Disney Store buyback, by Disney?

[Dan Murphy]

If already posted, sorry for the duplicate, no working search...


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/business/21shop.html?ref=business

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney21mar21,1,6551273.story

Just an FYI

 

[MainStMandy]

This would only be good if Disney turns these stores back into Disney and away from the Kmartish atmosphere they are now...

 

[Maleficent13]

Agreed.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I haven't been in a Disney Store in a few years, so I can't comment on the Kmartish atmosphere, but I would like to see Disney take The Disney Stores back. When I worked for The Disney Stores, the stores were getting stale, I hope that Disney can reinvigorate them.

 

[Geoff_M]

Good to hear... The last couple of times we've been in a DS, it's been rather depressing when looking at the condition of the store and the merchandise. The K-mart analogy is very fitting.

 

[nhpooh]

This would only be good if Disney turns these stores back into Disney and away from the Kmartish atmosphere they are now...

I agree too! I don't even go in there anymore, when Disney had them I went in all the time. I couldn't leave without getting something in there too. Now I don't even bother.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I really hope that Disney does buy it back and turns it into the great store it once was. I know thats doubtful and a dream, but hey, a girl can dream, right? I used to love all the great collectibles you could get at the Disney store in the early to mid 90's. I could always count on finding a great new peice of clothing or a gift. Now, its a bunch of cheap stuff aimed just at the kids, nothing for adults.

 

[nhpooh]

I really hope that Disney does buy it back and turns it into the great store it once was. I know thats doubtful and a dream, but hey, a girl can dream, right? I used to love all the great collectibles you could get at the Disney store in the early to mid 90's. I could always count on finding a great new peice of clothing or a gift. Now, its a bunch of cheap stuff aimed just at the kids, nothing for adults.

This is what I am talking about

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Has anyone else noticed that the quality of the clothing has gone done dramatically? They just to have the cutest clothes with embroidered characters on them. They fabric was good quality too. Now it is just cheap screened prints that look horrible. The kids jeans are a cheap, rough material. I haven't seen any good collectibles in there in a long time. I rarely even go in the store when I'm at the mall anymore. If you look at the quality of the DS and then WOD they are like night and day.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I really hope that Disney does buy it back and turns it into the great store it once was. I know thats doubtful and a dream, but hey, a girl can dream, right? I used to love all the great collectibles you could get at the Disney store in the early to mid 90's. I could always count on finding a great new peice of clothing or a gift. Now, its a bunch of cheap stuff aimed just at the kids, nothing for adults.

When I worked for The Disney Store, we use to get complaints all the time that there was nothing for boys. Well, very little boys at least, especially when it came to the tweens. There was a lot of girl stuff, but not a lot for the boys. Man I miss working for TDS. If Disney opened a store in my area, I'd look into working part-time for them just for the perks.

 

[Maleficent13]

I really hope that Disney does buy it back and turns it into the great store it once was. I know thats doubtful and a dream, but hey, a girl can dream, right? I used to love all the great collectibles you could get at the Disney store in the early to mid 90's. I could always count on finding a great new peice of clothing or a gift. Now, its a bunch of cheap stuff aimed just at the kids, nothing for adults.

The trend toward crap came long before TCP bought them. It was TDS that pretty much gave away all the watches/jewelry/collectables in a massive sale and did away with adult product altogether and filled the spots with 5 hundred million talking Buzz Lightyear dolls.

 

[Geoff_M]

True... but TCP took the concept and ran with it even further!

 

[CapeCodTenor]

The trend toward crap came long before TCP bought them. It was TDS that pretty much gave away all the watches/jewelry/collectables in a massive sale and did away with adult product altogether and filled the spots with 5 hundred million talking Buzz Lightyear dolls.

Yeah, no kidding. I use to love going to work and looking at all the new collectables/watches and other adult things that we got in.

 

[Kim&Chris]

This would only be good if Disney turns these stores back into Disney and away from the Kmartish atmosphere they are now...

Agree 100%.

 

[Kristi1357]

I was a TDS CM for 11 years. You don't know how much I hope this is true!

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I was a TDS CM for 11 years. You don't know how much I hope this is true!

Former TDS CM here as well. Fanuiel Hall, Store #334

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that TDS was going to seed before they were sold. I remember talking to the CM's about all of the great merchandise that was vanishing and being replaced by endless stuff for little girls.

Thanks for posting this Dan. I hadn't heard about it.

 

[Pirate Me]

I hope that they give it back to Disney..No.
They WILL.

 

[wardfamily1]

They definitely need more 'grown up' items in the stores. It seems like the stores I go to are 75% princess/little girl items. More home furnishings and tween gear would certainly boost sales in the stores.

 

[Pirate Me]

Like those big catalogues they used to send...with all the furniture..