Disney Draws on Steve Jobs and Apple for Retail Store Makeover

MacRumors · Oct 13, 2009, 09:31 AM

The New York Times reports that The Walt Disney Company is planning a ground-up revival of its retail stores using a high-tech "Imagination Park" concept and has turned to Steve Jobs and the retail store team at Apple for assistance with the project. Jobs became a member of Disney's Board of Directors and the largest individual Disney shareholder when the company acquired Pixar in early 2006.

Quote:

The involvement of Mr. Jobs, the Apple chief executive who joined the Disney board with the 2006 acquisition of Pixar, is particularly notable. For the first time, Mr. Jobs's fingerprints can be seen on Disney strategy, in the same way that he influenced the look and feel of Apple's own immensely popular retail chain. While Mr. Jobs did not personally toil on the Imagination Park concept, he pushed Disney to move far past a refurbishment.

"Dream bigger -- that was Steve’s message," said Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products.

Jobs reportedly provided Disney with inside information on Apple's retail store development and operations, as well as allowing Disney executive to visit the Apple campus and convincing the company to build a prototype retail store to aid in refining the customer experience.

Disney's "Imagination Park" concept apparently carries several other Apple-like aspects to it, from in-store theater areas to mobile checkout technology for sales associates. The concept has reportedly been approved by the Disney Board of Directors, and the company is currently negotiating with landlords to secure the high-profile locations necessary for the concept.

Article Link: Disney Draws on Steve Jobs and Apple for Retail Store Makeover

Lukeeeee · Oct 13, 2009, 09:35 AM

I'd love to see Disney stores starting to look like Apple stores... that'd be funny.

zombitronic · Oct 13, 2009, 09:36 AM

Very cool. I always thought that Disney had the power to do better than their current retail stores. Kudos to them for pulling their strings the right way.

SkippyThorson · Oct 13, 2009, 09:38 AM

Mouse Genius? Princess Bar? High brushed metal walls with woodgrain countertops to showcase their stuffed animals? Very very Disney.

VoR · Oct 13, 2009, 09:40 AM

At least it's something for managers to spend money on.

Loading up retail space with stuffed animals and keyrings is an art. With steve jobs and a few other external consultants on the case I can't wait to see the end result and to be persuaded into buying a new snow shaker.

smileyborg · Oct 13, 2009, 09:48 AM

Heck, why don't ALL retail stores just turn into Apple-store copies?

Home Depot...F-Street Bookstore...Toys-R-Us...the possibilities are endless!

levitynyc · Oct 13, 2009, 09:48 AM

Brilliant idea. I love Disney, but their stores are such ****. I don't ever go in them anymore.

They aren't organized at all and theres just stuff everywhere. I'd love to see what Steve and his crew can do to Disney stores.

uaecasher · Oct 13, 2009, 10:00 AM

now we will see disney stores made in glass lol

tgildred · Oct 13, 2009, 10:01 AM

I don't see how drawing all over Steve Jobs is going to improve Disney's retail stores.

Bubba Satori · Oct 13, 2009, 10:08 AM

Hope this doesn't mean Disney is going to start releasing only one or two movies a year.

kymac · Oct 13, 2009, 10:08 AM

i don't see the mobile checkout being able to work with a disney store.. with all the various merchandise it might get complicated.. key rings pencils, tshirts.. the checkout would need a table!

JGowan · Oct 13, 2009, 10:09 AM

I'm in a unique position to see how retail is going in the Mall arena. I design and keep up-to-date Mall Directories for about 300 malls. I was there to see Dell Kiosks die a thousand deaths (that was fun) and I have watched so many Disney Stores go out of business that I actually thought they weren't going to be doing stores anymore, just getting out of the retail biz altogether.

This news surprises me. Plus it's going to make me money. Everytime a mall comes back with "put Disney back on", cha-ching!

Apple, I love you!

4miler · Oct 13, 2009, 10:10 AM

I think the Mac needs a mickey mouse.

mags631 · Oct 13, 2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubba Satori

Hope this doesn't mean Disney is going to start releasing only one or two movies a year.

Why -- in mind, even with small children in my house, this would be a welcomed result. Quality over quantity.

trip1ex · Oct 13, 2009, 10:24 AM

I hate the Apple store except for the hands-on opportunities with Apple products.

