Retail infrastructure is hard to establish. Much easier to go all-electronic out of a warehouse.
If Radio Shack wanted to differentiate themselves, they could have turned into a hobbyist maker space. Look at the local gaming stores that have survived: they have space in the back to actually play games, and events going on every day. Imagine going down to Radio Shack to hack on something; they could have sold Radio Shack memberships, and gotten much of their revenue that way, reducing the need to rapidly move inventory. Bring your laptop or use theirs; borrow a soldering station; try out a 3d printer (and later buy your own) or a CNC milling machine; grab (and buy) a few spare components as needed; post a picture and how-to guide for the shiny new thing you built at Radio Shack.
They could have sponsored "Shackathons"; they could have provided an online community; they could have worked with high schools and universities. There's a lot of "they could have"s.
And sure, they could also help you buy a cell phone or laptop, and make some money that way; they could have developed the reputation as the place to go where you get opinions from the employees and half the customers.
And no, of course it wouldn't have been a "mainstream need", though it could have been a lot more mainstream by grabbing the attention of kids and parents.
If Radio Shack wanted to differentiate themselves, they could have turned into a hobbyist maker space. Look at the local gaming stores that have survived: they have space in the back to actually play games, and events going on every day. Imagine going down to Radio Shack to hack on something; they could have sold Radio Shack memberships, and gotten much of their revenue that way, reducing the need to rapidly move inventory. Bring your laptop or use theirs; borrow a soldering station; try out a 3d printer (and later buy your own) or a CNC milling machine; grab (and buy) a few spare components as needed; post a picture and how-to guide for the shiny new thing you built at Radio Shack.
They could have sponsored "Shackathons"; they could have provided an online community; they could have worked with high schools and universities. There's a lot of "they could have"s.
And sure, they could also help you buy a cell phone or laptop, and make some money that way; they could have developed the reputation as the place to go where you get opinions from the employees and half the customers.
And no, of course it wouldn't have been a "mainstream need", though it could have been a lot more mainstream by grabbing the attention of kids and parents.