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CompUSA, Inc. is a retailer and reseller of consumer
electronics, technology products and computer services. CompUSA serves
consumer retail, small-to-medium businesses, corporate, government and
education customers. Founded in 1984 and based in Addison, Texas (a northern
suburb of Dallas), CompUSA currently operates 103 stores in markets across
the United States and Puerto Rico.
CompUSA, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Commercial Corp S.A. de
C.V.[1], which is indirectly controlled by a common shareholder, Carlos
Slim. U.S. Commercial trades on Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (Mexican Stock
Exchange) as USCOMBI.
CompUSA's retail Web site offers an assortment of over 19,000 products and
the ability to schedule technology services and training sessions.
Businesses may order from a catalog containing more than 220,000 products as
well as select from over 100,000 online products.
History
1984 - Founded as Soft Warehouse in Addison, Texas, selling direct to
business customers.
1985 - Opened first retail store.
1988 - Opened first Computer Superstore.
1991 - Changed name to CompUSA.
1993 - Began offering technical services at customer locations.
1996 - Launched retail sales on CompUSA.com.
1997 - Filed for bankruptcy
1998 - Acquired Tandy's Computer City subsidiary.
2000 - Became privately-held company under Mexican retail company, Grupo
Sanborns.
2003 - Acquired Good Guys.
2005 - Converted three CompUSA stores and 13 Good Guys stores into "megastores."
Closed all 46 Good Guys locations.
Began marketing in California and Hawaii
as "CompUSA with Good Guys Inside" (in response to Best Buy's marketing
campaign "with Magnolia Inside").
2006 - Announced the closing of 15 stores across the United States including
several locations in California; these stores are being used to liquidate
discontinued items from other stores across the nation until the end of
October. Roman Ross, a former Phillip Morris executive, replaced Tony Weiss
as president and CEO after only four months in office. In November 2006,
CompUSA launched their new "Home Entertainment" Rollout in 40 of its stores
(including Puerto Rico), who now sell a variety of High Definition
Televisions and Home Theater equipment. Roman Ross claims that Home
Entertainment is one of his chief focuses as the new CEO.[3] Press reported
that CompUSA's Mexican parent Grupo Carso was interested in putting CompUSA
up for sale.
2007 - Announces the closing and liquidation of 126 stores due to "..need to
close and sell stores with low performance or non strategic, old store
layouts and locations faced with market saturation" Roman Ross CEO. [5]. The
realignment includes a $440,000,000 cash infusion, store closures, major
expense reductions and a corporate restructuring. CompUSA is laying off
employees at some stores as well in order to get back on its feet.
2007, May 14 - CompUSA ends the liquidation sale and finalizes the 126 store
closures.
2007, May 27 - Annual General Manager Meeting brings talks of 56 store
closings to the table, the corporate officers present refuted the claim.
2007, August through December - Gabriela Villalobos, EVP, makes her stops
through all of the 103 operational stores to evaluate the functionality of
each since the store closures.
The CompUSA Network
In 2005, CompUSA started a customer loyalty program called The CompUSA
Network. For every dollar spent at any CompUSA store, the customer receives
13 points. Rewards include an Epson photo printer and a Canon Digital Rebel
SLR digital camera. However, in June 2006, sales of The CompUSA Network
membership cards were suspended pending further investigation onto the
operation's effect on customer retention and "program awareness among
low-visit customers."
On August 24, 2006, CompUSA announced the end of the Network Reward program.
All customers were notified of this and issued coupons for the remaining
reward value, as well as their original purchase price. They were also
offered a refund of the original purchase price in the original form of
payment, however this option removed any remaining reward points.

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