Tandy (Australia)
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| Tandy | |
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 Tandy Leather Company 1963 changed to electronics 1973 Opened in Australia |
| Headquarters | Regents Park DC NSW, Australia |
| Key people | Unknown |
| Industry | Electronics, computers, Entertainment / Retail |
| Products | Electronic kits batteries & chargers power supplies telephone accessories Electronic test equipment tools Computers lighting books antennas Electronic Games R/C Cars |
| Revenue | Unknown (but available) |
| Employees | Over 2000 (2006) |
| Slogan | Tandy is one of Australia's leading electronics retailers |
| Website | www.Tandy.com.au |
Tandy is an electronics retailer in Australia, owned by Woolworths Limited.
In the 1970s the Tandy Corporation instigated a chain of RadioShack-style stores in Australia through its subsidiary InterTAN, under the Tandy name.
Tandy quickly established stores in major towns and suburbs across Australia and had a major presence by 1980. Many independent electrical businesses in smaller towns added Tandy products to their range.
Tandy in Australia were especially well-known for their audio and radio products, most of which carried their 'Realistic' home brand label. Their business expanded rapidly during the 'CB radio boom' of the mid 1970s and the personal computer boom a few years later. Their TRS-80 series of computers was particularly well-known.
Tandy's position in the market had some similarities with its local competitor, Dick Smith Electronics. Both companies produced a substantial annual catalogue, though Tandy's was more consumer-oriented with no data section. Its CB radio ranges were similar to DSE but it never carried much amateur radio gear, preferring to focus on scanners and shortwave radio.
Tandy never had a relationship with local hobby electronic magazines to the extent that Dick Smith Electronics and Jaycar had (and have). Their small range of kits was imported, with instructions for the American market.
Nevertheless Tandy did excel in solderless kits for beginners, which were marketed under the 'Science Fair' brand. These were normally built on thick cardboard or plastic that held components such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, lights, speakers and meters. Dozens of projects could be built by spring terminals attached to each component with short lengths of insulated wire. Kit sizes ranged from 20 to 200 projects, with the kit being accompanied by a fat book telling you how to build each project. Many people in electronics today got their start from building such kits.
Along with electronic kits, Tandy was known as a place that stocked a range of electronic toys, mainly during the Christmas period. These included many early hand-held electronic games along with many radio controlled cars, buggies and trucks. All were branded with either the "Tandy" or "Radio Shack" brand. However inspection of the stamp on the plastic casing of these toys, often revealed that they were manufactured by other brands. For example, the R/C cars were always manufactured by companies like Taiyo and Nikko. As such, these toys were sold under their original brands in other parts of the world, and were not always exclusive to Tandy.
Tandy's toy range expanded during the 1980s as these types of electronic toys experienced great popularity during that period. However, like the stores themselves, the range has been scaled back significantly in the years since.
Enthusiasts have mixed opinions of Tandy. Compared to the more specialised retailers their range was limited. Their 'bubble pack policy' where many components were sold in packs of 5 to 10 at prices several times the competition also lost them business. Some customers also resented being asked for their name and address each time they bought even quite small items.
On the plus side some Tandy products were not available anywhere else. For instance their novelty transistor radio range was the biggest of any retailer then and now. Also Tandy sometimes had great 'closeout' sales of old stock and their monthly 'flyer' was eagerly awaited. Many a kid would visit each month to claim their free Radio Shack battery under the Tandy Battery Club Card scheme (no purchase was required, and, yes you could even get nine-volt batteries!).
For many years Tandy had three or more times as many stores as their nearest rival, so for this reason alone they were widely regarded as an electronics convenience store; somewhere to go to in emergencies when nowhere else is nearby or open.
As electronics retailing moved away from enthusiasts and towards consumers, Tandy found it hard to compete against other outlets since it was neither one nor the other. On one hand Jaycar and Dick Smith offered superior ranges of components. Chains such as Retravision, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman were higher profile and fast growing rivals in entertainment electronics. And in computers specialist computer stores assembling generic-name computers popped up in almost every suburb, slashing margins.
In 2001 the Australian stores were sold to Dick Smith Electronics (DSE), a subsidiary of Woolworths Limited. While a number of these stores have been closed down or rebadged as DSE stores, new concept stores are still in design stages and in the process of being opened later in the year.
[edit] External links
- Tandy - Official Site
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