Specialty retailing.

The article looks at the performance of the U.S. specialty retailing industry in 1980. Topics discussed include Tandy Corp.'s pioneering of the retailing of small hand-held and desktop computers resulting to high sales and earnings since 1976 and computer companies such as Apple and Commodore International's distribution through consumer electronics chains. Also provided is a list showing the management performance of specialty retailers in terms of profitability and growth. INSET: The do-it-yourself boom.