RadioShack Unveils First College Bookstore Location Slated For 2013

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Students who visit the University Co-op at the University of Texas at Austin can now browse and buy top consumer electronics products and desired brands available in a new RadioShack-branded section of the college store.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130701/LA41565LOGO-d)

The new shop-in-shop retail space at the University Co-op, which opened on Friday, is just the first college store location that RadioShack plans to open 2013, with additional college bookstores, stretching from New York to San Diego, to be added to the roster throughout the fall. This is a part of the five-year agreement announced earlier this year with NACSCORP, a subsidiary of the National Association of College Stores, to offer an assortment of popular consumer electronics and accessories to the nearly 4,000 college store customers NACSCORP currently serves.

The college bookstore program is part of RadioShack's expansion into non-traditional channels through brand extension and partnership. The college market is key to engaging a new and informed consumer looking for the latest in innovation.

Top Tech at UT Students' Fingertips
RadioShack's retail space within the store consists of a 12-foot section of wall located on the first floor of the University Co-op. It is a one-stop, simple-to-shop spot for students to find the technology they need to keep their lives powered-up, protected and connected.

Whether it's Beats by Dr. Dre or headphones to block out the noise so they can focus on their studies, or an AUVIO Bluetooth speaker that can make any party portable, students can now find brand name and RadioShack's own exclusive private brand products and accessories in the University Co-op, a convenient location they likely pass by several times a day.

"The college consumer is one of the most connected consumers out there, and what better way to introduce the reinvigorated RadioShack brand to this audience than to go where they are, and give them what they need to make their technology not only work for them, but to make their lives more fun," said Joe Magnacca, chief executive officer of RadioShack Corporation. "Non-traditional locations like this one at the University Co-op can serve as a gateway to a new generation of consumers for RadioShack, where we can begin to stake our claim as being the go-to source for the technology they need."

"Unique franchise opportunities like this college store location at the University of Texas allow RadioShack to work with local entrepreneurs to help bring our brand to life in a way that truly resonates for consumers in a localized market. And in Austin, no one knows better how to serve UT students than George Mitchell," said Marty Amschler, senior vice president of franchise at RadioShack Corporation. "We've worked with George to develop a relevant mix of products that will excite and serve the needs of University Co-op customers."

Being the first college store location in the country to debut RadioShackU's shop-in-shop college store offering is another example of the University Co-op team identifying opportunities to stay at the forefront of innovating within the college stores category.

"We're thrilled to have the chance to work with an iconic brand like RadioShack to add the consumer electronics category to what we can deliver for our customers," said George Mitchell, president and CEO of the University Co-op. "We're giving students a convenient choice for their CE needs by featuring the best of the best that RadioShack has to offer with this concept. Our students are able to visit the University Co-op to grab something they need, or perhaps even something they didn't know they needed when they left for class that day."

The opening this fall of college store locations follows closely on the heels of RadioShack's announcement in early July that it is debuting several concept store locations over the next several months to deliver a more interactive and engaging shopping experience. The first of these concept store locations debuted in Manhattan in June.

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 approximately 30,000 knowledgeable and helpful sales experts globally. RadioShack's retail network includes more than 4,300 company-operated stores in the United States, 270 company-operated stores in Mexico, and approximately 1,000 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 University Co-operative Society
The University Co-op is a not-for-profit corporation owned by the students, faculty and staff of the University of Texas at Austin. Since the year 2000, the University Co-op has given over 33 million dollars to UT in the form of gifts, grants and rebates.

The University Co-op has 4 stores in Austin with the main store located at 2246 Guadalupe and 1 store each in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

For more information, visit www.universitycoop.com

RadioShack Media Contact:
Media Relations, +1-817-415-3300, [email protected]

University Co-op Media Contact:
Brian Jewell, VP of Marketing, 512-610-0942, [email protected]

SOURCE RadioShack Corporation