Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Can Locally Owned Stores Save RadioShack? In Maryville, the Answer is Yes

A few years ago, RadioShack was given up for dead. However, the website Naked Capitalism, a website which focuses a on economics, asked the question.

While the bankruptcy of RadioShack a few years ago closed thousands of stores and cost thousands of jobs, there were many independently-owned stores which were not affected. Cliff McNair, the proprietor of Best Brands Plus in Maryville, has survived over the years by diversifying his offerings, moving to the south end of Maryville, and going online. They have a website where customers can order online, as well as a Facebook page. They are able to fix electronics and appliances as well. They sell numerous brands such as Frigidaire, GE, LG, Sharp, Oreck, Toshiba, and many others. They have been in business since 1939, and will mark their 80th anniversary next year.

Yves Smith, who writes for Naked Capitalism, wrote on Wednesday, June 13th that RadioShack’s bankruptcy has brought dealers together to share information on what their customers need. She quotes one dealer in Idaho as saying that the bankruptcy is a blessing in disguise, because RadioShack has gotten back to the core product.

Smith writes that this network of dealers can compete with the likes of Amazon, for the simple fact that they offer personal service. After all, she asks, can Amazon solder a wire or help an elderly person put a battery in a cordless phone?

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