MediaMarkt expands compact Xpress concept to Belgium

Next February, MediaMarkt plans to open its first Belgian shop using the compact Xpress store concept. The concept, which has been devised for use in city centres and shopping malls, should be implemented throughout Europe at a later stage.

European expansion

The first Belgian branch of MediaMarkt Xpress will open next year in the Wijnegem – Shop Eat Enjoy shopping centre near Antwerp. This compact shop format – typically between 500 and 1,000 sqm – focuses on convenience and availability, featuring a balanced range of 3,500 products in various categories available from stock.

Customers can also pick up products ordered online or order products for home delivery. Xpress shops also have a so-called ‘Smart Bar’, where customers can call on the extensive range of services on offer, such as insurance or assembly, installation and repair services.

MediaMarkt already has Xpress shops in Austria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey, and now wants to implement the format throughout Europe. The retailer will also soon introduce the compact shop concept in the Netherlands, where the seven recently acquired shops of the bankrupt electronics chain BCC are deemed suitable for this purpose.