DisneyÂ’s Retail Plan Is a Theme Park in Its Stores

[hobie16]

The Walt Disney Company, with the help of Steven P. Jobs and his retailing team at Apple, intends to drastically overhaul its approach to the shopping mall.

At a time when many retailers are still cutting back or approaching strategic shifts with extreme caution, Disney is going the other way, getting more aggressive and putting into motion an expensive and ambitious floor-to-ceiling reboot of its 340 stores in the United States and Europe — as well as opening new ones, including a potential flagship in Times Square.

Disney Stores, which the media giant is considering rebranding Imagination Park, will become more akin to cozy entertainment hubs. The chain’s traditional approach of displaying row after row of toys and apparel geared to Disney franchises will be given a high-tech makeover and incorporated into a new array of recreational activities. The goal is to make children clamor to visit the stores and stay longer, perhaps bolstering sales as a result. Over the next five years, analysts estimate that Disney will spend about $1 million a store to redecorate, reorganize and install interactive technology. more...

[Whazzup]

Maybe this will result in a reopening of many of the Disney stores that closed in the last couple of years, including the one here in Pensacola that was ALWAYS busy!
I might be tempted to apply for a job if they opened a store here in town again.

[dazyhill]

While I realize that Disney's main target is families with small children, it would be nice if they would consider collectors too. In the current incarnation of the Disney Store, there is very little clothing for adults other than T-shirts. There are no art books or pins. When the Disney Stores first opened, there was something for everyone. Now it's just mostly toys and children's clothes. :(

[turkeyham]

A few years ago, my sisters and I went to a Disney store in our local mall. They were having allot of Pirates of the Caribbean t-shirts on sale. 3 for $15. Not bad. I hope to see more deals like this in the future. :)

[Disneyguy85]

This idea definitely has potential.

[Cheshire Figment]

Here is a very good explanation of what is going on

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/busin ... ?th&emc=th

[ziplu]

While I realize that Disney's main target is families with small children, it would be nice if they would consider collectors too. In the current incarnation of the Disney Store, there is very little clothing for adults other than T-shirts. There are no art books or pins. When the Disney Stores first opened, there was something for everyone. Now it's just mostly toys and children's clothes. :(

I agree! I'd love to see more stuff geared towards adults again. I used to love to go into the stores, but with my kids grown, I rarely bother.

[Syndrome]

I agree with the point in the article that parents are going to use those stores as free daycare centers.

Sounds like they are mating the old DisneyQuest idea (the one in Chicago sure didn't last long...never got to go there before it closed) with the Disney Stores. Will be interesting to see if the mutant offspring thrives or dies.

[February]

I agree with the point in the article that parents are going to use those stores as free daycare centers.

Sounds like they are mating the old DisneyQuest idea (the one in Chicago sure didn't last long...never got to go there before it closed) with the Disney Stores. Will be interesting to see if the mutant offspring thrives or dies.

Geez, it was bad enough them trying that back in the day when the only entertainment was the bigscreen at the back in Zone 4 by Plush Mountain! (I lived in that Zone. The Mountain was my baby...)

~bru

(who misses working in the Store but not the soggy plush after parents let their baby teethe on it while watching a Sing-Along video and then put it back into the Mountain where you found it when you reached in to straighten it...blech)