- Joined
- Mar 7, 2010
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My family is visiting Disney World as I type......but I'd like other comments about Disney Merchandising at the Parks both about the product offerings and customer service.
I'm going to start with service.
We were excited to visit the new Haunted Mansion gift shop, Memento Mori, and then ride the actual attraction before the Mansion closes for a brief refurbishment this week. We accomplished our goal.
So, we were excited to locate the adult man and woman t-shirts that mimicked the costumes worn by the Cast Members for the attraction that we had seen on-line at EasyWDW.com. Then, much to our surprise, we were shocked that a Cast Member could not point us to the Women's version while we was looking at the Men's version in what is a fairly small store. In other words, we knew more about a product in Memento Mori's than a person who worked there. We found the women's version ourselves.
Similarly, I had purchased an electronic toy last year at the store located at the exit of Star Tours. The toy is to play a 'hot potato' game. Again, I walked into the shop and asked for the hot potato game and was looked at crossed-eyed by a Cast Member in the store that only sells Star Wars stuff. And after a few brief moments of looking by myself, I was able to locate the game with the words 'hot potato' written on the box. Once again, we knew more about the product(s) in the store than a Cast Member.
Now, if these two instances had occurred in a large store with thousands of items, I can understand Cast Members not knowing everything. But this was not the case - both instances were in product specific stores.
A note to Disney management: well-trained Cast Members who work in sales can actually get customers to spend more money.
On the product side. I get that children are the focus at Disney, but adults pay the bills for the toys that most child purchase. Why is it that the product offerings for adults have so few exciting choices for clothing? For instance, I have seen a 'satiny' pant being worn by women and children. I asked a women where she found them - Target. Many, many cool articles of Disney clothing are simply not ever available at Disney or in Disney stores. It's simply silly that Disney licenses there stuff to others, but does not develop similar products that are seemingly successful elsewhere....unless Target has a monopoly on satiny pants with Disney characters.
Also, I cannot understand why Disney is seemingly OK letting Reyn Spooner 'Hawaiian-style' men shirts sell on eBay for $300 instead of capturing these profits at Disney. Why is Disney not marketing to me at the Parks where I spend my vacations with my family? Why not make more Reyn Spooner shirts if they can sell on eBay for $200-$300?
Another 'for instance' of poor quality merchandising to adults - it has been cool in Florida and purchasing a new sweatshirt at Disney instead of packing an extra one was my plan. I have found nothing new or exciting in any shop. Instead, I washed the sweatshirt I took from home while on vacation. I will gladly buy more and more Disney 'camp clothing' for myself, but so little has changed the past year or is just plain 'vanilla' clothing that I am likely leaving somewhat empty handed.
So here I am, a fan of FP+ who is the poster-child of sorts for what Disney is trying to accomplish with FP+ - a person willing to spend money because FP+ has saved me time. But here's the fun part - there is nothing new or exciting to buy. Matter of fact, I can still buy at Disney a Hawaiian-style print that I bought in 2010 and which has also appeared at considerable discounting at my local outlet; of course, Reyn Spooner shirts are only available on eBay.
Must every princess blouse for women have a dolman sleeve? The only new button-down style shirts for men are a plaid that do not match-up. It's a shame that non-Disney stores carry more exciting items than at Disney.
Heck, maybe I haven't a clue about retailing, but it seems to me that if Disney wants people to spend more money, particularly those who are repeat customers, then maybe they can both liven up the clothing collection for adults. If adults are spending for themselves, I'll bet they are then going to be more likely to spend even more on the children (a counterintuitive notion, but it's what I believe to be true). Moreover, Disney should have their Cast Members actually look at the products on the shelves so they can help their customers spend more money.
On a positive note, a Dooney-Bourke handbag that was a 'limited-edition' available at Food & Wine was still available for my wife. This purchase was seemingly more affordable since I have spent nothing on myself.
Also, we have been pleasantly surprised by some of the food choices.....but that's another Thread......