On the other hand the Apple store is my favorite store in a mall.

fifthworld · Oct 13, 2009, 10:36 AM

These stores are going to be completely different than Apple stores, precisely because SJ is directly involved. Others may be just copycat, not SJ. He already convinced Disney to build a real size prototype store: awesome process! Looking forward for them.

jav6454 · Oct 13, 2009, 10:38 AM

I see what Disney did there.....

Unspoken Demise · Oct 13, 2009, 10:38 AM

Should be cool to see what comes of this.

SAN66 · Oct 13, 2009, 10:40 AM

All I can picture is a pack of ravenous children being let into an apple like store and destroying the place.

notjustjay · Oct 13, 2009, 10:40 AM

I can't wait to make an appointment at the Goofy Bar.

... Or was that at the Microsoft Store?

BOSS10L · Oct 13, 2009, 10:44 AM

They could start with more reasonable pricing. Every time we went into a Disney store, it felt like we were at a gift shop in one of their theme parks. If I want to get gouged, let me travel to FL or CA for it.

4 more days until the family heads to FL to get gouged.

rdowns · Oct 13, 2009, 10:46 AM

Excuse me sir, one of my mouse ears is ripped.

Make an appointment at the Fairy Bar kid.

Aldaris · Oct 13, 2009, 10:58 AM

Brushed Stainless with a white glowing "Disney D" or Mickey Outline!

Now lets see what Steve can do to help out California Adventures...

BJMRamage · Oct 13, 2009, 11:04 AM

the Disney Store are busy but that lead to teh charm of going in them, like at a theme park. there was so much to see and pick up.

However, in the last few years going into one (or walking by) i felt a dread as there was just so much i didn't want to really be bothered by it. Though i can see the appeal for children wanting to go in.

hagjohn · Oct 13, 2009, 11:07 AM

Great... something else to take Apple away from its core business.

Oct 13, 2009, 09:35 AM	#2
Lukeeeee macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2008	I'd love to see Disney stores starting to look like Apple stores... that'd be funny. __________________ Alubook 2.0 iPhone 3G - Black - 16GB (purchased at 8:02am, July 11, 2008 at O2 Store in Bristol, UK) iPhone - 8GB (Sold)

Oct 13, 2009, 09:38 AM	#4
SkippyThorson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	Mouse Genius? Princess Bar? High brushed metal walls with woodgrain countertops to showcase their stuffed animals? Very very Disney. __________________ http://skippythorson.blogspot.com/ v1 iPhone ~ v5.5 iPod ~ v3 Nano ~ v1 Shuffle ~ 1.25ghz iMac G4 ~ 1.33ghz iBook G4 ~ Airport Extreme

Oct 13, 2009, 09:48 AM	#6
smileyborg macrumors member Join Date: May 2009	Heck, why don't ALL retail stores just turn into Apple-store copies? Home Depot...F-Street Bookstore...Toys-R-Us...the possibilities are endless! __________________ 2.4GHz Aluminum Unibody MacBook [late 2008 revision] (4GB RAM, 320GB HDD) 32GB Black iPhone 3G S⃣

Oct 13, 2009, 10:00 AM	#8
uaecasher Contributor Join Date: Jan 2009	now we will see disney stores made in glass lol __________________ tweet mozymac watch mozymac read mozymac 60+ Free HD Apple/Mac Wallpapers

Oct 13, 2009, 10:01 AM	#9
tgildred macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2007	I don't see how drawing all over Steve Jobs is going to improve Disney's retail stores. __________________ It's a ninja's job to flip out and kill people.

Oct 13, 2009, 09:36 AM	#3
zombitronic macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007	Very cool. I always thought that Disney had the power to do better than their current retail stores. Kudos to them for pulling their strings the right way.

Oct 13, 2009, 09:40 AM	#5
VoR macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK	At least it's something for managers to spend money on. Loading up retail space with stuffed animals and keyrings is an art. With steve jobs and a few other external consultants on the case I can't wait to see the end result and to be persuaded into buying a new snow shaker.

