Saturday, May 14, 2005
You've got products? They've got shelf space
The Fort Worth retailer wants to get cool new gadgets and services on store shelves faster, and it's eager to partner with nimble start-ups that design consumer-oriented technologies.
While the company doesn't want to be a venture capital group, investing millions of dollars in new companies, it is offering start-up firms its 7,000-plus stores as a massive platform from which to launch their products.
..."We want to become more relevant by demography, by income class," said Andy Berman, vice president of new business development for RadioShack and point man for the start-up initiative.
...In 2004, for example, consumer products and services companies received a little over $324 million in venture funding, out of a total venture purse of about $21 billion, or about 1.5 percent of all venture funding.
Dallas Morning News 5/15/05
While the company doesn't want to be a venture capital group, investing millions of dollars in new companies, it is offering start-up firms its 7,000-plus stores as a massive platform from which to launch their products.
..."We want to become more relevant by demography, by income class," said Andy Berman, vice president of new business development for RadioShack and point man for the start-up initiative.
...In 2004, for example, consumer products and services companies received a little over $324 million in venture funding, out of a total venture purse of about $21 billion, or about 1.5 percent of all venture funding.
Dallas Morning News 5/15/05
Circuit City CEO's Pay Declines
Schoonover made about $5.6 million in total compensation in fiscal 2005 ended Feb. 28, thanks to options valued at $2.9 million, restricted stock worth $1.2 million and a big bonus, according to a proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
...A review of McCollough's performance by a compensation committee of outside directors also found he "was responsible for leading the company through substantial changes in the business, which included cost-cutting initiatives, divestiture of the company's finance operation and hiring of key management team members."
...The committee also said it approved long-term incentive awards, pay raises and promotions in conjunction with the retailer's efforts to attract executive talent to Circuit City, which has lost market share to Best Buy.
From Forbes 5/13/05
...A review of McCollough's performance by a compensation committee of outside directors also found he "was responsible for leading the company through substantial changes in the business, which included cost-cutting initiatives, divestiture of the company's finance operation and hiring of key management team members."
...The committee also said it approved long-term incentive awards, pay raises and promotions in conjunction with the retailer's efforts to attract executive talent to Circuit City, which has lost market share to Best Buy.
From Forbes 5/13/05
Change in Tech Industy?
Interesting commentary
Robert X. Cringely, who has been around the tech industry for as long as I can remember, has a commentary on last week, saying it "This Week Changed the World of High Tech Forever, Though Most of Us Still Don't Know It."
He breaks it down to three major points.
1) Microsoft's announcement of the new XBox. He is saying that it is built to compete with Intel computers, not just Sony and Nintendo.
2)Is Google Web Accelerator. The idea here is that Google provides a service where they try to predict where you are going next. Then download a compressed version of that web page while you are reading the current one. This could compete with Microsoft's own operating system. The big problem being that they could provide additional computing power on their server so our current computers would last longer. That would cost Microsoft and hardware companies a lot of cash. Also, it could eliminate the need for ISPs such as AOL that provide their own content.
3)Apple's new movie/music business.
He quotes an Slashdot poster that is supposedly an Apple employee. (S)he said that
Apple would be doing a video equivalent of its AirPort Express WiFi repeater that has audio output to link iTunes to your stereo system. He points out that the use of this repeater means that the computer itself doesn't have to be so fast. Thus the Mac mini becomes the center point of a multi-media system.
Interesting isn't it. He gives a lot more detail, including comments on the new Yahoo music service. Read it at: http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050512.html
Robert X. Cringely, who has been around the tech industry for as long as I can remember, has a commentary on last week, saying it "This Week Changed the World of High Tech Forever, Though Most of Us Still Don't Know It."
He breaks it down to three major points.
1) Microsoft's announcement of the new XBox. He is saying that it is built to compete with Intel computers, not just Sony and Nintendo.
2)Is Google Web Accelerator. The idea here is that Google provides a service where they try to predict where you are going next. Then download a compressed version of that web page while you are reading the current one. This could compete with Microsoft's own operating system. The big problem being that they could provide additional computing power on their server so our current computers would last longer. That would cost Microsoft and hardware companies a lot of cash. Also, it could eliminate the need for ISPs such as AOL that provide their own content.
