Radio Shack tries to find its way in a post Apple world

Here is what they should do:

1. Become the #1 go to place for Arduino. Stock every Arduino at all times and sell it at the same price as online stores.

2. Create unique and interesting Arduino add ons that are only available at RadioShack.

3. Carry a complete selection of electronics components at the same price that DigiKey sells at, maybe at most 5% more.

4. Hire "tech gurus", a.k.a something akin to the Genius bar at apple where you anyone can ask people who are makers and know their stuff how to integrate/build/put this stuff together.

5. Carry high end, RadioShack branded test equipment (multimeters, soldering irons, digital scopes, etc.)

6. Have weekly tutorial sessions for the uninitiated that are FREE and provide value, not just sales pitches.

7. Also start to stock high end micro controllers/parts that advanced makers would like to have

8. Have on demand 3d printing.

9. Come out with their own programable game console, that has a decent easy to use API -- something the likes of DSL

10. Carry a line of starter kits, books and tutorial materials that you can only get at RadioShack.

That will at least get it on the path back to its 80s glory days.

I've said this for years, that Radio Shack needs to return to it's DIY roots or it will die off for good. With the huge maker movement happening it's great to see that they are embracing this.

I recently stopped in to look at the Arduino kits they have. I've not pulled the trigger on ordering online, but it's great that I can stop in there and look around and perhaps buy one on a whim.

To take it another step further they should offer 3D printing services like a 1 hour photo service does, send your specs, pick up your printed parts shortly thereafter.

One of the most important things that they could do would be to train their employees not to descend like a pack of ravenous jackals on every customer that walks in, not to follow the customers around and make them feel like they're about to get mugged, and not to harass them with irrelevant sales pitches when they're trying to checkout. They've driven away a lot of customers by treating them like prey.