APRIL 28, 2010 • With its first U.K. store opening in East London, Best Buy announced plans of opening 60 to 150 30,000-plus square-foot locations in the country. The first eight are slated to go into operation by March 2011. For a more successful introduction of the Best Buy brand into the U.K., the retailer formed a £1.1 billion ($1.8 billion) joint-venture with Carphone Warehouse, an investment that will show a loss this year of up to £45 million ($44.2 million). Best Buy also committed to selling used games in the U.K. In a twist to U.S. practice, however, used games will be part of a larger pre-owned program. Consumers can trade in games toward a Blu-ray player, or an old TV toward games.

Impact: Best Buy’s entrance into the U.K. market is an ambitious one. The timing, however, is of concern. Consumer sales are still weak, and the end result of entering the new market will likely be a round of price competition from competing retailers that will be hard on all players.  Best Buy may have the capital to outlast that fight, yet it’s still a huge bet.