disney store closings

[Planogirl]

I have to agree that the DS CM's are still very nice. I stop to chat with them when I drop by to pick up catalogues at our two nearest Disney Stores. I enjoy picking up the catalogues, I guess because it give me a reason to enter the stores. It's definitely not because of the merchandise.

I find it hard to believe though that NOTHING geared for adults ever sold well. How did the stores survive all of those years when the merchandise was more varied? I can only speak for myself but I bought a lot of stuff way back when and it certainly wasn't all on sale. And the stores were crowded back then too.

 

[mitros]

Exactly! The disney stores did not start closing until they instituted all the changes. If they weren't making money at that point, why did they not start closing the stores then? The stores did not start closing until they made all of the changes. And they were always crowded.

 

[MacGyverTDS]

I wholeheartedly agree with it not being the CM's fault that the product in the stores have changed. Unfortunately, they're the 1st line of defense and really don't have the answers as to why corporate made the changes in product lines. When I was living in the Boston area, we had something like 8 stores within 25 miles of the city. When the store closings began, we lost 3 stores in 9 months, all of which made money for the company. Look at the malls where your stores are located....Disney targeted middle to high end malls for their stores. That translates into high to very high rent for their locations. No matter how much we loved the stores, the Cast Members, the guests we had that became friends,;all of that really didn't matter when it came down to the bottom line to the accountants.
We had the coolest store in Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 2 floors, the 1st multi-floor store until 5th Ave. opened up. But no matter how cool the store was, or how consistent we were in making, or surpassing sales goals, the rent was astronomical! When they closed, it was strictly because Disney didn't want to pay the high rent. Oh well, I guess that's business.
I'm sorry for those of you that are losing the stores near you, and please don't take this wrong, but I'm more sorry for the Cast Members who love their jobs and can't afford to make the commute to whatever store they could transfer to so they could stay with the company.
So, go to your stores that are closing, wish the Cast Members luck!

 

[maleficent1959]

Originally posted by mitros
Exactly! The disney stores did not start closing until they instituted all the changes. If they weren't making money at that point, why did they not start closing the stores then? The stores did not start closing until they made all of the changes. And they were always crowded.

That's not exactly right. The changes came about because the stores were already losing money. The company tried all the changes in an attempt to save them. They started closing stores, at first in what they deemed oversaturated markets, and that has been happening for a couple years. They instituted changes in select others to see what "kind" of Disney Store would be more successful. Unfortunately the company apparently could not seem to produce enough profitable adult lines, as well as other lines (anyone remember the pre-teen line?), and the "regular" TDS merchandise lines were trimmed. TDS was already deemed a "failure" by many long before they removed art and collectibles.

Based on what the company reported as tremendous sales in the kid-oriented test stores, this summer all TDS began to heavily gear toward a core of 3-8 year-old kids. I hate the way the store looks right now, but I admit, our sales have been much better than previous years. There are a lot of parents and grandparents out there snapping this stuff up.

Do I like all the plush? Not a bit. Would I like to see adult stuff back? As a consumer, I would. I miss the stationary, the nice pjs, the books, something other than Pooh t-shirts... Am I purchasing less at TDS these days? Much less, and I have a toddler. Do I hope this works? You bet.

 

[eeyore0062]

Nicely said, Maleficient!! Our store too, has had increased sales over the past year. What can I say... Money Talks and what doesn't sell, walks!

 

[mitros]

I am basing what i said in my post from personal experiences when we lived in NJ. You are right about the oversaturation of stores. Where i lived, there were 2 stores in 2 seperate malls about 3 miles apart, and the next nearest ones were 12 miles and 15 miles away. Over saturation was an absoulute problem in NJ. It's just that it appeared to me that after the closing of stores that were too close together business was still good until they started to change the lines. It sounds to me like you may be a CM at a Disney store by what you said in your post. If that's the case, I suppose you saw it from the inside,and knew all the facts. I based my observations on what i saw as a real good customer of the Disney stores looking from the outside in. Thanks for the input. I hope to someday see yet another change for the better at the stores. In the mean time, since we live 86 miles from WDW, I guess we will do our disney shopping there. I don't care much for catalog buying since on several occassions i caught them claiming a sale price that was not, by comparing catalogs. {We get a Disney catalog every 4or 5 weeks}

 

[PatMcDuck]

It is interesting that you mentioned NJ as being oversaturated with Disneystores. I would think that was true as well....... I am a CM in one, and there are 2 others within 20 minutes of me, 2 more perhaps 35 minutes away, etc. BUT it seems NJ is a very good market for Disneystores........ one was closed in NJ, only one, as far as I know and that was in Livinston Mall, a mall that is sort of "failing". No other NJ is slated to close (right now, as far as I know) , and 2 were prototype remodels, and 2 were made into "concept " stores......

