XBotGo launched into 225+ Best Buy stores with a new technology customers couldn’t experience live. That’s a risky move as the display has to educate, demonstrate value, and build confidence without a functioning product.
Founder and CEO, David Tan, of XBotGo said, “Expanding our retail footprint is an important step in making AI-powered sports technology more accessible.” and “Consumers increasingly want to see and purchase innovative technology in person.”
XBotGo’s cutting-edge product launch into retail is an incredible milestone. Taking that brand into the fast-paced, high-visibility environment of an enterprise retailer like Best Buy requires a partner who knows the landscape inside and out.
When XBotGo needed to showcase two of its flagship products, including introducing an all-new device alongside their full accessory lineup, they turned to The Bernard Group (TBG). TBG integrates strategy, design, engineering, production, and deployment into one scalable retail system with clear goals: create an immersive, highly engaging endcap display for Best Buy’s prime “Theater District” store section across more than 225 locations.
The Challenge: Educating Customers Without Live Units
Best Buy’s Theater District is a premier destination where shoppers go to discover breakthrough technology and upcoming brands. To stand out, the display needed to pull customers in from the aisle and immediately communicate XBotGo’s value proposition.
However, the project came with a major design hurdle: educating shoppers using non-functioning display units.
Without live screens or hands-on device demos, the display had to do all the heavy lifting. Our design and engineering teams solved this by crafting custom sign content paired with faux iPhones displaying crisp, realistic user interface graphics. The result was an intuitive, visual storytelling experience that clearly explained the product’s features and benefits at a glance.
End-to-End Execution: From Vision to Floor
Because TBG offers complete turn-key solutions under one roof, we guided XBotGo through every phase of the retail rollout:
- Design: Bringing the initial vision to life and refining concepts as project needs evolved.
- Engineering, Prototyping & Fabrication: Utilizing durable expanded PVC (EPVC), custom metalwork, and magnetic fixtures built to withstand high retail interactions.
- Print, Finishing & Assembly: Producing vibrant graphics and precisely assembling every display component, TBG maintained color consistency within 2 Delta E across magnetic material, vinyl laminate, EPVC, and 24-point paper stock.
- WMS Logistics & Inventory Management: Seamlessly coordinating inventory and rollout timing across 225+ store destinations nationwide. 100% on-time shipments, 100% arrived in full on launch day, 100% operational displays on launch day.
As needs shifted during development, XBotGo trusted our visual merchandising expertise to keep the project on budget and on time.
Living Our Values: Exceeding Expectations
Entering a major retail space like Best Buy for the first time can be daunting for growing brands. TBG’s seasoned experience in retail rollouts allowed us to guide XBotGo through the complex project flow effortlessly.
What drives us is a constant standard of excellence and a passion for creating standout retail experiences. By taking full ownership of every detail, from structural engineering down to the final pack-out, we delivered another flawless execution. This project proved once again why brands trust TBG to make their big ideas shine on the retail floor.
Ready to Take Your Brand to National Retail?
Navigating vendor guidelines, complex footprints, and tight launch windows for enterprise retailers like Best Buy, Target, Sephora, or The Home Depot requires more than manufacturing capacity. It takes a retail design partner who is fluent in visual merchandising and knows how to command the floor.
Whether you are introducing a new product line or executing a national rollout, our design and engineering teams are ready to bring your vision to life on time, on budget, and on brand. Contact us today.
FAQ:
What should emerging technology brands consider before launching into national retail?
“A successful national retail launch is about more than getting space on the floor. Brands have to educate shoppers, meet retailer requirements, protect the brand, engineer for durability, and build a program that can manufacture, ship, install, and perform consistently across every store.”, Mike Morgan, Business Development Director.
How did TBG demonstrate XbotGo technology without functioning demo units?
“Because customers couldn’t interact with live demos, the display itself had to do the explaining. We used custom messaging, simulated iPhone interfaces, and intentional product merchandising to show how XbotGo works and make the technology immediately understandable at retail.”, Justin Kuechle, Lead Product Developer, Product Development
Can The Bernard Group manage national retail rollouts?
Yes. TBG manages retail programs from concept and prototype development through manufacturing, assembly, warehousing, kitting, and nationwide distribution. For XbotGo, TBG coordinated execution across all of Best Buy’s U.S. locations.
What capabilities does TBG provide for brands launching into Best Buy?
TBG provides retail strategy, visual merchandising, industrial and graphic design, prototyping, engineering, fixture manufacturing, print production, assembly, kitting, inventory management, and nationwide retail deployment. This allows brands to manage complex retail programs through one integrated partner.
Who designed and produced the XbotGo retail display for Best Buy?
The Bernard Group designed, engineered, produced, assembled, and distributed the XbotGo retail display program for more than 225 Best Buy locations. TBG combined retail design, visual merchandising, fixture engineering, print production, fabrication, kitting, and nationwide deployment into one integrated program.