InterTAN
Encyclopedia
InterTAN Canada Ltd. was a Canadian consumer electronics retailer that operated stores under the banner "The Source by Circuit City
" and a single "THS Studio" location. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Circuit City Stores Inc., as of May 19, 2004. InterTAN is based in Barrie, Ontario
, Canada
. The Rogers Plus chain was previously operated by InterTAN on behalf of Rogers Communications
; the chain is now managed directly by Rogers. As well, conversion or closure of all UpClose and G-Wiz stores, as well as all but one THS Studio, was completed in 2006.
InterTAN filed for bankruptcy protection (under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act
) at the same time as its U.S. parent in late 2008. However, the Canadian division was not directly affected by Circuit City's liquidation process announced on January 16, 2009. Bell Canada
subsequently announced an agreement to purchase the bulk of InterTAN's assets, specifically The Source.
InterTAN, the corporate entity, was not included in the sale (rather it was itself the seller), and is therefore now considered defunct.
, its name being a shortened version of International Tandy. Originally, InterTAN consisted of operations in Canada
and Australia
. The company became a separate entity from Tandy Corporation
in 1986, and has since been reduced to being the parent company for the Canadian consumer electronics business only, divesting itself of the other properties during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Until June 30, 2005, InterTAN ran stores under the banner RadioShack in Canada, as it had a licensing agreement with RadioShack Corporation
until 2010 to use the American company's trademarks. However, after a purchase of InterTAN by Circuit City Stores Inc in 2004, RadioShack Corporation
sued to have that agreement terminated. While that lawsuit was approved in the State of Texas
, it was not legally binding in Canada. InterTan filed a lawsuit in Canada
stating that since the purchase by Circuit City Stores Inc was for only 80% of InterTAN, the latter was still a viable company and thus entitled to keep using the name RadioShack
. Both InterTAN and Radioshack
came to a temporary deal by which InterTAN is banned from using the former moniker since July 1, 2005, and as such, all corporate retail consumer electronics stores, and most dealer stores, formerly known as RadioShack are known as The Source by Circuit City
. The matter was settled in late 2006; however, the details of the settlement were not made public.
InterTAN had entered into arrangements with Rogers Communications to run a chain of stores under the Rogers Plus banner, using InterTAN's point-of-sale systems and knowledge of retail operations for the day-to-day management of the stores. This partnership was renewed as part of the Circuit City acquisition, and was set to expire in January 2007.
In April, 2002, InterTAN, already one of Canada's largest battery retailers with its RadioShack stores, acquired certain assets and locations of Battery Plus and merged it into its retail operations.
In the first two months of 2007, InterTAN underwent drastic changes. By closing all but one THS Studio location, as well as all but one Battery Plus location, InterTAN began to focus on its core operation: The Source By Circuit City. InterTAN continued closing underperforming locations through the end of February 2007, resulting in the loss of employment for almost 100 Canadians. The positions varied from sales associates, store managers, store assistant managers, district managers, service centre managers, even regional vice presidents.
Circuit City announced that they had retained Goldman Sachs to explore selling off InterTAN in Q1, 2007.
The Source by Circuit City
The Source , formerly known as RadioShack and later The Source by Circuit City, is a Canadian electronics retailer with over 800 locations across Canada. Originally part of the American RadioShack chain, The Source is currently financially backed by Bell Canada, which purchased the assets of...
" and a single "THS Studio" location. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Circuit City Stores Inc., as of May 19, 2004. InterTAN is based in Barrie, Ontario
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Rogers Plus chain was previously operated by InterTAN on behalf of Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
; the chain is now managed directly by Rogers. As well, conversion or closure of all UpClose and G-Wiz stores, as well as all but one THS Studio, was completed in 2006.
InterTAN filed for bankruptcy protection (under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act
The Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act is a statute of the Parliament of Canada that allows insolvent corporations owing their creditors in excess of $5 million to restructure their business and financial affairs.-Eligibility:...
) at the same time as its U.S. parent in late 2008. However, the Canadian division was not directly affected by Circuit City's liquidation process announced on January 16, 2009. Bell Canada
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
subsequently announced an agreement to purchase the bulk of InterTAN's assets, specifically The Source.
InterTAN, the corporate entity, was not included in the sale (rather it was itself the seller), and is therefore now considered defunct.
History
InterTAN began as a subsidiary of Tandy CorporationRadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
, its name being a shortened version of International Tandy. Originally, InterTAN consisted of operations in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The company became a separate entity from Tandy Corporation
RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
in 1986, and has since been reduced to being the parent company for the Canadian consumer electronics business only, divesting itself of the other properties during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Until June 30, 2005, InterTAN ran stores under the banner RadioShack in Canada, as it had a licensing agreement with RadioShack Corporation
RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
until 2010 to use the American company's trademarks. However, after a purchase of InterTAN by Circuit City Stores Inc in 2004, RadioShack Corporation
RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
sued to have that agreement terminated. While that lawsuit was approved in the State of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, it was not legally binding in Canada. InterTan filed a lawsuit in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
stating that since the purchase by Circuit City Stores Inc was for only 80% of InterTAN, the latter was still a viable company and thus entitled to keep using the name RadioShack
RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
. Both InterTAN and Radioshack
RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
came to a temporary deal by which InterTAN is banned from using the former moniker since July 1, 2005, and as such, all corporate retail consumer electronics stores, and most dealer stores, formerly known as RadioShack are known as The Source by Circuit City
The Source by Circuit City
The Source , formerly known as RadioShack and later The Source by Circuit City, is a Canadian electronics retailer with over 800 locations across Canada. Originally part of the American RadioShack chain, The Source is currently financially backed by Bell Canada, which purchased the assets of...
. The matter was settled in late 2006; however, the details of the settlement were not made public.
InterTAN had entered into arrangements with Rogers Communications to run a chain of stores under the Rogers Plus banner, using InterTAN's point-of-sale systems and knowledge of retail operations for the day-to-day management of the stores. This partnership was renewed as part of the Circuit City acquisition, and was set to expire in January 2007.
In April, 2002, InterTAN, already one of Canada's largest battery retailers with its RadioShack stores, acquired certain assets and locations of Battery Plus and merged it into its retail operations.
In the first two months of 2007, InterTAN underwent drastic changes. By closing all but one THS Studio location, as well as all but one Battery Plus location, InterTAN began to focus on its core operation: The Source By Circuit City. InterTAN continued closing underperforming locations through the end of February 2007, resulting in the loss of employment for almost 100 Canadians. The positions varied from sales associates, store managers, store assistant managers, district managers, service centre managers, even regional vice presidents.
Circuit City announced that they had retained Goldman Sachs to explore selling off InterTAN in Q1, 2007.
See also
- Tandy CorporationTandy CorporationTandy Corporation was a family-owned leather goods company based in Fort Worth, Texas. Tandy was founded in 1919 as a leather supply store, and acquired RadioShack in 1963. The Tandy name was dropped in May 2000, when RadioShack Corporation was made the official name.-History:Tandy began in 1919...
- RadioShackRadioShackRadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
(U.S.) - Circuit City