The rain has stopped, time for a little time at the swimming pool.
I'm going to start with service.
We were excited to visit the new Haunted Mansion gift shop, Memento Mori, and then ride the actual attraction before the Mansion closes for a brief refurbishment this week. We accomplished our goal.
So, we were excited to locate the adult man and woman t-shirts that mimicked the costumes worn by the Cast Members for the attraction that we had seen on-line at EasyWDW.com. Then, much to our surprise, we were shocked that a Cast Member could not point us to the Women's version while we was looking at the Men's version in what is a fairly small store. In other words, we knew more about a product in Memento Mori's than a person who worked there. We found the women's version ourselves.
Similarly, I had purchased an electronic toy last year at the store located at the exit of Star Tours. The toy is to play a 'hot potato' game. Again, I walked into the shop and asked for the hot potato game and was looked at crossed-eyed by a Cast Member in the store that only sells Star Wars stuff. And after a few brief moments of looking by myself, I was able to locate the game with the words 'hot potato' written on the box. Once again, we knew more about the product(s) in the store than a Cast Member.
Now, if these two instances had occurred in a large store with thousands of items, I can understand Cast Members not knowing everything. But this was not the case - both instances were in product specific stores.
A note to Disney management: well-trained Cast Members who work in sales can actually get customers to spend more money.
On the product side. I get that children are the focus at Disney, but adults pay the bills for the toys that most child purchase. Why is it that the product offerings for adults have so few exciting choices for clothing? For instance, I have seen a 'satiny' pant being worn by women and children. I asked a women where she found them - Target. Many, many cool articles of Disney clothing are simply not ever available at Disney or in Disney stores. It's simply silly that Disney licenses there stuff to others, but does not develop similar products that are seemingly successful elsewhere....unless Target has a monopoly on satiny pants with Disney characters.
Also, I cannot understand why Disney is seemingly OK letting Reyn Spooner 'Hawaiian-style' men shirts sell on eBay for $300 instead of capturing these profits at Disney. Why is Disney not marketing to me at the Parks where I spend my vacations with my family? Why not make more Reyn Spooner shirts if they can sell on eBay for $200-$300?
Another 'for instance' of poor quality merchandising to adults - it has been cool in Florida and purchasing a new sweatshirt at Disney instead of packing an extra one was my plan. I have found nothing new or exciting in any shop. Instead, I washed the sweatshirt I took from home while on vacation. I will gladly buy more and more Disney 'camp clothing' for myself, but so little has changed the past year or is just plain 'vanilla' clothing that I am likely leaving somewhat empty handed.
So here I am, a fan of FP+ who is the poster-child of sorts for what Disney is trying to accomplish with FP+ - a person willing to spend money because FP+ has saved me time. But here's the fun part - there is nothing new or exciting to buy. Matter of fact, I can still buy at Disney a Hawaiian-style print that I bought in 2010 and which has also appeared at considerable discounting at my local outlet; of course, Reyn Spooner shirts are only available on eBay.
Must every princess blouse for women have a dolman sleeve? The only new button-down style shirts for men are a plaid that do not match-up. It's a shame that non-Disney stores carry more exciting items than at Disney.
Heck, maybe I haven't a clue about retailing, but it seems to me that if Disney wants people to spend more money, particularly those who are repeat customers, then maybe they can both liven up the clothing collection for adults. If adults are spending for themselves, I'll bet they are then going to be more likely to spend even more on the children (a counterintuitive notion, but it's what I believe to be true). Moreover, Disney should have their Cast Members actually look at the products on the shelves so they can help their customers spend more money.
On a positive note, a Dooney-Bourke handbag that was a 'limited-edition' available at Food & Wine was still available for my wife. This purchase was seemingly more affordable since I have spent nothing on myself.
Also, we have been pleasantly surprised by some of the food choices.....but that's another Thread......
The rain has stopped, time for a little time at the swimming pool.
