My Disney store closed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Disney is in talks with them to purchase back some of the stores, I think about 2/3 of them. Disney will take back control of the stores but I believe will try to keep the number of stores limited instead of falling prey to rapid expansion again.

here's one sample story for you: http://www.reuters.com/article/PBLSHG/idUSN2037904920080320

My manager called a little while ago to let me know about this. She did mention that 1/3 of the stores would close if Disney does take us back. I'm hoping that my store is safe. We are a high volume store and were one of the top 50 stores in the company last year, so my fingers are crossed.

I know it's just business but it does still hurt that they don't want us either...

 

[tndvc]

The Chattanooga store was also one of the top 50 stores in the company last year. Hopefully Disney will make better decisions about which stores to close than Hoop Retail. The Children's Place evidently just looked to see which stores leases were up, and didn't consider profitabily or location. I only wish this had happened two months ago. It might have saved the Chattanooga location.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

The Chattanooga store was also one of the top 50 stores in the company last year. Hopefully Disney will make better decisions about which stores to close than Hoop Retail. The Children's Place evidently just looked to see which stores leases were up, and didn't consider profitabily or location. I only wish this had happened two months ago. It might have saved the Chattanooga location.

That just gave me a really sick feeling in my stomach. Now I'm more upset and more worried than before...I don't want to lose my Disney family...

 

[cheshire1013]

My mom works at an NH Disney store. She told me this morning that childrens place was selling the disney stores back to disney and they would probably be closing about 100 stores. Yikes! There are 3 disney stores with in 30 minutes of where we live, so hopefully they don't close my moms store! I guess all the stores are not selling as much as they should be. But she said they won't announce anything for 6 weeks. So we'll have to keep our fingers crossed.

 

[PrincessKara22]

The one inside the Burlington Mall in MA is closed also. I had recieved the news that it was closing in an email and so we drove down there and it was already closed We live closer to another Disney store but we liked going to that one because it was bigger and had more merchandise plus it was across from The Rainforest Cafe. I was truly bummed.

The one in Burlington is already closed?! I was just there a few weeks ago and it seemed like they were hiring someone! I had hoped that it hadn't closed yet so I could go to the closing sales for some easter stuff tomorrow. Oh well. I hope the one at solomon pond mall doesn't close as well. That still has all the art and figurines up by the ceiling and the HUGE tv screen at the back. It's a really nice store.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

My mom works at an NH Disney store. She told me this morning that childrens place was selling the disney stores back to disney and they would probably be closing about 100 stores. Yikes! There are 3 disney stores with in 30 minutes of where we live, so hopefully they don't close my moms store! I guess all the stores are not selling as much as they should be. But she said they won't announce anything for 6 weeks. So we'll have to keep our fingers crossed.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your mom!!!!! 6 weeks is a LONG time to have to wait!!!! It's going to be a long 6 weeks, that's for sure!

 

[PrincessKara22]

Let me see if I can clear this up.

Disney only owns the Disney Stores in Europe. Children’s Place owns them in the USA and Oriental Land Company owns them in Japan.

Disney Parks runs the World of Disney store in NYC (formerly the flagship store in the DS chain) as well as shops at Orlando International and Pointe Orlando.

WDW runs about 6-7 outlet stores in Florida under the names of Character Premiere and Character Warehouse, while AMS (a liquidation company) has one permanent location in Fullerton, CA operating under the name Character Warehouse and often opens stores all around the country for weeks or months at a time under the same name. They also often carry Universal Studios merchandise, although never in the Fullerton store.

Finally, there's a Character Corner outlet just minutes from WDW on SR 535 that is privately owned, that sells WDW merchandise and often sells test runs and defects that were never on sale in the parks.

Bottom line is that is all has to do with the licensing agreements Disney has in place.

The Disney Store proved one thing. Disney is no good at direct retail sales. However, they are masters at licensing their products. So, they got out of direct retail (except for the few remaining stores listed above) and they license their name and merchandise to all comers.

You can’t walk into a Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Sears, etc. without tripping over some Disney product. They’re into hardware, kitchen, electronics, books, bath, paint, food, drugs, clothes and most any product you can imagine. That’s where the money is!

Disney regulates TCP through licensing and contract agreements. If TCP doesn’t tow the line, Disney can extract fines via their contract. Disney has already gone to court twice to enforce various aspects of TCP contract.

In short, Disney tells TCP how many Disney Stores to open or close per their contract. TCP either complies or they will face heavy fines from Disney. TCP is a Disney slave.

I've definitely known that TCP has owned the disney stores except for the NYC one for years now and that Disney is awesome at liscencing. Who are you "clearing" this up for?

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Disney Parks runs the World of Disney store in NYC (formerly the flagship store in the DS chain) as well as shops at Orlando International and Pointe Orlando.

WDW runs about 6-7 outlet stores in Florida under the names of Character Premiere and Character Warehouse, while AMS (a liquidation company) has one permanent location in Fullerton, CA operating under the name Character Warehouse and often opens stores all around the country for weeks or months at a time under the same name. They also often carry Universal Studios merchandise, although never in the Fullerton store.

Just to extend this a bit, Disney Parks runs all three World of Disney stores in the U.S.: NYC, Orlando and Anaheim.

AMS runs one other permanent Character Warehouse Store in Las Vegas.

 

[Maine-iac]

I went to the store in the Maine Mall in Portland today. The lady I talked to said that she did not know yet if they were closing. She said that any store that would be closing would be done so by the end of June.

 

[Disney Von Drake]

I've definitely known that TCP has owned the disney stores except for the NYC one for years now and that Disney is awesome at liscencing. Who are you "clearing" this up for?

You're welcome.

 

[jak07]

The Chattanooga store was also one of the top 50 stores in the company last year. Hopefully Disney will make better decisions about which stores to close than Hoop Retail. The Children's Place evidently just looked to see which stores leases were up, and didn't consider profitabily or location. I only wish this had happened two months ago. It might have saved the Chattanooga location.

I agree. I know that our stores lease was up and the mall did want to increase the rent.

It would be nice if Disney took the stores over they would bring ours back. I know they won't because they will close stores, but like I said earlier, there isn't a DS within 5 hours from here.

 

[cheshire1013]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your mom!!!!! 6 weeks is a LONG time to have to wait!!!! It's going to be a long 6 weeks, that's for sure!

Thanks! I'll be so sad if her store closes! I love visiting her with my DD. DD loves it there. I always say that its a piece of the magic in our hometown! Id be sad if they took it away!

 

[kaysmommie]

Does anyone know if the Knoxville location at West town mall is closing , I hope not.

 

[Ned_Land]

Does anyone know if the Knoxville location at West town mall is closing , I hope not.

I spoke with a CM at the West Town Store this morning. They have been spared. I was a little surprised with the size of market Knoxville is, but I guess they must be profitable. Hopefully they kept the beautiful Mickey tile inlay in storage and will go back to a more "Disney" look.