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

[ssdeverell]

I too had no idea there were so many Chattanooga Dis-sers! I'm so bummed about the Nooga Disney Store closing. I was at Hamilton Place two weekends ago but didn't even go upstairs. It's not even listed on Hamilton Place's website anymore.

I went to West Town Mall in Knoxville last Saturday and the Disney Store was still open. For some reason I'm thinking it was an outlet. I didn't actually look at the sign outside the store but inside it "felt" like the outlet at Nashville's Opry Mills Mall.

Hey! I also live in Cleveland, but work in Chattanooga. I had been in the store 3 weeks before it closed and nothing looked out of sorts or was mentioned. Then, my friend went the next weekend and a lot of the stuff was gone so she asked. They told her it was closing, but there would not be a sale. The closing part was true, but they did have a sale. I went and bought several things for my DD1 for her first trip next year.

There is also an outlet store in Pigeon Forge/Seiverville, but I have not been since they remodeled last year. I heard it was more like a regular store than an outlet, but that would not surprise me. Everthing at that outlet mall is that way.

Hope to run into some of my neighbor DISer's.

 

[labattblue]

The "Disney Stores" are a shell of what they were going back 5-10 years or so. I remember when they had a huge book & dvd section, the stuffed animal bin at the back of the store was filled with anything and everything and the variety of merchandise in general was FAR greater than the joke the store has become today.

Bottom line....There just isn't much reason to go in one anymore.

 

[WVParkfan]

They closed the Disney Store at the Charleston Towne Center Mall in Charleston, WV this week. It was really sad to see the store near-empty with nothing but close-out items.

Living so far from Orlando, the Disney Stores always gave us a little bit of the "magic" whenever we visited. And even though we live 2 hours away from Charleston, it was always nice to visit the store whenever we were in town.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

The "Disney Stores" are a shell of what they were going back 5-10 years or so. I remember when they had a huge book & dvd section, the stuffed animal bin at the back of the store was filled with anything and everything and the variety of merchandise in general was FAR greater than the joke the store has become today.

Bottom line....There just isn't much reason to go in one anymore.

I'm sorry you feel that way about the stores because there is still magic in them. I worked last night at my store and we had a little boy run into the store yelling "Mickey!"-that is why I work there.

As far as the stuffed animal bin, in the new style stores it is called plush mountain and is not connected to the back wall. There are still quite a variety of stuffed animals - as matter of fact I filled it in last night. Currently we have Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Boo, Squirt, Bambi, Mater, Dumbo, Lucky, Penny, Marie, Eeyore, Pooh, Tigger and Piglet. Those are the regularly priced plush. We have many other styles that just went on sale including the Robin Hood characters as well as the Jungle Book characters.

As far as books are concerned, I can understand why we carry the minimum - there's a Barnes and Noble in the mall, as there are in many malls . It makes sense to not carry a large book selection. We still have quite a few DVD's - I don't think it's any less than what we've had in the past, I just think it's displayed differently. We do keep them behind the register so we may not have as many display boxes out for guests to see.

I can't change people's perception of the store, but I do wish they would give it another shot. Things have been changing for the better.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I'm sorry you feel that way about the stores because there is still magic in them. I worked last night at my store and we had a little boy run into the store yelling "Mickey!"-that is why I work there.

I totally understand, but what about all the adults that used to be able to go hog-wild in there? I used to work at TDS in 1997. We had an entire adult department- shoes, pjs, shirts, polos, etc. They are no more. Once it was taken over by The Children's Place, I had no reason to go anymore.

 

[jak07]

Ours closed on the 9th too! I think they closed atleast 6 stores this month or recently.

They have never been the same since TCP took over. There isn't another one near me within a 5 hour drive.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

(Disney Stores have been well known for inflated initial prices, which would be marked down substantially after just a few weeks),

True, true true! I used to work for them. I stayed for the change over from Disney ownership to Children's Place ownership and then got out.

Heads up for those who still have stores nearby: Markdown day was/is typically Wednesday morning.

 

[Maine-iac]

Hey TheDisneyGirl02, have you heard any info as to why so many stores are closing?
I am going to the Maine Mall in Portland tomorrow hoping to add $$ to my Disney gift cards. That is the only Disney Store in Maine. I would hate to see it close.

 

[Lil'Simba]

My store closed too! I wanted to get some Disney Bucks to surprise DD with the news that the trip is booked.

 

[jak07]

I don't know why so many are closing. I spoke a previous manager of our store. He wasn't working there when it closed. He said it was sales. Sales have been down and they closed the lowest performing stores.

I still have to say that I prefer the Disney owned Disney store over TCP Disney store. I remember buying things like jewelry (charms), heavy fluffy robes, bookends, banks, tote bags, clothes..not just t-shirts. I used to drop $$$$$$ at TDS before the change. Last year I think I went into our DS maybe 5-10 times and spent maybe $50-100 for the whole year. Nothing called to me.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I totally understand, but what about all the adults that used to be able to go hog-wild in there? I used to work at TDS in 1997. We had an entire adult department- shoes, pjs, shirts, polos, etc. They are no more. Once it was taken over by The Children's Place, I had no reason to go anymore.

