Consumer Electronics

New York -- A Thursday report by Reuters said that RadioShack is considering bringing in a financial advisor to guide the struggling chain toward managing its looming debts and spiraling sales.

According to the report, which cited unidentified sources, RadioShack will hear pitches from financial advisers in the coming weeks, looking for the right fit to deal with $216.4 million in convertible notes coming due August 1, as well as falling sales capped off by a 7.6% drop in the first quarter of 2013.

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Most malls have food courts. Westfield Valley Fair Mall in California’s Silicon Valley has begun construction of a multi-million dollar dining terrace that will feature indoor and alfresco seating.

Where in Silicon Valley is the mall? It straddles the border between two noted Silicon Valley cities: Santa Clara and San Jose.

Austin, Texas -- Research results released Thursday by coupon site Offers.com found that 67% of U.S. parents with school-aged children plan to spend more than $100 per child on back-to-school shopping this year.

New York -- Bloomberg reported that Best Buy Co. has increased the size of its first bond offering since 2011 from $350 million to $500 million as it prepares to repay an equal amount of notes due July 15.

According to the report, who cited an unidentified source, the five-year securities may yield 5%; proceeds may be used to refinance debt, fund working capital or repurchase stock.

Walmart, Target, Best Buy and other retailers created a cooperative nearly a year ago to develop a mobile payment approach and this week they welcomed another major player to the fold.

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas -- Venture Commercial has completed eight retail leases spanning 133,000 sq. ft. for landlords and tenants across North Texas.

“Significant leasing activity across the area in recent months shows that the DFW market is really heating up,” said Bryan Cornelius, a partner with Venture Commercial.

Wenatchee, Wash. -- Sportsman’s warehouse has signed a lease for a 49,000-sq.-ft. former Sears location at the Wenatchee Valley Mall in Wenatchee, Wash., according to Vintage Real Estate, which brokered the deal.

The new Sportsman’s will open in the spring of 2014. Sears will open a 10,813-sq.-ft. new format store in the mall.

FAIRFAX, Va. — Geeknet, the parent company of online retailer ThinkGeek.com, has appointed Julie Pangelinan as the company’s CFO, effective Aug. 12.

Pangelinan has more than 25 years of operations and financial experience, most recently as CFO of Interstate Hotels and Resorts and Sunrise Senior Living.