COLUMBUS, Ohio & IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Micro Center, a Columbus-based leader in national consumer and computer electronics, has announced its partnership with Buy It Installed, Inc. Soon, Micro Center consumers will have the ability to scan the Buy It Installed® barcode to purchase their products with certified installation. Buy It Installed® technology gives consumers the ability to simply enjoy products upon purchase without the hassles of finding, vetting, and scheduling an installation professional.
Gone are the days of consumers having to install their products on their own. Despite the apparent allure of taking on “DIY” home improvement projects, the reality is that the estimated $2.2 trillion home improvement market is largely split between Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) consumers.
Global studies reveal an emergent surge in DIFM markets, “Structural changes mean consumer-focused DIY retailers are likely to underperform versus the housing markets over the medium term. Shoppers in mature markets are shifting more toward 'Do-It-For-Me' (DIFM), where they pay tradespeople to do home maintenance for them instead of doing it themselves." (CoreSight Research 2016)
And this DIFM market is not well served, held back by friction and fear. According to a recent study by StudyFinds.org, "55% [of consumers] agreed they try to tackle a maintenance issue or home-improvement project themselves rather than call a professional, yet only 31% said their DIY projects were completed without major problems. In fact, a third of participants said they’d started a job and given up halfway through."
Truly convenient DIFM options are lacking. Attempts to solve this through matchmaking sites have fallen short of expectations. They are unable to address the fears holding consumers back from purchasing products that they perceive will be a hassle to install. Retailers and manufacturers must find ways to simplify and customize the buying experience to attract consumers in the DIFM market. The Installed-Sales solutions offered to consumers under the Buy It Installed® brand are the first to meet the full demand of the DIFM segment.
According to Tech Crunch, “DIFM is more than software. DIFM combines technology automation with specialized labor to deliver a complete solution to a business problem. It’s as much about people-powered customer service as it is about code-powered efficiency. DIFM is sweeping the consumer world and will do the same for the business world.”
Buy It Installed, Inc. has leveraged its understanding of the complex Installed-Sales market and added Artificial Empathy to its technology to provide exceptional service to consumers. Manufacturers and retailers are seeing the results for products with the Buy It Installed® button and barcode. These products show an increase in sales, a decrease in cart abandonment rates, and fewer product returns.
“Having an option for consumers to more easily purchase products by providing a seamless installation option is no longer a ‘nice to have.’ It is a ‘must have’ in order to stay competitive,” said Buy It Installed, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer, Grant Van Cleve. “Not having an integrated installation solution will impact potential sales, and it risks punishment in the markets and investment community.”
To learn more about the consumer frustrations Buy It Installed, Inc. is solving with their integrated installation solution, read The Consumer Buying Journey: The Difficulties Behind DIY.
About Micro Center
Micro Center is the nations’ leading computer and electronics device retailer, operating 25 large stores in major markets nationwide. Founded in 1979 in Columbus, OH, Micro Center has grown steadily and profitably. Their high-volume retail stores are designed to satisfy the needs of a wide variety of consumers - from casual to tech-savvy – with well-trained associates who offer technical solutions in an immersive shopping environment. Consumers can visit Micro Center’s 25 stores from coast-to-coast or Microcenter.com for the best collections of computer-related items, electronics and other technology products.
About Buy It Installed, Inc.
Buy It Installed, Inc. is an Irvine, CA-based, venture-backed technology company with an integrated installation solution that connects retailers, manufacturers, and their consumers to skilled and trusted service-providers for installation and product services. On the surface, Buy It Installed® is a simple solution that increases conversion rates and decreases cart abandonment, product returns, and warranty claims. Behind the scenes, Buy It Installed, Inc. uses a proprietary technological architecture and an advanced form of AI, called Artificial Empathy, resulting in satisfaction and scale never seen in the Installed-Sales industry. Learn more at Buyitinstalledinc.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