There is a LOT more adult clothing now than there has been in years! Right now, we have polos (both for men and woman), button down shirts (for both men and women), PJs for women as well as jeans and jean skirts for woman. Disney lost a lot of guests when they decided to take out the adult clothing. Now TCP is bringing it back. It's taking a while, but it's coming along. There was actually a tank-top I fell in love with at my store but it sold out before I had a chance to buy it. Oh well, should have followed my own advice and purchased it when we had it.

Hey TheDisneyGirl02, have you heard any info as to why so many stores are closing?
I am going to the Maine Mall in Portland tomorrow hoping to add $$ to my Disney gift cards. That is the only Disney Store in Maine. I would hate to see it close.

When Disney owned the stores, they opened a lot of stores very close to one another. Many of those stores closed. My store is the only store within a 45 minute drive of another store, so we do very well. We are a high volume store and do well year around. Sadly the economy is playing a role in retail...more than many people may realize.

I still have to say that I prefer the Disney owned Disney store over TCP Disney store. I remember buying things like jewelry (charms), heavy fluffy robes, bookends, banks, tote bags, clothes..not just t-shirts. I used to drop $$$$$$ at TDS before the change. Last year I think I went into our DS maybe 5-10 times and spent maybe $50-100 for the whole year. Nothing called to me.

I must admit, last night at my store before I started working, I spent almost $90 on merchandise and didn't buy one toy or one piece of kid's clothing. I bought an outfit for my DBF (including a button up shirt, vest, and tie), a set of 3 Disney mixing bowls, the Disney canister set, a Mickey Mouse shaped wall clock and a kitchen timer. I know that some stores may not carry all of the products that we carry at my store, but there is plenty of things that I wanted to buy, but restrained myself from buying! I found out that we're one of the stores that is lucky enough to carry adult clothing and products (including really nifty purses and bags) but not all stores do. That does bother me because I look at my store and see what we have to offer and I wonder why it's not available to everyone at every Disney Store.

I don't want to sound like a walking advertisement for the stores (in a way I am, but I'm more a supporter than anything), but I truly still believe in magic that Disney Stores can bring to cities around the country and the world.

 

[jennifer293]

I am a Chatt Diser too (well Cleveland), and I went in there back when they first found out they were closing and I had heard about it on here and I asked the CM about it. She was shocked that I knew because they were just told they were jobless a few days before. Her manager actually sent her after me once I left the store to find out what website I had read about the closing on. I hate that it is gone because I used to let my girls go in there every Xmas and pick out an ornament for the tree. Guess I should find another tradition..or go back to Hallmark and spend a fortune.. OH WELL!!!

I heard that Old Navy was closing too and all of them would eventually switch over to Gap Stores..Dunno if that is true or not. I am just glad my town finally has a Target and Kohl's..

 

[Disney Von Drake]

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.

Why are they closing so many stores?!

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.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

They closed ours too! (Park Meadows, CO)

 

[Donald Lover11]

My Disney Store closed 5 years ago!! Then another one near me closed about 3 years ago as well.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

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.

I believe that everyone was aware of who owns whom when it comes to Disney stores (regardless if they are park owned or otherwise owned).

I do disagree that the Stores proved that Disney isn't good at direct retail sales. When the stores first were opened in 1987, they were run fantastically and were very few and far between. Then after Disney realized how sucessful the stores were, they opened more and more and more. Sadly, it did become oversaturated because it wasn't as unique anymore. That was the downfall of the Disney Company running the Disney Stores. My store does well because we are the only Disney Store within 45 minutes drive in any direction.

Now after they opened many stores, the management changed and decided to do this program called "Project Go". That is when I believe things really started to go downhill as far as Disney owning the stores. I know there were entire binders of information and we had a store meeting regarding the changes for Project Go. I can't remember much of it (I've tried blocking it out) but the one thing was to make CMs more 'efficient', we couldn't straighten the store at all during the day or after close. We could pick one fixture a night to zone (clean up) and that was it. It was a crazy time. Eventually, Project Go went but things had changed and the stores haven't been run the same way since.

I stuck with it because I still believe in the store and what they represent. My Disney Store CMs are like my family - I have known some of them for 10 years. We have been together for marriages, divorces, births and deaths. When I had a horrible accident, my Disney family supported me with so much love and support that I could never even begin to thank them today.

I personally would rather have a Children's Place run Disney Store than no Disney Store at all.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

There is a LOT more adult clothing now than there has been in years!

This was not the case at our store. Sorry.

 

[danny1649]

I think this thread is a better fit here on our Community Board

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

This was not the case at our store. Sorry.

I think that is so sad that not all of the stores are carrying the adult clothing! I know it's a company choice, but I wish that all Disney Store guests had the chance to shop for clothing like we do at my store.

I didn't realize that some stores didn't carry as much clothing (if any adult clothing) maybe a week ago. I asked my manager why the store about an hour from here didn't have any adult clothing and she said that only some stores are selling that merchandise! I couldn't believe it!

The good thing is, since it's doing well at my store (I guess maybe they are testing it in some stores), maybe it will carry over to be a company-wide product! I hope so for those whose stores don't have the clothing yet!

 

[bradk]

in case this hasn't been covered, here's some breaking news for you.

The Children's Place has announced it's abandoning the Disney Store. TCP has posted a loss with TDS and coupled with a poor relationship with Disney to begin with, they're bowing out.

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