RadioShack and Other Retailer Partnerships
In August 2001, RadioShack opened new kiosk-style stores inside Blockbuster outlets. The project ended in February 2002 when CEO Len Roberts announced that the stores did not meet expectations. A more successful venture for RadioShack has been the wireless kiosks the company has been operating since 2004 within Sam's Club discount warehouses. RadioShack purchased the kiosk operations from Arizona-based Wireless Retail Inc. Kiosk employees are contracted through RadioShack Corporation, and while no RadioShack-branded merchandise is sold, they do sell products produced by RadioShack. The name Wireless Retail inc. has since been changed to SC Kiosks inc. Target has announced a joint venture with RadioShack to make Bullseye Mobile kiosks. They will carry AT&T, Sprint in Some Areas, and Verizon Wireless. The kiosks will be located in Target stores and will be built in 2010 and 2011.
In January 2011, it was reported that RadioShack may lose $10 million to $15 million in operating income as it closed the wireless mobile kiosks inside Sam's Club stores. The company was expected to run kiosks in 1,490 Target stores by April-2011.
Read more about this topic: RadioShack, Other Operations