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I have fond memories of Radio Shack from when I was younger, and it would be a shame to see it die out. So ... is there anyway to reverse its course? Well, If

by jawns 12y ago

I have fond memories of Radio Shack from when I was younger, and it would be a shame to see it die out. So ... is there anyway to reverse its course? Well, If I'm Radio Shack's CEO, here are the facts I need to face: 1) Radio Shack cannot compete based on price or breadth of selection against big-box stores, let alone the Internet. 2) The initiative a few years ago to hire highly knowledgable staffers who could offer expert advice didn't work. It's just not economically feasible to employ people with those qualifications in a retail store, and anyway, that alone isn't going to keep the store afloat. But I think there's still a way for Radio Shack to be a viable company; it would just require some radical changes. Look at Build-a-Bear, across the mall corridor. The experience of building your own bear from scratch can't be replicated online. Sure, you can order a custom bear online, but kids love Build-a-Bear because they get to witness the stuffed toy's construction from start to finish. Build-a-Bear is as much an event as it is a store. I think Radio Shack could fashion itself into something similar, but for electronics and gadgetry. Remember those popular Radio Shack 50-in-1 science project kits? Imagine a Radio Shack where you come in, choose a project, and then build it right there in the store. A kid might come in and buy a robot kit, or a solar-powered race car kit, and they'd be able to assemble it there, with all of the tools (soldering irons, etc.) provided, and with assistance from trained (but not necessarily expert) staffers. STEM is really big in schools right now. Maybe Radio Shack could market itself as a place to pick up STEM skills, and even partner with schools. But it wouldn't have to be limited to kids stuff. An adult might come in and participate in a DIY electronics workshop: "How to replace an electrical outlet" or "How to work on a circuit board." Along the same lines, imagine if every Radio Shack had a 3D printer available to rent. You can upload a 3D model to its website, or choose a model in store, come in and watch the printing process, and eventually (yes, I know, it takes hours!) take it home. With this sort of strategy, Radio Shack wouldn't necessarily need to recruit domain experts, because what would be needed is not a wealth of general knowledge, but some very specific knowledge about a relatively small number of specific projects. A highly motivated high-school or college student could be taught how to lead people in constructing the projects or running the workshops. That is a Radio Shack I would totally patronize, and it's a strategy that shields the store from needing to compete solely on price or on breadth of selection.

bane 12y ago
> Remember those popular Radio Shack 50-in-1 science project kits? You know...that's a great idea. I'd go to RS to sit through a Saturday Arduino kit class or something.
- TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
  I don't think it's a viable business model. The margins on a 50-in-1 kit are huge, because it's really just a handful of cheap components, a box, and a manual, which is a sunk cost after you've paid the author and printed it. Classes are a whole other thing. You need to market them hard, you need repeat business, and if you're not running them every day you're spending a lot on retail space for a limited return. Also, Internet tutorials. And limited interest in most of the world. Unless you can supplement classes with a stream of high margin sales, they're not going to keep you afloat for long.
  - bane 12y ago
    Well, the idea is that students would buy the materials needed for the classes at the RS they're in. A bit like Wine stores and Home Depot do. But those are huge facilities and spending a little money on a classroom isn't a big deal percentagewise. So your general points stand.
  - clebio 12y ago
    Isn't that exactly the quandry RadioShack is in, though? They need to pivot, fast and hard. Rip out those stupid mobile islands and the hard-sell mobile device employees and host maker-spaces.
0max 12y ago
I've always felt that Radio Shack at this juncture would be more profitable if they created locations that would serve as ad-hoc hacker spaces. Kinda like SF's Tech Shop but for the consumer. I imagine it as a mini Akahabara in your own town, with 3D printers, CNC machines, micro-controllers and SoCs all available to use/purchase, has lessons and other community events and staffed by capable people. Unfortunately I see it only as a maker's utopian pipe dream.

by jawns 12y ago

bane 12y ago

> Remember those popular Radio Shack 50-in-1 science project kits? You know...that's a great idea. I'd go to RS to sit through a Saturday Arduino kit class or something.

TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
I don't think it's a viable business model. The margins on a 50-in-1 kit are huge, because it's really just a handful of cheap components, a box, and a manual, which is a sunk cost after you've paid the author and printed it. Classes are a whole other thing. You need to market them hard, you need repeat business, and if you're not running them every day you're spending a lot on retail space for a limited return. Also, Internet tutorials. And limited interest in most of the world. Unless you can supplement classes with a stream of high margin sales, they're not going to keep you afloat for long.
- bane 12y ago
  Well, the idea is that students would buy the materials needed for the classes at the RS they're in. A bit like Wine stores and Home Depot do. But those are huge facilities and spending a little money on a classroom isn't a big deal percentagewise. So your general points stand.
- clebio 12y ago
  Isn't that exactly the quandry RadioShack is in, though? They need to pivot, fast and hard. Rip out those stupid mobile islands and the hard-sell mobile device employees and host maker-spaces.

0max 12y ago

I've always felt that Radio Shack at this juncture would be more profitable if they created locations that would serve as ad-hoc hacker spaces. Kinda like SF's Tech Shop but for the consumer. I imagine it as a mini Akahabara in your own town, with 3D printers, CNC machines, micro-controllers and SoCs all available to use/purchase, has lessons and other community events and staffed by capable people. Unfortunately I see it only as a maker's utopian pipe dream.