When Radio Shack comes up in conversation, it’s usually in terms of transistors, batteries, cables or other electronics.

While that may paint a complete picture of most Radio Shack operations, it is only a fraction of what’s available at the Maricopa electronic store owned by Ronald Beasley.

“We try to stock many different items to help drive a profit and keep the doors open,” Beasley said.

Some of the more unique items he stocks include paintball markers, paint balls, fill station Co2 and HPA, ink cartridges, office supplies and gun ammunition.

Beasley said agreements with the Radio Shack brand require store operators to order a percentage of their inventory each year from the parent company in order to maintain their status.

“It gives us flexibility to bring in different products and personalize our stores,” Beasley said.

Beasley presents the variety available in his storefront by essentially dividing the store in half.

“On one side of the store we keep all the Radio Shack brand products, and on the other we keep all the merchandise we bring in from other suppliers,” he said.

Besides items mentioned above, other merchandise includes video game controllers, car audio, cables, musical instruments and guitar strings.

“In this tough economy, the merchandise we bring in from other suppliers has helped us stay in business at a time when many other small businesses have gone under,” he said. Beasley also offers all types of computer repair and seasonal layaway for his customers’ convenience.

He opened the Maricopa store nearly five years ago, after working in the home theater installation business in California with Best Buy and Circuit City for more than 20 years. He currently owns a home theater and satellite installation business called A/V Pros of Arizona that installs dishes that receive both U.S. and Canadian programming.

“I wanted to get into the business as a storefront, and Radio Shack is a great company,” Beasley said.

Originally he stocked his store like the standard Radio Shack, but due to a lack of local support, a slumping economy and the opening of Wal-Mart, he decided to diversify his merchandise model to get people through the doors.

“We are down 50 percent on our sales and are yet to see an influx of people coming to the store to buy the new merchandise,” he said.

The Maricopa store is not the first struggling Radio Shack Beasley has owned. When he opened the location on Smith-Enke Road, he also started a store in Florence. That one did not survive the recession.

Beasley said he is a fighter and committed to the Maricopa store. “I will do everything in my power to stay in business,” he said. “I live in Maricopa and I encourage the community to come in and check us out, and buy local, not out town.  Even in our personal life, my wife and I try to ‘think local’ and make entertainment and purchase decisions that will strengthen the local economy. If everyone does their part to buy local and support Maricopa, it will not only benefit our business but the entire community.”

At a Glance:
Name: Local Independent Radio Shack Dealer
Address: 44600 W. Smith-Enke Rd. Ste 102 Maricopa AZ. 85139
Phone: 520-568-4880