Disney Store

[ericpabear]

I go to the Disney Store while my wife shops. I notice no adult clothing, no watches, nothing of adult intrest. Unless you collect toys. Thats when I found out Children's Palace was involved. The cast member told me my Disney discount would no longer be accepted.

[mking624]

I work for TDS so I can understand both sides of the coin (from a guest's perspective and from the company's perspective).

We no longer sell a boat load of adult stuff because it doesn't really sell. It's great that people are interested and want to buy it (such as myself), however, those are not the overwhelming majority of people and it winds up costing the company a lot of money to make and carry all these products that never really get sold. For example, most of our adult clothing never really sells until it's at the cheapest clearance price you can think of. We finally got in a few styles of adult watches about 2 months ago...those haven't been the big seller they were anticipated to be...despite the fact that people who've been telling us to carry more adult stuff (as though we had control) walk right past it. Hardly anyone buys the globes until they're on sale (which doesn't happen very often). Right now we have in home things like plates, cups, pitchers, etc for the summer season and we haven't sold many of those (except the smaller Nemo, Stitch, & Ariel styles for little kids). The adult clothing (a dress, shirt, and shorts) & shoes that we're carrying hasn't sold at all. Since we've had it in, we've literally sold one set of each. This is very common for all of TDS stores. We've had a few new adults things come in (such as the Muppets shirts, although those were only given to some stores, NOT all of them), but sales haven't exactly been impressive enough that would make the company all of a sudden decide to rethink the whole adult line. Honestly, I can't blame them. The biggest market they have is young children. TDS knows this, and Children's Place knows this. So like all businesses, they will cater to the group that is buying the most. And the overwhelming market is the young children. So it makes sense that this is the type of merchandise they will carry. When TDS was still owned by TWDC, they carried the majority of the adult stuff in the catalog and online since that's where the adults were spending most of their money anyway. But even that has dwindled since the demand for adult product isn't the same as it was in the past. With more people going to WDW and DL, people are buying their adult items there or even ordering it from there.

I notice no adult clothing, no watches, nothing of adult intrest.

While it may not have interest to you, it's actually not true that there's absolutely no adult clothing. TDS always carries a line of adult tees and usually some adult PJs. When the fall starrts coming, we also typically carry sweatshirts (both pullover and zip hoodies). The watches we got in just came in within the last couple of months so if you haven't been there in that time, that could be why you didn't see them. We got in a Mickey and a Minne one where the band was a sort of comic strip style and the Tink one we got is a gold band. Your store could have been sold out or it's possible they put them in a case (ours is in a case...not on a shelf on its own).

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of CP owning TDS as many other CMs aren't either (not all, but many aren't thrilled). I wouldn't anticipate CP deciding to bring on a large line of adult items. They may bring in some here and there, but it's important to remember that CP is a company that specifically focuses on the age group of newborn-10 years old and have evn said they were exciting to be working with TDS since it focuses on the same group. So this is something they're not all of a sudden going to completely revamp...because there goal is to keep focusing on what their target has always been: children.

Would I love to see more of an adult line? Definitely. But I'm not anticipating it...especially when the primary focus of CP is not adults. I trust we'll see things here and there added on top to what's already carried, but nothing quite like what it was in the past.

[ericpabear]

I did see the tee shirt and watches. At the store I visited the adult tees looked like a clearance. Just one table of tees that no body wanted. The three watches at the store I visited were behind the check out counter out of reach and had to be asked for to see them. Instead of the glass case with lots of different collectable good quality watches. These watches looked like toys. Nice toys, but not like the pass. You are right money talks. Sad but true.

[mking624]

I don't really think the watches look like toys. Now they're not as spectacular as the fancy watches you can find in the parks and the collection we have is no where near the amount we carried in the past, but I actually like the watches. Trust me, when you compare the adult watches to the kids watches, you'll see what a "toy" watch really looks like. This is especially true with the Tink watch. Nice and actually "dressy." Now while it may not be your style of watch, I personally wouldn't qualify it as a toy. But that's just my own personal opinion of the items.

You are right money talks. Sad but true.