Oct 13, 2009, 09:48 AM	#7
levitynyc macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2006	Brilliant idea. I love Disney, but their stores are such ****. I don't ever go in them anymore. They aren't organized at all and theres just stuff everywhere. I'd love to see what Steve and his crew can do to Disney stores.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:08 AM	#10
Bubba Satori macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: B'ham	Hope this doesn't mean Disney is going to start releasing only one or two movies a year.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:08 AM	#11
kymac macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: portland	i don't see the mobile checkout being able to work with a disney store.. with all the various merchandise it might get complicated.. key rings pencils, tshirts.. the checkout would need a table!

Oct 13, 2009, 10:09 AM	#12
JGowan macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003	I'm in a unique position to see how retail is going in the Mall arena. I design and keep up-to-date Mall Directories for about 300 malls. I was there to see Dell Kiosks die a thousand deaths (that was fun) and I have watched so many Disney Stores go out of business that I actually thought they weren't going to be doing stores anymore, just getting out of the retail biz altogether. This news surprises me. Plus it's going to make me money. Everytime a mall comes back with "put Disney back on", cha-ching! Apple, I love you! __________________ JGowan Apple's market share is bigger than BMWs or Mercedes' in the auto market. What's wrong with being BMW or Mercedes? - Steve Jobs

Oct 13, 2009, 10:10 AM	#13
4miler macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2009	I think the Mac needs a mickey mouse.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:24 AM	#15
trip1ex macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2008	I hate the Apple store except for the hands-on opportunities with Apple products. On the other hand the Apple store is my favorite store in a mall.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:36 AM	#16
fifthworld macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2008	These stores are going to be completely different than Apple stores, precisely because SJ is directly involved. Others may be just copycat, not SJ. He already convinced Disney to build a real size prototype store: awesome process! Looking forward for them.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:38 AM	#17
jav6454 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ontario, CA \| Metairie, LA \| San Pedro Sula, Honduras	I see what Disney did there..... __________________ Collector's Edition Al MacBook 2.4GHz \| 1st Gen iPhone 8GB \| iPhone 3G S⃣ 32GB New to iPhone World? Click Me On a search? MRoogle

Oct 13, 2009, 10:38 AM	#18
Unspoken Demise macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: JESUS SAVES...passes to Moses, shoots, SCORES!!!	Should be cool to see what comes of this.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:40 AM	#19
SAN66 macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2006	All I can picture is a pack of ravenous children being let into an apple like store and destroying the place.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:40 AM	#20
notjustjay macrumors 68030 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canada, eh?	I can't wait to make an appointment at the Goofy Bar. ... Or was that at the Microsoft Store? __________________ MRoogle

Oct 13, 2009, 10:44 AM	#21
BOSS10L macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Upstate NY	They could start with more reasonable pricing. Every time we went into a Disney store, it felt like we were at a gift shop in one of their theme parks. If I want to get gouged, let me travel to FL or CA for it. 4 more days until the family heads to FL to get gouged. __________________ 20" iMac 2.4/MB 2.0/TV 160GB/Black 16GB iPhone 3G S⃣ /White 16GB iPhone 3G/iPhone 8GB

Oct 13, 2009, 10:46 AM	#22
rdowns macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jul 2003	Excuse me sir, one of my mouse ears is ripped. Make an appointment at the Fairy Bar kid. __________________ I'm Larry David. I happen to enjoy wearing women's panties.

Oct 13, 2009, 10:58 AM	#23
Aldaris macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Salt Lake City	Brushed Stainless with a white glowing "Disney D" or Mickey Outline! Now lets see what Steve can do to help out California Adventures... __________________ -Aldaris (The "real" Judicator) PMac G4\|PCube\|PB G4\|MBP\|iPhone and iPods Galore This is my iLife?

Oct 13, 2009, 11:04 AM	#24
BJMRamage macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007	the Disney Store are busy but that lead to teh charm of going in them, like at a theme park. there was so much to see and pick up. However, in the last few years going into one (or walking by) i felt a dread as there was just so much i didn't want to really be bothered by it. Though i can see the appeal for children wanting to go in.

Oct 13, 2009, 11:07 AM	#25
hagjohn macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maryland	Great... something else to take Apple away from its core business. __________________ MacBook (week 38): 2.0Mhz, 120GB HD, 2GB Desk: A64 6400+, M2N32-SLI DLX, 8800 GTS, 7 x64, RB 1GB iPhone 3G - Shuffle2 1GB - TiVo2

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