RadioShack is looking to expand, and Washington is one of the top five locations in the state of Illinois where the corporation is hoping to open a store.
“Due to the growth, the population and the good size of the city, it would be a good place for us to open a store,” said Bill Bartels of RadioShack Corp. “Washington is one of the top five, maybe better than that, locations where we do not have a store.”
RadioShack owns about 6,000 company-operated stores and franchise outlets nationwide, with 225 in Illinois.
“This is an opportunity for Washington, because of its size and customer base,” said Bartels. “We are looking for an entrepreneur to develop a successful franchise in Washington. Someone who has the money, is very customer-oriented and has the people skills to run the business.”
The store could be operated three different ways, said Bartels. A store within a store or a freestanding store, which is either owner- or manager-run, are all options.
“Just like McDonald’s has some outlets at gas stations, we have RadioShacks within hardware stores,” said Bartels. “But due to the size of Washington, we feel we could support a 1,000- to 2,000-square-foot freestanding store.”
Most of the stores in Peoria, Pekin, Lincoln and Bloomington are corporately owned and run by managers, but locations in Rochelle, Streator and Savannah are franchises, according to Bartels.
“The local franchises are individually owned stores by local people,” said Bartels. “But the dealer stores have all the same merchandise as the corporate stores.”
Local and technical support would be provided in guiding an interested party, and would include pre-training, training and follow-up services in managing the store. The start-up cost includes all merchandise, the RadioShack sign and grand opening expenses, among others.
“It is a turn-key operation,” said Bartels.
RadioShack has been working with the chamber of commerce and the city of Washington to get the word out.
“We like to work with local people and local chambers and finance locally,” said Bartels. “The banks are also very supportive of RadioShack and anyone who would apply for a loan to open the store.”
Jon Oliphant, director of planning and development in Washington, said the city supports RadioShack’s plans for expansion to the area.
“Obviously, we will do anything in our power to help them in their search for a franchise in this market,” said Oliphant. “It is always nice to get someone who is local and who knows the area to come in and open a franchise. We need to find someone who hopefully knows the market well enough and meets whatever characteristics RadioShack is looking for out of an operator.”