I agree with most of what was posted here on why the product had to change, and why collectibles had to go (and we were a large full Gallery store). The $$$ tied up in inventory was very high. Very poor business practice, unfortunately. Those items were never allowed to be marked down, or put on sale, so they just sat around. 4-5 years, and some was still sitting. They even tried taking down the glass, thinking if people could touch the product, perhaps more would buy it. They tried so many things...... we that work in the stores are more aware of these efforts than the guests.

BUT I still think they can make $$ with some items like cookie jars, figurines, etc, and some adult clothing.

 

[mickey4ver]

A round of applause for those cast members who weighed in on this thread, and shed some light as to what is going on. All of you well stated your cases. Maybe the shopping public will try and understand that it is not the CM's fault, but things that corporate honchos feel will/might work...and remember....the bottom line is the $$$$$. It is like don't shoot the messenger, in these cases, the cast members, who help keep the stores running.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We have a store in Omaha that I will find interesting to see how well it does.
Omaha had two DS. When one store closed, a woman from CA opened up in the old DS location a store that carries mostly high end Disney collectables.
There are a few Mickey & Co knick knacks and what I think may be close outs. But mostly $$$ cells, prints, housewares, furniture, clocks, WDCC, even jewelry etc.
And they don't go out of their way to make customers feel welcome. It's actually more of I-don't-trust-you uncomfortable feeling.
Most locals think this store IS a DS. (Location, location, location) And it is more of a DS than a DS. They even have a video/media/book section that always plays Disney video classics, while the rest of the store plays Disney classic music.
It wil be interesting to see if the market here will carry this store. She has been around a year now.

 

[mickey4ver]

Keep us posted on this store and how it does...interesting. We have a country collectibles style store at one of our malls, really cute stuff, but the owners are like what you are describing...when you walk in, they ask if you have a drink, do this do that or we'll ask you to leave..I won't go in there anymore...I'm an adult and know how to act around breakables etc. I had a drink sitting in my purse, with a lid on it, (was on way home) and the owner came up to me and asked me to "please leave"....because of the drink. Rules are fine, but I for one felt a little offended over it and this is not the first time I've heard them be rude to shopper. I can't see where that helps their business. Believe me, I truly believe in well behaved kids, no eating pizza while walking around the store (yes, I've seen this in stores), but a well behaved adult, carrying a cup tucked into their purse and being asked to leave just didn't set well with me.

 

[Fins2TheRight]

I have to wonder myself why anyone would blame a CM for the changes in the stores. Changes are dictated by management, not front line employees. I've never had a problem with any CMs at the DS... they have all been very friendly. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten much of a chance to see them over the last few months, because I tend to go into a DS, spend about two minutes looking for any adult merchandise, then leave disapointed.

I was in a store here in the St Louis area two weeks ago that had ONE display of adult T-Shirts. They looked pretty good, so my wife and I bought a couple. I made it a point to look around for anything else even remotely adult related and found nothing. I don't even remember seeing the traditional "History of Disney Animation" books.

I realize, like any business, if a formula isn't working, you have two choices -- you close the business or you change the formula. If this were a bookstore or software store that changed its look, no problem -- I'd just shop elsewhere. Heck, I can buy "Big Daddy" or the latest Buffett CD anywhere. But I truly miss the variety of merchandise we used to see at our local DS.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Another one bites the dust. I'm not sure if there are any Disney Stores left in Missouri other than St. Louis and KC now. Now I have to wait until May for my Disney fix.

 

[grinningghost]

While at the mall yesterday, I passed by TDS. I peeked in to see if it looked like there were any changes. All I could see were tons of plush toys and kid trinkets. I really wish they would at least put back the adult Disney books and videos. I suppose I shouldn't complain, as this particular store is still open - but it really doesn't much matter to me if there isn't anything that interests me.

 

[catwho]

Originally posted by eeyore0062
If you really want to make a difference, please go to Disney.com to guest services and email them. You, as the guest have the power to help change things around, but please don't take it out on the castmembers.