I don't necessarily find it sad. Had we continued to carry a huge line of items that never sold, you can place a really good bet that we would have been shut down a long time ago because it was more money going out than coming in for that line (as a whole, not for one particular store). Money talks because it's what keeps the store in business. When it comes to running a business, you can't cater the store to a market that doesn't buy enough to keep the store running. You can cater a few things, but not a good chunk of it like it was in the past. Yeah I liked the adult stuff too, but I also realize that I wasn't in the majority and the store has to do what will keep them open. And personally, I'd rather them carry less of what doesn't sell and more of what does so that way they stay open because I love it as a guest and they stay open because I can keep my job. Gotta look at it from a business perspective and it makes much more sense.

[ericpabear]

I am realy glad they kept the stores open. It makes me have an "at the park" kinda feeling. All the cast members that work at the Disney Stores seem to be made of the same stuff the cast members at Disney World are made of. I usualy find one or two thing to buy while there, such as the videos, or a mug. I am trying to remeber the conversation I had with the manager of the store I visit. The cast members that work for these stores are no longer considerd Disney employees and no longer get the perks, such as tickets. Since Children's Palace runs the show, does Disney get anything out of this deal. Is Disney just "leaseing" it's good name.

[kgmadorin]

Thanks for your insight, Mary! Great posts!

As I've stated previously, I believe that as The Disney Store evolves, of utmost importance is the protection of the Disney brand image.

Many analysts have stated that the Disney name is the company's most valuable asset. If the store chain begins almost exclusively selling merchandise that parallels the "Mickey & Co." brand found in Wal-Mart and similar stores, the damage that will be done to the Disney reputation as a whole will take years to repair.

Though walking into a Disney Store is a vastly different experience than shopping in your local K-Mart (as a result of the atmosphere and quality of employees) that difference must be equally reflected in the merchandise--something tangible that the customers bring home with them. The inventory is being put to the test even before its purchase and use, as the mere fact that so many people have posted negative opinions in this forum suggests. The Disney Store is losing the battle of image, which I feel is the most important.

I know that in order for the Stores to survive, vast operating changes had to take place. I also know that it's impossible to make everyone happy all the time. Still, as an entity that operates under the Disney name, certain key values cannot be sacrificed. I know I say that over and over again, but I feel it's the truth and it's importance is paramount. Besides the Disney reputation for quality and courtesy, two other elements should go into any Disney retail location. First is uniqueness. As with "Mickey & Co." that I mentioned above, customers should not be able to find comparable goods at any other retail outlet. Unique inventory will contribute to encouraging return visits. The second value is "show." I think the stores once did a much better job with that element. Remember the old turquoise cardigan days? Not only was the Disney "show" reflected in the cast member costumes, but in the theming of the stores themselves. The last time I visited a Disney Store, the cast members were wearing denim shirts. Though I hated wearing the cardigan as much as the next person, when I stepped onstage in that store, I knew I was part of a Disney experience, and not just another retail employee working in the mall. It seems that "show" mentality is on the slide, and I'm sure that the influence of The Childrens Place's doesn't help things any.

The saving grace of The Disney Store right now is definitely its cast members. As Walt said many times, the dedication of the people is what makes Disney "magic" a reality. Thank goodness for cast members like Mary and the others who have posted here. Sadly, it seems that without your mentality and hard work, without the dedication of the cast, the Disney Stores may fade into mediocrity, or even worse, obscurity. The whole goal of shutting down so many of its locations (besides bringing the bottom line back into the black) was to make visiting The Disney Store a special experience once again. Though I'm sure The Children's Place is overjoyed to have the backing of Disney's brand image, I do not think they understand how to protect and nurture their golden goose.

[ericpabear]

I have enjoyed your knowledge on this subject, and hope I didn't offend. The Disney Store is a place of found memories and will always have a place in my heart. I will continue to visit regardless of the merchandise. I also miss all the charactors hang from the ceiling. I would spend an hour just admiring them. Soooo corny, I know. But it felt good. I was so tempted to buy acouple of the pieces when I saw them for sale on E-Bay. Once again I hope I didn't offend.