Newsbits


Tuesday October 20, 8:53 am Eastern Time

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Circuit City Stores, Inc.

Circuit City to Grand Open First Manhattan Superstore

Commissioner Weeks to Cut Ribbon, Celebrate Union Square Redevelopment

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In a long-awaited step to revitalize New York's famous Union Square neighborhood, Circuit City Stores is proud to announce the grand opening of its first Manhattan Superstore.

Located on the corner of 14th and Broadway, this first of two planned Manhattan Superstores will open Oct. 23. Deborah R. Weeks, commissioner of the Department of Business Services, will lead a ribbon cutting ceremony starting at 9:30 a.m. Following the ceremony, executives from Circuit City will accompany the honored guests and members of the media on a tour of the new store.

The new Superstore measures approximately 40,000 square feet and offers Manhattan consumers an open, airy shopping environment. The store will employ approximately 160 people, all of whom are dedicated to offering consumers Circuit City's characteristically high levels of customer service, a wide breadth of selection and guaranteed low prices.

``We are proud to become a part of the Manhattan retail and business community,'' said Richard L. Sharp, Circuit City's chairman and chief executive officer. ``Our goal is to introduce consumers who live and work in New York City to the unparalleled customer service that makes Circuit City the nation's leading brand-name consumer electronics retailer.''

Circuit City Superstores maintains an open, airy layout, high-tech decor and fixtures that create a sophisticated, comfortable shopping environment. Key attractions in the Union Square store include one of the only permanent high definition (HDTV) displays in the New York market; the Circuit City Appliance Station, which is a kiosk that allows customers to order appliances directly from a full range of various name-brand manufacturers; and the company's Showcase room, which currently features products from the Harman Kardon line -- Harman Kardon, JBL and Infinity.

For the customer who works at home, Circuit City is the place to find everything for the home office or small office, including personal computers, more than 2,000 computer software titles, computer accessories and upgrades, fax machines, scanners, office furniture and more.

Unlike its competitors, Circuit City offers a Personal Computer Build-To- Order Station that allows customers to configure a computer based on their personal needs using inventory ordered direct from the world's four leading retail PC manufacturers: Compaq, Hewlett Packard, IBM and NEC. Customers can take advantage of literally millions of choices when configuring their computer. Finally, Circuit City gives the customer the choice of having their new PC delivered to their home or to the store for convenient pick-up.

In addition, the Circuit City Superstore offers a complete home entertainment and product merchandise line including a wide selection of leading name-brand appliances, small and big-screen televisions, plasma television, video cassette recorders, digital satellite systems, DVD and Divx- enhanced DVD players, home theater systems, camcorders, audio systems, telephones, cellular telephones and music software.

For city dwellers who want products that take up little space, Circuit City offers a full assortment of fully featured stereo mini-systems, Virtual Dolby systems that deliver surround sound with only two speakers, a Flat Television from Philips and top brand-name bookshelf loudspeakers.

The Superstore is equipped with two ``Cinema'' rooms that allow customers to experience home theater technology and products in a comfortable living room setting and two sound rooms that allow customers to test various name-brand sound systems. Circuit City also sells furniture designed for home entertainment.

The Union Square Superstore features a professional staff that undergoes extensive training before they can be designated Circuit City sales counselors. ``Our sales counselor training programs focus on product knowledge and customer service,'' said Randy Stephen, Circuit City's Northeast Division president. ``Circuit City's sales counselors are available to help consumers understand the rapidly changing technologies and features of all our products. This training is especially important as we enter a new era of emerging and more complex digital products.''

Circuit City offers Manhattan consumers several guarantees, including low prices and full satisfaction. ``Circuit City stands behind our prices with a low-price guarantee,'' said Stephen. ``If a customer finds a lower price, including our own sale prices, within 30 days of purchase we will refund 110 percent of the difference.''

Circuit City also offers several after-the-sale services including:

  • the Circuit City credit card;
  • convenient home delivery;
  • factory-authorized product repair service;
  • on-site installation of automotive electronics; and,
  • Answer City(R), a toll-free, product support line designed to answer customer questions about the electronics and appliances they purchased.

Answer City(R)representatives can access a customer's transaction record to determine the brand and model purchased and then use on-line information to assist the customer with the operation of his or her specific product. Answer City(R) is a service available only to Circuit City customers.

Founded in 1949, Circuit City Stores, Inc. is the nation's largest retailer of brand-name consumer electronics and major appliances and a leading retailer of personal computers and music software. With headquarters in Richmond, Va., Circuit City operates 519 Superstores, four consumer electronics-only stores and 50 mall-based Circuit City Express stores throughout the United States. Circuit City is the majority owner of Digital Video Express, LP, developer of the new Divx at-home movie-watching system. The company also pioneered the used-car auto superstore concept and opened its first CarMax location in 1993. Today, the company operates 24 CarMax Superstores. For more information, access the Circuit City web site at www.circuitcity.com, the CarMax web site at www.carmax.com or the Divx web site at www.divx.com.

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