I think it’s pretty well known that the “Big Box Store” retail model has been suffering for some time as online sales have exploded.
The whole brick and mortar retail model is fighting for survival. Radio Shack closing stores is about Radio Shack and nothing more.
I’m not saying the economy isn’t terrible. But I think that these store closures are more about the dynamics of retail models than about the terrible economy.
Went to Walgreen’s tonight to get some photos printed. Looked around for a couple of items I generally can only find there. According to the manager, Walgreen’s Corporate just came out with a new list of things they aren’t going to carry anymore. Replacements aren’t the same thing but are touted “as good as”. Manager said he was told by their regional manager that corporate stated, “customers will get used to the new ones”. This has happened to me before but we did find the items at that time on the internet so ordered there. And then they wonder what’s happening to brick & mortar store sales.