.