Dive Brief:
- Rapper, actor, comedian and entertainer Nick Cannon, host of MTV2's "Wild ‘N Out," has been named the chief creative officer of RadioShack.
- Cannon will lead development of exclusive products for “the neighborhood electronics store,” as well as curate in-store performances and help expand its educational initiatives.
- Acquired out of bankruptcy by General Wireless, Inc. in March 2015, RadioShack has about 1,900 company-operated and franchised locations nationwide.
Dive Insight:
RadioShack announced that entertainer and entrepreneur Nick Cannon—apparently a lifelong fan of the retailer—has joined the company as its chief creative officer. The move will give the performer a broad range of duties with the chain, from picking in-store soundtracks to developing new products, to expanding STEM educational initiatives.
Cannon reportedly became a RadioShack aficionado at age 8, after his local store helped him rebuild a stereo system inherited from his grandfather into the best sound system in the neighborhood. “As a kid, spending time in my neighborhood RadioShack was invaluable,” Cannon said in a release. “The maker mentality and educational approach taught me a lot and encouraged me to explore my own creativity.”
As chief creative officer, Cannon will develop new products to inspire and educate the next generation, the chain says. “RadioShack and I are going to create a lot of cool things together in the coming months,” he said.
RadioShack needs this creative shot in the arm. The chain became something of a punchline last year after filing for bankruptcy and shuttering almost two-thirds of its almost 6,000 locations. Bought out by General Wireless, Inc., in March, the chain now maintains 1,700 company-owned stores nationwide, most of which it shares with Sprint, and 500 franchised locations.
