Consumer Electronics

RadioShack continues to roll out its new “Fix It Here!” service as it looks to become more relevant with shoppers.

The company announced the new mobile device repair service is now available in at least 30 stores in the Houston area. The move is part of an ongoing national rollout expected to have the service in 750 locations by year end. The service is currently offered at 650 stores.

RadioShack is looking to increase sales during the crucial holiday shopping season, and the new service is seen as a way to generate store traffic and sales.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack's Fix It Here! same-day mobile repair service is now available in 30 stores in the Houston area, adding to 650 stores already in play and plans to roll the service out to 750 stores by year end.   The service allows smartphone and tablet owners to have common issues such as cracked screens, broken buttons and damaged charging ports repaired in-store and same-day. Repairs start at $39.99 and include a 90-day warranty on parts and labor.  

New York -- According to Nielsen’s 2014 Holiday Retail Sales Forecast, nearly 25% of consumers polled had already started their holiday shopping in September. However, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are still relevant, as 52% of respondents in a just released Black Friday/Cyber Monday survey stated that they plan to venture into stores on Black Friday and 55% of respondents stated that they plan to fire up their computers for Cyber Monday. 

TÜV Rheinland, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, named former Office Depot executive Guillermo Rodriguez to the role of vp North America Retail Management.

Grapevine, Texas –- GameStop is introducing the GameStop Holiday Hub. a seamless online experience allowing customers to check out gift guides, find deals, determine trade-in values, learn about layaway options, and other shopper-friendly tools such as in-store pickup of online orders.  

New York -- Panasonic has unveiled a pop-up store in New York City's Union Square area featuring a collection of Panasonic's latest consumer products from the home, adventure, imaging, entertainment and beauty categories for shoppers planning their holiday gift-giving.  

New York -- With the signing of Capital One at 700 St. Nicholas Avenue, on the northeast corner of 145th Street, the Douglas Elliman Retail Group team of Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, Joseph Aquino, executive VP and Arthur Maglio have repositioned the retail profile of Hillview Towers, comprising the block-front that stretches along West 145th Street between St. Nicholas and Edgecombe Avenues in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem.  

Gift card sales are expected to reach record levels again this holiday season and new research from the National Retail Federation (NRF) offers insight into the increased popularity of stored value products.

More than half of shoppers polled by NRF’s Gift Card Spending Survey said they will buy gift cards this holiday season because the cards allow the recipient to select their own gift. More than 25% of shoppers said gift cards are easier and faster to buy, and 3.8% said the cards help them stick to their holiday budgets.