RadioShack Expands Partnership with Maker Media, Reveals Dozens of New Do-It-Yourself Products
DIY Expansion Includes New Cobranded Products with Maker Media
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for Maker Faire Bay Area, RadioShack announced a major partnership expansion with Maker Media, the creators of MAKE Magazine, Makezine.com, and Maker Faire, to better serve the DIY community. Maker Media and RadioShack will be teaming up to collaborate on an expansive DIY product lineup, exclusively carried at RadioShack and Maker Shed, including kits, robotics and tools.
"DIY is part of RadioShack's DNA," said Dawn Callahan, vice president of merchandising, responsible for the DIY product category at RadioShack. "We're grateful to be part of a wonderfully loyal community of makers, and we listened when they told us how we can help bring their ideas to life. We're excited to deliver on that feedback with an expanded assortment, including cobranded products with the smart folks at Maker Media, as well as other products on makers' wish lists."
"Adding to the popular Make line of kits, like 'Getting Started with Arduino' the new cobranded product lineup from Maker Media and RadioShack combine Maker Media's strength in cultivating and growing the maker movement with RadioShack's strong retail footprint and DIY heritage," said Dale Dougherty, founder and CEO of Maker Media. "Our new cobranded products are designed to give makers a path to making while they continue to develop their skills and push the limits of their creativity."
The new cobranded product lineup will be available in-store and online exclusively at RadioShack later this year. In addition, MAKE Magazine will join the MAKE book lineup and will be available in stores this fall. RadioShack has an exciting lineup of additional DIY products that are available now, and with more to come throughout the summer and fall.
Discovering RadioShack's DIY Resources
RadioShack regularly surveys DIY customers to refine its product offering. As a result, the company added Arduino microcontrollers as well as hundreds of new parts and tools to its stores and website in 2012. Similarly, the newly announced products deliver on things makers told the company they desired most from their neighborhood DIY resource, including RadioShack-branded:
- ColdHeat Soldering Tool, available now
- Expanded assortment of Light-Emitting Diodes (LED's), available now
- New collection of Youth Hobby Kits focused on building your own RC and robotics, available now
- Electroluminescent (EL) Wire, Tape and Flex Strip LED's, available in the summer
- U Mold moldable plastic, available in August in two sizes
- New line of Mini PC Microcontrollers that have video and Wi-Fi capabilities, available in the summer
In addition, RadioShack will be re-launching XMODS, which are DIY remote control car or truck kits that customers can build, tune, and race, which will be available this fall.
For more about RadioShack's DIY products and to find projects, visit RadioShackDIY.com and makezine.com/weekend projects. Be sure to also check out the company's YouTube channel to find related videos, including the "DIY Update" and "How to Choose a Soldering Iron."
Attending Maker Faire Bay Area, May 18-19, 2013? Stop by the RadioShack tent to learn how to solder, have your picture taken with life-size DIY props, recharge your phone, or shop our on-site store.
About RadioShack Corporation
RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) is a leading national retailer of innovative mobile technology products and services, as well as products related to personal and home technology and power supply needs. RadioShack® offers consumers a targeted assortment of wireless phones and other electronic products and services from leading national brands, exclusive private brands and major wireless carriers, all within a comfortable and convenient shopping environment. RadioShack employs more than 34,000 knowledgeable and helpful sales experts globally. RadioShack's retail network includes more than 4600 company-operated stores in the United States and Mexico, 1500 wireless phone centers in the United States, and more than 1000 dealer and other outlets worldwide. For more information on RadioShack Corporation, please visit www.radioshackcorporation.com; to purchase items online, please visit www.radioshack.com. RadioShack® is a registered trademark licensed by RadioShack Corporation.
About MAKER MEDIA
Maker Media is a global platform for connecting makers with each other, with products and services, and with our partners. Through media, events and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing community of makers who bring a DIY mindset to technology. Whether as hobbyists or professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing projects that demonstrate how they can interact with the world around them. The launch of MAKE Magazine in 2005, followed by Maker Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is transforming innovation, culture and education. Located in Sebastopol, CA, Maker Media is the publisher of MAKE Magazine and the producer of Maker Faire. It also develops "getting started" kits and books that are sold in its Maker Shed store as well as in retail channels.
Analysts and Investors Contact: Bruce Bishop, +1-817-415-3400, [email protected], or News Media Contact: Media Relations, +1-817-415-3300, [email protected]
Maker Media Press Contact: Vickie Welch, +1-415-806-0999, [email protected]
SOURCE RadioShack Corporation
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