Disney, Children's Place Still In Licensing Talks

[esuomyeckim]

I read somewhere that the real reason for all this mess was that the "new" prototype stores (the one with the big Mickey ears at the entrance) aren't up to snuff and they're falling apart. Supposedly they're working on a new version, but I don't really know.

My question - Why didn't TCP remodel stores according to the original schedule? Seems like they're running way behind to me...

Anyone know if Disney truly wants TCP to run the stores, or are they trying to get them back?

 

[dvc at last !]

subscribing --- so I can read later.

 

[Tink10]

I can tell you with absolute certainty that the new Mickey stores do have issues....Next time you're in one take a look at the detail. The new prototype design is very cool & was shared about a month or so ago with TDS management.

I don't think anyone in the trenches knows why the older stores haven't been remodeled. Many of them need it desperately and the cm's can only guess as to the reasons.

There are some who believe that Disney will take the stores back and are using the design issues as possible grounds to pull licensing. If that happened, the stores would either close or be taken over by another company. In all reality, there has been quite a bit of circumstantial evidence to lead us to believe that this will ultimately happen......Only time will tell.

 

[ASilmser]

I agree with you 98%. The only thing that's not correct is your comment about Pressler and others. Paul Pressler made TDS the success that it was in it's glory days. That's why he was promoted to Disneyland in the first place. Of course he was not successful at the parks, but his success at the Disney Store was tramendous. It was the later management who screwed up that division especially those who ran the company from 1999 to 2001.

Pressler did wonders for expanding the stores, but that, in essence, was part of the problem. The stores were no longer unique. They were not a destination, but a nice store in the mall.

Granted, the big TDS problems were not a Pressler creation, but his era set in motion the problems that took place after he left.

In hindsight, I think the big Pressler expansion of TDS was the ultimate cause of it's demise. Could Pressler have predicted this? Probably not. I don't despise him for the way he ran the stores, and at the time, I thought he was doing a good job; but I can see how his leadership got things started down the wrong path.

By the way, has anyone heard about how the licensing talks are progressing? Any news about store remodels?
Is there a way to see current prototype plans that have been discussed on this thread?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I'm am also sorry if I was incorrect about the job classification of current TDS employees. I did not know that they were still referred to as "Cast Members". If you were offended by that, I apologize. But you aren't "Disney Cast Members" anymore? Right? Or do I still not have a clue?

We still are Cast Members regardless of who owns us. When I walk into my store, I am proud to be called a cast member - regardless if TCP or Disney signs my paycheck. The Disney magic is there and for as long as I work for the stores, I will continue to work for Walt.

 

[disneyjunebug]

We still are Cast Members regardless of who owns us. When I walk into my store, I am proud to be called a cast member - regardless if TCP or Disney signs my paycheck. The Disney magic is there and for as long as I work for the stores, I will continue to work for Walt.

I like your attitude! I was the same way!

 

[SallyfromDE]

Actually, we had the same problem in our mall. The gift card is by Discover and quite a few stores don't accept Discover. I work at Macy's and it took them over a year to be able to accept the Mall gift card. It does affect sales.

 

[SallyfromDE]

I have 2 local DS, and love them both. One just recently did a reno, and the other not long before TCP bought it. The mdse. is much improved!! I enjoy going back now. I just wish they had more adult items.

 

[SallyfromDE]

Actually, the government takes the unused money from giftcards. If a card is stagnant for 3 years, it has to be turned over to the government.

 

[All Aboard]

For what it's worth... I recently travelled back to the city I moved from six months ago. When we left, one of the three Disney Stores near our house was in the process of moving to another "bay" at the mall. It was only about 3 stores down.

I poked my head in the new store (which aparently opened in the 6 months since I was last there) and it is a mere shell of its former self.

The old store had all of the moving parts and characters above your head throughout the entire store. It had fully themed sales shelves throughout. It was sort of a mini World of Disney.

The new store looks just like the Character Warehouse in another mall in the city. Just wall mounted shelves and racks, virtually no theming. Boring in every way.

 

[raidermatt]

Actually, the government takes the unused money from giftcards. If a card is stagnant for 3 years, it has to be turned over to the government.

That's state specific. Many states exempt gift cards from unclaimed property laws. Some states are considering removing that exemption.