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Local RadioShack franchise unaffected by the corporation’s Chapter 11 filing

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By Correne Martin

A recent announcement by RadioShack Corporation regarding reorganizing the company through a Chapter 11 filing may have the public wondering about the status of the Prairie du Chien RadioShack. But, according to Owners Roger and Marlene Dyer, there is nothing to worry about locally.

RadioShack Corporation represents only the company-owned stores. These company-owned stores are mostly located in larger regional and metropolitan population areas, such as La Crosse and Madison. These types of stores are the only ones that may be affected by the Chapter 11 filing.

On the other hand, the RadioShack dealer-franchise stores, such as the one on North Marquette Road in Prairie du Chien, is 100 percent locally-owned and independently-operated by the Dyers, as it has been for the past 25 years. (Prior to that, it was owned by the Bob McDonald Sr. family for about 25 years.) The Dyers plan to continue their successful business operations, as usual, uninterrupted by this decision made solely for RadioShack’s company-owned stores.

“Our store and its customers will not be affected by the corporate RadioShack’s restructuring plans. I think what they’re trying to do is get rid of stores where they’re not making any money,” Roger Dyer said, explaining that his store is considered a RadioShack dealer, a U.S. Cellular authorized agent, and an independently-owned company under the name Dyer Communication Systems. “About 25 percent of our sales are typically RadioShack purchases. What will happen is we’ll end up buying more of those same products from other companies. For now though, nothing is changing. We’re still ordering the same and running the same as always.”

According to Dyer’s estimates, RadioShack Corporation has around 4,000 stores and about 1,500 to 2,000 of them are independent franchises, such as the Prairie du Chien retail location. As part of the Chapter 11 announcement, Sprint was mentioned as a possible corporation interested in purchasing some of the larger RadioShack company-owned stores. However, Dyer pointed out that Sprint’s involvement will also not affect the local store.

Dyer said his franchise first received notice of RadioShack’s Chapter 11 filing on Thursday via email. “We had been hearing some of it in the news, so it wasn’t a total surprise,” he stated. Since then, the local store notified its employees Friday, posted a notice in the store and on Facebook, and started contacting local media to spread the word that it is not closing.

“We’re not going anywhere,” he said. “We appreciate the last 25 years of business our customers have given us and we look forward to many more.”

Dyer Communication Systems sells a variety of computer products, televisions, radios, cell phones and accessories, office supplies, business telecommunication systems, security systems and more. They also provide personal and technical expertise to customers.

RadioShack in Prairie du Chien is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Customers seeking more information regarding RadioShack’s company-owned stores can contact media.relations@radioshack.com.

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