Dive Brief:
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Details are emerging about how RadioShack might reposition itself as a cash-poor electronics retailer co-branded with Sprint.
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One option is to have stores be the go-to places for last-minute battery and cable needs that people can’t wait for online.
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The approach may more closely resemble RadioShack’s more rural or small-town locations, which are usually run by mom-and-pop general stores or hardware stores, known to the retailer as "dealers," and have actually done pretty well.
Dive Insight:
In its heyday in the 1980s, RadioShack was the place for odd batteries and components for ham radio users or geeks building their own computers, but those days are gone. The retailer must find its groove before long, or it won’t last very long. The Sprint co-branding will give it some ballast, and it might do well as a “pick-up in store” option for other electronics suppliers. Stay tuned.