RadioShack, the enduring American chain of shopper electronics shops, went bankrupt in 2017. Nevertheless it was acquried by El Salvador’s Unicomer Group in Might 2023 and it’s again at CES 2025.
RadioShack had been a beloved model within the U.S. since 1921 and had greater than 8,000 shops at its peak in 1999. Now its new proprietor is pledging a comeback and is showcasing 380 merchandise at CES, the large tech commerce present in Las Vegas this week.
RadioShack’s merchandise cowl gaming, audio, tech equipment, energy and batteries, cables, dwelling and workplace options and journey necessities. Unicomer Group, which was as soon as considered one of RadioShack’s largest and most profitable franchisees, is now the custodian of the corporate with a proud historical past. And it has a strategic imaginative and prescient for the long run, the model is reconnecting with its roots whereas embracing trendy expertise to fulfill the wants of right now’s customers.
Requested why the corporate acquired the model, Rudy Siman, president of RadioShack, mentioned in a message to GamesBeat, “We acquired the model as a result of, after managing its operations for greater than eight years throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, we now have a stable mannequin and quantity base to construct upon. Moreover, we’ve got a succesful workforce that’s doing issues proper. Due to this fact, increasing our enterprise quantity into new territories—particularly one as necessary as the US—makes full sense for us.”
As for the core benefit the corporate can provide, Siman mentioned, “Our worth proposition is centered on delivering high-quality merchandise throughout a variety of classes at reasonably priced costs. We’ve relaunched the model available in the market, offering clients with a number of product choices below a trusted, high quality model. We’re making these merchandise out there to customers by numerous channels.”
He mentioned that on this preliminary section, the corporate will function shops by a third-party mannequin. RadioShack goals to companion with resellers and corporations excited by working the shops, he mentioned.
As an previous timer, I fondly bear in mind the Tandy TRS-80 laptop, bought in RadioShack shops. It was the primary laptop I used as a journalist whereas on the highway. I had to make use of these acoustic couplers that hooked up the pc to a phone, and it made these bizarre noises because it linked to the newsroom so I may file tales.
At CES, RadioShack will current a choice of its core and most modern merchandise, designed to fulfill the wants of contemporary existence. Highlights embody gaming tools, audio expertise equivalent to audio system, headsets and vintage-inspired audio, tech equipment, journey gear, well being and health merchandise, energy options, and different important devices for on a regular basis use.
“RadioShack has at all times been a pioneer within the tech area, and our return to CES marks an thrilling chapter in our journey,” mentioned Simon. “We’re thrilled to share our newest improvements and reconnect with our clients who belief us to offer high-quality, accessible expertise.”
As a part of its re-emergence, RadioShack is dedicated to creating expertise reasonably priced and accessible to all. Presently, the model boasts over 500 product choices throughout 17 completely different classes and is creating a portfolio of over 1,000 RadioShack merchandise for the US market.
Having bought greater than two million models yearly throughout a number of markets and with plans to double its choices by the tip of 2025, the model affirms its trusted status within the tech business.
The corporate has a sales space on the Las Vegas Conference Middle throughout CES at South Corridor 1, Sales space 31118, and it’s in search of resellers.
RadioShack filed for its first chapter in 2015, when it nonetheless had 4,300 shops. It filed once more in 2017.
Unicomer Group acquired the RadioShack franchise in El Salvador in January 1998, increasing the enterprise in over 25 international locations all through Central America, South America and the Caribbean. This profitable acquisition allowed RadioShack to proceed its legacy because the go-to vacation spot for shopper
tech wants in each nation it operates.
Now, Unicomer Group continues to broaden RadioShack’s international footprint and has acquired RadioShack’s mental property property and domains in additional than 70 international locations together with the US, ushering in a home return for the legacy model.
