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That's certainly an interesting read... and one I can't really argue with the anecdata of from my own experiences. So I'll add one: After it was too late by th
by adricnet 12y ago
That's certainly an interesting read... and one I can't really argue with the anecdata of from my own experiences. So I'll add one:
After it was too late by that author's reckoning, the parent of Radio Shack tried another venture, a "big box" store called The Incredible Universe. When that failed and they wrote it off, it wiped out the entire profit of Radio Shack thousands of stores for that financial year.
I still think of it when I'm trying to understand the machinations of large companies.
And I, too hope that the folks I worked with at RS in the 20C found better jobs, especially the poor store managers.
- cicero 12y agoThe Fry's in Dallas is in the space of a former Incredible Universe. The Fry's is decorated like a cattle ranch, but Incredible Universe was like a rock concert. The first time I went in there, I immediately thought they were trying too hard to be cool. It was completely over the top, so I'm not surprised they wiped out all of their profits. It's too bad they couldn't find a happy medium.
- mrpippy 12y agoYep the San Diego Fry's also moved into an Incredible Universe after they closed down (probably 15 years ago). Fry's never gave it a theme though and never even took the Incredible Universe logo off the delivery trucks
- ryan-c 12y agoThe Sacramento Fry's also used to be an Incredible Universe. It's the only Fry's I've been to that doesn't seem to be decorated in any theme.
- PhantomGremlin 12y agoOkay, based on the other replies here I sense a common theme. The Fry's in Wilsonville Oregon is in a former Incredible Universe location. No discernible theme to the decor, it's mostly a "cheap warehouse" vibe. It's big, but some of the California Fry's stores I've been to were much bigger, and much better stocked. But Fry's knows how to keep costs low. I'm pretty sure that for at least a decade after the takeover there were a number of trucks with Incredible Universe markings parked outside. No point in repainting!
- rprospero 12y agoJust to add on to the dogpile, even the Fry's in Indianapolis is in a building originally built for an Incredible Universe.
- bigtones 12y agoIncredible Universe was started by the CEO of Tandy, rather than RadioShack.