3)Apple's new movie/music business.
He quotes an Slashdot poster that is supposedly an Apple employee. (S)he said that
Apple would be doing a video equivalent of its AirPort Express WiFi repeater that has audio output to link iTunes to your stereo system. He points out that the use of this repeater means that the computer itself doesn't have to be so fast. Thus the Mac mini becomes the center point of a multi-media system.
Interesting isn't it. He gives a lot more detail, including comments on the new Yahoo music service. Read it at: http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050512.html
Thursday, May 12, 2005
RadioShack and Major League Soccer Offer Fans a Chance to Win $1 Million in National On-Line Sweepstakes
RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH - News) and Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced the nationwide "RadioShack Magic Minute" sweepstakes, which runs weekly during the 2005 MLS regular season and offers fans the chance to win up to $1 million.
...They will be asked to select a player from the rosters of the MLS teams competing in that week's MLS RadioShack "Soccer Saturday" ESPN2 broadcast and predict the player to score in the designated RadioShack Magic Minute.
...If the contestant who is selected correctly guesses the player that scores a goal during the designated RadioShack Magic Minute, that fan will win a weekly cash prize of $10,000.
Press Release
...They will be asked to select a player from the rosters of the MLS teams competing in that week's MLS RadioShack "Soccer Saturday" ESPN2 broadcast and predict the player to score in the designated RadioShack Magic Minute.
...If the contestant who is selected correctly guesses the player that scores a goal during the designated RadioShack Magic Minute, that fan will win a weekly cash prize of $10,000.
Press Release
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
RadioShack recalls video head cleaning solution
The Fort Worth-based electronics retailer said the bottle actually contains methanol, which can be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed.
RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) said it has received 39 reports from its poison center of children accessing the product.
Dallas Business Journal
RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) said it has received 39 reports from its poison center of children accessing the product.
Dallas Business Journal
Circuit City promotes Dias to senior vice president
RICHMOND, Va. Circuit City Stores has promoted Fiona Dias (DYE'-ahs) to senior vice president and chief marketing officer. The 39-year-old Dias as helped expand the Richmond company's bustling online business, to senior vice president and chief marketing officer. She will remain president of Circuit City Direct -- a title she has held since 2003. ...
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Forbe: The Only Exciting Thing In Tech?
NEW YORK - Still using your cell phone just to make phone calls? How passé.
If the seers are correct, within a year your cell phone will be capable of live television, music downloads and playback, videogames, storing movie clips and viewing everything from photo albums to digital home movies. In short, more than you may have ever thought possible.
Of course, there are high hurdles to clear before all this great stuff happens--complex rights agreements, conflicting technology standards and the sometimes fractious relationship between carriers and content providers--but everyone involved has a stake in making it work. How big a stake? It's almost too big to put a number on. ...
----
The article seems to make the point that content providers will make more off the cell phone than the providers.
If the seers are correct, within a year your cell phone will be capable of live television, music downloads and playback, videogames, storing movie clips and viewing everything from photo albums to digital home movies. In short, more than you may have ever thought possible.
Of course, there are high hurdles to clear before all this great stuff happens--complex rights agreements, conflicting technology standards and the sometimes fractious relationship between carriers and content providers--but everyone involved has a stake in making it work. How big a stake? It's almost too big to put a number on. ...
----
The article seems to make the point that content providers will make more off the cell phone than the providers.
Sorry for no posts
I was out of town all last week because of a death in the family.
I will get more posts done this week.
Also, I am looking at moving to WordPress as my blogging tool, but will need a server for it. It should provide a better format with more options.
Lynn
I will get more posts done this week.
Also, I am looking at moving to WordPress as my blogging tool, but will need a server for it. It should provide a better format with more options.
Lynn
Sunday, May 08, 2005
RadioShack Revamps Its Image
Radio Shack in the United States, meanwhile, wanted the courts to prohibit Circuit City from using its brand name in Canada, for obvious reasons.
..."What a lot of Canadians don't know is that for the last three or four years we have been working on developing new and exclusive product lines that are very different from those in the United States."
