Mark Kolier’s Blog

Archive for January, 2010

Radio Shack has been around for as long as I can remember – when I looked it up they were founded in 1921.  For many years any promotion done by RS had a tag ‘a Tandy company’ – like that was supposed to mean something to me.  

The name was changed to Radio Shack Corporation and is publicly traded on the NYSE under RSH.   Headquartered in Fort Worth, TX there are over 4,500 company-owned stores plus kiosks and service centers and well over 1,000 dealer outlets.  The 2008 yearly sales were $ 4.81 billion. 

Their media budget as of 2008 was $ 215 million and is under review as of today.  The creative agency Butler, Shine, Stern and Partners unveiled a new branding campaign in April of 2009 which included a new nickname – “The Shack”. 

Here’s my issue – upon those 2 or 3 occasions a year I go into Radio Shack they almost never have what I am looking for.  Just in the past couple of months I went searching for a cable for my home computer that they did not sell, and prior to that I went to pick an adapter for my headphones to use on airplanes and they did not have that either.  This boggles my mind.  Prior to going to the store I did visit the website but the experience was far from intuitive and it was easier for me to just visit the store in town.

When it comes to needing cables, adapters or anything electronic-related Radio Shack should ALWAYS have what I want in stock.  It’s not as if I am looking for some rare or unusual item.  It’s a big store and the sole salesperson (the last few times I was in the store there was only one person minding it) seemed surprised that they did not carry what I was looking for. 

So Radio Shack can do all the cool branding stuff (Our Friends call us THE SHACK) they want and entertain new media agencies but if they cannot deliver on the simplest of concepts like have what the customer need and wants, I don’t feel it matters much. 

It’s too bad because I always have enjoyed going into Radio Shack since they have lots of interesting products and the sales staff always seemed to be tech geeks and knowledgeable about their products. 

It’s far from a little ol’ place where we can get together.

I just read a story that was posted on line this afternoon of January 8, 2010

U.S. Job Losses in December Dim Hopes for Quick Upswing

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/business/economy/09jobs.html?hp

Were you hoping for a quick upswing?   Is that what everyone really wants?   There are a so many people who continue to suffer the effects of the Great Recession of ’08-’09.   And what I (along with just about everyone) would like to see an increase in available jobs.   But I am far from certain that seeing a huge spike in jobs at the end of this (or next) month would A) signal that things are turning rosy or B) be the catalyst to coming years of prosperity for a majority of Americans.  

While I am optimistic that the worst is over and that better days are ahead in no way do I feel that a return to the ways of the recent past (fast bucks and conspicuous consumption) will benefit hard working Americans.  I like to think that we have all learned some very important lessons over the past few years but it is a known fact that history seems to repeat itself and I am very concerned that any short term job, income, and home sale spikes might lead people to believe the good times are ready to roll once again. 

Don’t get me wrong, I hope that his could possibly happen but I also know that hope is not a strategy.  If slow and steady wins the race, be wary of getting too high when there is better than expected news and don’t wallow when the news is not as good as ‘experts’ hoped. 

Small businesses will lead the overall recovery.  Until small businesses feel good about hiring new employees and entrepreneurs feel confident enough to start new businesses (often this happens as a result of a recession) any steps forward will likely be followed by a few steps back.   And that’s not a bad thing as far as I see.  A steady, sustainable recovery will be a calming influence for me and when I see allusions to desiring quick fixes and shots in the arm I get a queasy feeling in my stomach that a sequel to a bad movie is in production. 

I’m no economist yet it should not take one to figure out that a recovery with the foundation of a wet paper towel is precarious to say the least.  Hopefully we’re all a little smarter and a little more wary of things that appear too good to be true. 

We’re in it for the long haul aren’t we?

I have lived in the same town now for 18 years and thus have acquired a number of local providers that offer goods and services.   One of them is my doctor’s offices.  However as I have noted in previous posts I have had the bad luck that every doctor I have had contact with over the past 18 years is no longer with the practice.  Is my loyalty to the doctor or the practice? 

Well in my case the doctor’s office is less than 2 minutes from my house.  That’s very convenient to say the least.   And all my records are with this practice which is also convenient.   I met one of the new doctors on my last visit a couple of months ago and he mentioned that I had not been in for a physical in 2 years – something that I know I needed to address.  Part of it was due to the fact that the doctor that performed my prior physical was no longer with the practice. 

So now I am faced with the prospect of having a physical with a doctor I hardly know and who (aside from my charts and records) hardly knows me.  My one meeting with the doctor was rather brief and he displayed little (ok zero) personality.  Yes I needed a physical complete with all the fun and games associated with what happens to a man once he turns 50.  

I don’t know anyone that actually enjoys going to the doctor and certainly don’t know anyone that enjoys having a physical.   Might it be easier or better if I actually had a cordial if not friendly relationship with the   doctor?   Maybe so but what I think is more important is that I have a terrific doctor – one that will be thorough, direct and have some understanding of what is my day to day lifestyle.  

I wonder if liking your doctor might compromise the doctor-patient relationship.   If there is a warm relationship between doctor and patient is it possible that the doctor might hold back on some of the inevitable scolding that seems to exist between doctors and patients?    Isn’t that part of the deal?  That the doctor will tell you to lose weight, eat and drink less, work less, yet exercise more?   Would you be inclined to listen more to your doctor if you liked him or her?   I sure hope not and it would be a bad thing if that were the case. 

I don’t need to like my doctor and maybe that’s a good thing.