The Incredible Universe Superstore also known as "Incredible Universe," was a massive electronics and appliance retail chain. This store was in the Silicon Valley. It opened in 1992. It was founded by Tandy Corporation who also owned RadioShack at the time. The Incredible Universe was a sprawling, warehouse-sized store.
The store was enormous, around 185,000 square feet. The vast floor space allowed it to carry an extensive selection of products, from consumer electronics and home appliances to computer hardware and software.
Incredible Universe offered a huge range of products including televisions, computers, video games, appliances, and more. The store aimed to be a one-stop-shop for all electronics and appliance needs, allowing customers to see and compare a vast range of products in one place.
The store was designed to provide an engaging and interactive shopping experience. It had demo areas where customers could test and try out products as well as entertainment zones for kids and adults alike. Incredible Universe put a strong emphasis on customer service with a large staff of knowledgeable sales associates to assist customers.
This sequence was filmed in about 45 minutes in 1995 when my team went into the store to see what was happening. It was like being at the circus. My guess is that the average person spent at least $60. One helluva business.
I can remember that in those days it was exciting to buy any computer and to try to read the back of the boxes of software which all sounded like they were offering something that was a totally new world and made things easier. I know that commentators on my videos now debate whether things have gotten easier. They weren’t easier for me but I am much more able to do what I want to do and continue to make these videos because of the Internet and my computers and cell phone technologies - wireless of course.
Examples of the products available in the store included:
Televisions: A variety of televisions, including CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TVs, were available in different sizes and brands. This was before the era of flat-screen TVs, so most of the models available were bulkier and heavier than what we are used to today.
Computers: Desktop computers and laptops from brands like Apple, IBM, and Compaq were available, often running on operating systems such as MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, or the Macintosh System 7. These computers typically featured Intel 386 or 486 processors and had limited storage and RAM compared to modern systems.
Video Game Consoles: Popular gaming consoles of the time included the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and the Atari Jaguar. These consoles featured iconic games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario World, and Street Fighter II.
CD Players and Audio Systems: CD players were a popular technology in the early 1990s, as the format was still relatively new and gaining popularity. Incredible Universe offered a range of CD players, stereo systems, and portable CD players like the Sony Discman.
VCRs and Camcorders: VHS tapes were the primary format for home video, so VCRs (Video Cassette Recorders) were in high demand. Camcorders that used VHS or smaller VHS-C tapes were also popular for recording home videos.
Cellular Phones: Early mobile phones, like the Motorola MicroTAC and Nokia 1011, were available in the store. These cell phones were larger and more expensive than today's smartphones, and they had limited functionality, often only supporting voice calls and basic text messaging.
Home Appliances: A wide range of home appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and microwave ovens, were available from popular brands like GE, Whirlpool, and Kenmore.
Software: Computer software, including productivity tools like Microsoft Office, and early computer games like Myst, were available on floppy disks or CDs.
Despite the initial hype and success, Incredible Universe faced financial difficulties due to its massive size, high operating costs, and increasing competition from other electronics retailers. In 1996 Tandy sold the chain to Fry's Electronics, which rebranded some of the stores as Fry’s.
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David Hoffman filmmaker
17 сен 2024