..."If you were to go out to White Oaks Mall, to the Radio Shack there, it would be very different from, say, a Radio Shack store in Detroit or anywhere in the United States," he said.
Levy also talked about how being owned by Circuit City would bring even more product into Canadian stores -- things such as computers, flat-screen TVs and digital cameras.
...But there is even more of a challenge ahead, because yesterday morning, Radio Shack in the United States announced it was starting its own Canadian subsidiary and will soon start opening new Radio Shack stores.
---
The plot thickens.
..."What a lot of Canadians don't know is that for the last three or four years we have been working on developing new and exclusive product lines that are very different from those in the United States."
..."If you were to go out to White Oaks Mall, to the Radio Shack there, it would be very different from, say, a Radio Shack store in Detroit or anywhere in the United States," he said.
Levy also talked about how being owned by Circuit City would bring even more product into Canadian stores -- things such as computers, flat-screen TVs and digital cameras.
...But there is even more of a challenge ahead, because yesterday morning, Radio Shack in the United States announced it was starting its own Canadian subsidiary and will soon start opening new Radio Shack stores.
---
The plot thickens.
Electronics chains' tussle over Canadian stores has heads spinning
"Once a final ruling is issued by the court, Circuit City and its InterTan subsidiary fully intend to appeal to protect our rights under the license agreement and for exclusive use of the RadioShack brand in Canada until 2009," said Brian E.
...1 chain of consumer electronics stores in the United States, has already established itself as the industry leader in Canada, with almost 30 percent of the market, said Ed Strapagiel, vice president of the market research firm Kubas Consultants in Toronto.
...Strapagiel said the turf war between Circuit City and RadioShack can't be good for either company, since shopping malls probably won't be able to support both stores, which are typically smaller and compete for more convenience-driven consumers.
---
Wow, I thought the case was settled. This could really put a crimp in RadioShack's growth plans.
...1 chain of consumer electronics stores in the United States, has already established itself as the industry leader in Canada, with almost 30 percent of the market, said Ed Strapagiel, vice president of the market research firm Kubas Consultants in Toronto.
...Strapagiel said the turf war between Circuit City and RadioShack can't be good for either company, since shopping malls probably won't be able to support both stores, which are typically smaller and compete for more convenience-driven consumers.
---
Wow, I thought the case was settled. This could really put a crimp in RadioShack's growth plans.
Circuit City, RadioShack in clash
RadioShack, however, said a court ruling last month voided the license and also prohibited Circuit City from using the RadioShack name in Canada, or sublicensing the name to its independent dealers after next month.
...Circuit City has not relinquished its rights to the exclusive use of the RadioShack brand in Canada until 2009," the company declared in its own statement.
...And once a final ruling is handed down, Circuit City and InterTan "fully intend to appeal to protect our rights under the license agreement and for the exclusive use of the RadioShack brand in Canada until 2009."
...Circuit City has not relinquished its rights to the exclusive use of the RadioShack brand in Canada until 2009," the company declared in its own statement.
...And once a final ruling is handed down, Circuit City and InterTan "fully intend to appeal to protect our rights under the license agreement and for the exclusive use of the RadioShack brand in Canada until 2009."
Radioshack Forms Subsidiary To Oversee Canada Expansion
Fort Worth, TX, Thursday, May 5, 2005: RadioShack Corporation today announced that it is forming a Canadian subsidiary to oversee the expansion of its chain of specialty consumer electronics stores in Canada, as part of the company’s planned North American expansion strategy.
...According to Edmondson, the new concept store format varies from the classic RadioShack store in that it offers a “fresh new look with brighter colours, enhanced lighting, attractive graphics, contemporary and moveable fixtures, wider isles, easier-to-locate merchandise, interactive displays, a more centralized check out process for enhanced speed and service and, in most cases, more useable square footage per store.”
One more step in the right direction.
...According to Edmondson, the new concept store format varies from the classic RadioShack store in that it offers a “fresh new look with brighter colours, enhanced lighting, attractive graphics, contemporary and moveable fixtures, wider isles, easier-to-locate merchandise, interactive displays, a more centralized check out process for enhanced speed and service and, in most cases, more useable square footage per store.”
One more step in the right direction.
