Best Buy is an American retail company, specialized in consumer electronic goods and appliances and operating across the country through almost one thousand locations. The company was established in 1966 and today it is very popular not only in the United States but also in Canada and Mexico.
Meaning and history
The company, established as a retailer of sound systems and music accessories, had its first logo designed in 1966, and until today the color palette of the original version is used by the brand, showing it as a loyal and the one with the value of heritage and roots.
Best Buy specializes in the sale of electronics and is one of the largest chains in its segment in North America. The company not only sells a variety of equipment, but also has several brands of its own: Future Shop, Insignia, Dynex, and Geek Squad.
The store offers its customers a huge range of products, great prices, promotions, and new products, available in more than a thousand physical stores the company in the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and online, with the worldwide delivery.
The success of the retail chain speaks for itself – the company successfully meets the demands of its target audience, not just staying afloat, but constantly expanding its activities. Today, online retailing is a priority for Best Buy, because the store’s assortment is so huge that you can spend all day in a physical store looking for the right product, whereas the site has a convenient search system and a categorized catalog. There are also special credit cards available for buyers for more profitable purchases.
What is Best Buy?
Best Buy is an American chain of consumer electronics stores, which was established in 1966. Today Best Buy has over one thousand locations across North America and Puerto Rico, where customers can shop for a wide range of electronic goods, gadgets, and accessories.
1966 – 1972
The first logo is an artistic rendition of the phrase “SOUND OF MUSIC” that evokes a sense of motion and audibility. The letters are styled in a 1960s or 1970s psychedelic rock font, giving them a groovy and fluid appearance. The central “O” of “OF” is transformed into a vinyl record, with the grooves of the record creating a ripple effect that emanates outward. This visual trickery could suggest sound waves spreading through the air. The irregularities in the hand-drawn letters and the wavy baseline give this logo a casual, human touch, indicating a brand that is approachable and connected to the cultural vibe of its time.
1972 – 1980
The second logo is a black and white version of the “SOUND OF MUSIC” design, displaying a more mature and refined visual identity. The stylized geometric shape, resembling a vinyl record or a speaker, next to the wordmark conveys the business’s connection with music and sound. The bold, sans-serif typeface is direct and no-nonsense, suggesting a modern and efficient approach to business. The contrast between the circular dynamic element and the straight lines of the text suggests a blend of creativity and order, hinting at a store that’s both innovative and reliable.
1978 – 1980
The third logo also represents the “SOUND OF MUSIC AUDIO STORES” but adds texture and a sense of wear, giving it an authentic vintage feel. The typeface is a bit rough around the edges, mirroring the textured appearance of LP records or analog equipment. This may appeal to customers who value the classic era of music listening. The added descriptor “AUDIO STORES” underneath the main brand name indicates a clear focus on the audio retail market. The circular design element has been retained, maintaining the brand’s visual connection to music and sound.
1980 – 1984
The logo design of 1980 featured a yellow and black circle with a black outline. The “Sound Of Music” name of the company was written in a rounded sans-serif typeface and placed on the upper part of the circle, having an abstract image under it.
The image depicted a yellow swirl on a black background, a symbol of progress and energy of a young developing company.
1984 – 1986
In the logo, the words “BEST BUY CO.” are encapsulated within an oval shape, commanding a bold presence with a striking yellow and black color scheme. The contrasting colors are attention-grabbing, suggesting a company that’s assertive and confident in its offerings. The inclusion of “CO.” implies a more corporate structure, reflecting perhaps an expansion or rebranding from a more focused music store to a broader electronics retailer. The curved line within the oval echoes the previous circular motifs, maintaining a subtle link to the company’s origins in audio and music.
1986
The logo features “BEST BUY” in block letters with “Superstores” written in a cursive, script-like font below. The contrast between the two typefaces could suggest a bridge between the professional and the personal, indicating a company that combines expertise with approachability. The monochromatic color scheme is simple and timeless, allowing for versatile use across various media. The name “BEST BUY” suggests competitive pricing and value, while “Superstores” indicates a wide selection of products, hinting at the store’s evolution to offer a broader range of consumer goods.
1986 – 1988
This logo retains the “BEST BUY Superstores” wording but energizes it with the addition of a striking red color for the “Superstores” script, which adds a dynamic flair. The red may be intended to evoke a sense of excitement and urgency, encouraging customers to perceive the store as a destination for hot deals and must-have items. The black and white for the “BEST BUY” part stands out starkly against the red, ensuring the brand name remains the primary focus. This version of the logo appears to be the most contemporary, possibly aligning with the company’s growth and assertive market presence during this period.
1988 – 1989
The logo was redesigned in 1988, the black and yellow color palette remained, but red was added, in order to show the power and passion of the brand. The circular shape was removed, now it was a yellow rectangle with a bold black “Best Buy” lettering in a traditional sans-serif font and a red script “Superstores”, placed in the bottom part of the emblem, between two black horizontal lines.
1989 – 2018
The iconic yellow tag logo was created for the company in 1989 and became synonymous with electronic appliances shopping destination. The black bold wordmark was placed on a yellow background, having a shape of the price-tag. The tag features a thin black outline and a small white circle in a black frame in its left part.
The “Superstores” inscription is now removed, and the logo looks modern and laconic, reflecting a fundamental approach and a good reputation of the company.
2018 – Today
Being one of the most recognizable logos for almost thirty years, the yellow tag was redesigned in 2018 in order to reflect the progress of the company, its development and its strong character.
However the iconic yellow tag stayed on the logo, it got smaller and was placed in the bottom right corner, being separates from the inscription. As for the wordmark, it still uses the bold sans-serif font and black color, but now the lettering is enlarged and looks more solid and confident.
There are also several different versions of the color palette of the logo now, including a traditional for the company yellow and black on a white background, a new white logotype on a blue background and even a white on dark yellow option.
Font
The bold and solid wordmark in all capitals is executed in a strong sans-serif font, which is similar to TT Norms Pro Black or Karu Extra Bold fonts, which both have thick neat lines and clean contours. The lettering is perfectly balanced in terms of size and spaces, reflecting a powerful and influential company.