Amen!!! We have a DS in our local mall and most of the CM's know me by name and the all know me by face. A few even know that we are quickly approaching our annual vacation and have assisted us with making arrangements for our AP's (like suggesting we wait a week for the "new AP program" to begin instead of ordering the vouchers) They have shown us bargains and told us when something that we are contemplating purchasing is going on sale, "Hey, Michelle - hold off on that, it will be on sale next week." How many retail store employees do you know who do that? They've dubbed me their "WDW shopper" and make a list of all the things that they want me to pick up for them when we go on vacation and send me money (hey, the trust me with their money at WDW!)

They also ask me for my input. And I've given them my feelings about the lack of adult merchandise available. I need more than coffee mugs and t-shirts (and I want a Princess t-shirt in an adult size!) LOL! They've written my suggestions up several times. When I have had a problem with a piece of merchandise that I have bought they have bent over backwards to make sure that I am satisfied with the exchange or refund. I love my CM's. They love me (or at least they act like it LOL!) They even told me how to crash the CM Christmas party this past year (couldn't go though - darn it!)

I know for a fact that they don't treat everyone like they do me. Maybe it is because of the way that I treat them.

 

[bandman322]

I'm really mad about DS taking the place of a great Disney outlet that was here for years. We got great Disney merchandise, and at discounted prices. Then they decide to open a DS and by corporate rules they had to close the outlet down.

What did we get out of this deal? Higher prices and less available merchandise. I hope all the DS's close nation-wide. Then maybe they will reopen some of the regional outlets again and we can buy better stuff at cheaper prices!

 

[dzneelvr]

Our WalMart superstore has a wide selection of adult Disney clothes and accessories.
What is the reason Disney supports that distribution chain and not their own DS's??

Somehow, I can't bring myself to purchase anything Disney at Walmart--seems disloyal somehow.......

 

[mickey4ver]

Originally posted by bandman322
I'm really mad about DS taking the place of a great Disney outlet that was here for years. We got great Disney merchandise, and at discounted prices. Then they decide to open a DS and by corporate rules they had to close the outlet down.

What did we get out of this deal? Higher prices and less available merchandise. I hope all the DS's close nation-wide. Then maybe they will reopen some of the regional outlets again and we can buy better stuff at cheaper prices!

Those are harsh sentiments for those people that make a living perhaps managing or running a Disney Store. They have families to support too, I'd hate to see them without a job, just as I do anyone who works for a company that closes up or goes under. Regardless of what are feelings are concerning merchandise, you can't deny that people's lives would be affected if all the stores closed.

 

[bandman322]

It's okay for Disney to close an outlet that has been in our Tanger outlet for years because they would provide competition for their very own DS -- but -- it's not okay for the DS that put those people out of a job to close??????? Disney didn't even offer the people that they put out of work a job in the new DS.

I love Disney more than most of the people here. I have worked so very close with them bringing the youth from our area on trips to Disney at great expense to my family, and all of these trips during my vacation time. I believe in the greatness that is DIsney, but when it comes to the poorly managed, dirty DS's across this country I still say "LET THEM ALL CLOSE".

 

[mickey4ver]

While I will respectfully decline to argue with you, the outlets are not run by the same division of the company that runs the stores, just as the catalog is a different division. Thjis may have some bearing on why those employees were not picked up in other area stores. I'm sure there were reasons why the outlet store closed, just as they have reasons for closing some of the regular DS. This must have happened awhile ago, cause I don't think there have been too many new Disney Stores opening very recently.

 

[PatMcDuck]

<<<Our WalMart superstore has a wide selection of adult Disney clothes and accessories.
What is the reason Disney supports that distribution chain and not their own DS's??>>>

It SEEMS odd, but it really isn't...... Let's try and explain it the way it was explained once to me.... Disney Consumer Products division has several parts to it, one being licensing, another being the Disneystores(catalog/internet is included ). I think the $$ generated is only about 25% from The stores, 75% licensing!! Licensing is where the division makes a much larger amount of $$, and thus also the company as a whole. Are these 2 parts of the same division in competition with each other? Well, sort of..... But if we stopped licensing clothing and other items to other retailers, OVERALL the division, (and the company) would generate less income. By licensing the items, we get to piggyback onto their distribution systam and consumer base. The trick is in the BALANCE of the two. (The same theory holds for toys that we sell, and other retailers sell as well.) To some degree, internally, the stores compete with one another, with the catalog/internet, and with the other retailers who carry Disney items.

From time to time, we are "allowed" to carry certain toys exclusively. Where we can capitolize is carrying a deep line of items other retailers no longer want to sell, like Toy Story items, Princess items, etc. Another place where we fail to capaitolize on, is the connection with the parks.

As for closing a outlet store, that was near to a new regular Disneystore, that is just sound business judgement.