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Disney Draws on Steve Jobs and Apple for Retail Store Makeover

Wirelessly posted (HTC_Touch_Pro_T7272 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11))

hagjohn...what does this have to do with apple other than they asking apple store designers about advice? do you really think that these designers design computers or program apps in their spare time?
 
Sounds fantastic!

I love Disney and I love Apple. I can't wait to see how this store revamp looks because I am not really crazy about the current Disney store setup.
 
As a long-time fan of Disney (though some of their more recent stuff leaves much to be desired), I know exactly what's wrong with the Disney stores.

The quality of the product has gone way down hill.

I remember in the early 90s, you'd find lots of quality product at the stores. Even simple things like keychains were well made, artistic, and interesting. There was stuff for all ages, not just the under 10 crowd. Clothing was a lot more tasteful. The horrific invasion of pink hadn't started. (I swear, some Disney stores today look like a can of pink paint exploded in them. Don't they realize half the kids are boys?)

I remember when there were animations cels and other genuine collectibles for sale at Disney Stores. Now you're hard pressed to find anything but kiddie junk there. I've seen beautifully themed Disney Stores remodelled into horrific color-clashing garbage.

If Disney wants to fix their stores, they need to bring back the quality products that made them a special place 15 years ago. They need to hire artists to design the stores, not 4-year olds. I'm all for Disney making a comeback; they seem to be on their way but still have a long way to go to return to the glory of the early 90s.
 
BOSS10L said:
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. :D
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If it's pricing, they are not going to get help from $t€v€ Jobs. That's laughable.

Mickey Mouse stuffed animal: $1499 ($1399 with EDU discount!)
 
zorinlynx said:
...
I remember when there were animations cels and other genuine collectibles for sale at Disney Stores. Now you're hard pressed to find anything but kiddie junk there. I've seen beautifully themed Disney Stores remodelled into horrific color-clashing garbage.
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I know! I recall the old design that had the film ribbons and shelving with models of the Disney characters, and it was lovely. About 3 years ago, the last one in the area closed for 'refurbishment' and when it reopened it adopted the sterile look of all the other stores, with a giant Mickey silhouette entrance, but otherwise bland interior.

And they just threw the old stuff away! If I'd been in charge of that store I'd have fought tooth and nail against a remodel.
 
Retail success is linked very closely to store design and customer experience management. Apple have done a great job in this area.
 
kymac said:
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!
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Merchandise + kids + long lines = nightmare for parents ;)
mobile checkout cant get here soon enough!
 
Disney of Old and The Disney of New

I worked for Disney Retail at the height of their popularity. Remember Plush Mountain, the collectables and selling theme park tickets? The fall of Disney retail happened when Eisner decided to sell off the mall stores to KB Toys. Disney used to have their stores as a showcase of EVERYTHING. We used synergy to the max on the movies, theme parks, collectables, clothing. It was mean to give the entire Disney experience to those locally. It was a great PR arm for the theme parks. You think Apple fans are fanatical with lining up for store openings, Disney fans are almost the exact same way.

I think Disney is very smart by having Jobs as a consultant to freshen up the hunk of crap they bought back from KB. Apple Stores were developed because Apple didn't like how their products were being presented. CompUSA's store within in the store was a failed attempt to being things up to par. Finally, Apple decided that they needed to showcase their products in a controlled and top of the line showcase. People thought the concept would fail. It very well could have if it wasn't not for the teams brought in that worked for GAP Retail. Same clean lines. The Apple store is not unique in its design, its a refinement of what profitable retail is. Disney is now borrowing on the expert advice of the imagination of Jobs. Disney needs that now.

The past 12 years have been a black void of creativity at Disney. Its nice to see the gutting Eisner did is slowly coming back .
 
The Jobsification of Disney has begun. I am already planning my 2020 vacation around the grand re-opening of "JobsWorld" in Orlando. iPcot, InsanelyGreatLand, PersonalComputerPioneerLand*, Infinite Loop USA, Clarus the Dogcow's Funtown... my only fear is that the lines at the Reality Distortion Ride will be "insanely long."



*featuring the "Hall of Developers" with the talking animatronic Steve Wozniak!
 
That's nice.

Now could Apple take a hint from Disney and support Blu-ray in OS X properly please? It's embarrassing that Steve Jobs is on the board of Disney and releasing movies on a format that Windows can play fine, but his own company's OS can't.
 
The Samurai said:
Retail success is linked very closely to store design and customer experience management. Apple have done a great job in this area.
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I like the Apple store but I think the experience works for Apple. This doesn't mean that it will work for Disney.

My only complaint with the Apple store is their employees. Their attitude sucks, especially for being retail store employees making $12-15 bucks an hour. Also, from my experience, they are not always knowledgeable when asking questions with any sort of depth, and always resort back to the script. If I'm asking about Exchange integration, I likely know that the iPhone can play music.
 
High Tech and Beyond

I applaud Disney for looking towards Apple for technology and design. I just hope that Disney really pushes Apple, and I mean really pushes Apple to go far and beyond current thinking. This is when Apple really shines. :D
 
This is the store front that came to mind for me.

Untitled-2.jpg

Bubba Satori said:
Hope this doesn't mean Disney is going to start releasing only one or two movies a year.
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It would be better if they moved to one movie every few years and no more sequels. They used to be well made.

Perhaps even another hand drawn film. The CGI was neat when it was a novelty. But it has been over used.

Sure a movie like Walle is a great use of CGI. But, could you imagine a 3D remake of Sleeping Beauty or Dumbo.:eek:
 
levitynyc said:
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.
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I believe I read somewhere that "The Children's Place" chain is currently running the Disney stores and that Disney regains control over their retail outlets very soon. This must be why the sudden push to revamp their image.
 
Gasu E. said:
The Jobsification of Disney has begun. I am already planning my 2020 vacation around the grand re-opening of "JobsWorld" in Orlando. iPcot, InsanelyGreatLand, PersonalComputerPioneerLand*, Infinite Loop USA, Clarus the Dogcow's Funtown... my only fear is that the lines at the Reality Distortion Ride will be "insanely long."



*featuring the "Hall of Developers" with the talking animatronic Steve Wozniak!
Click to expand...

Brilliant post.
 
They have also updated their online store (well in the UK atleast) today and its a nice improvment.
 
Disney has retail stores? XD

Mild sarcasm. I know they do, but all the ones I remember went out of business years ago. Maybe Apple can save them, and then come out with Disney themed MouseBook Pro!
 
Not the Disney I grew up with...

The once ruling power in all things imagination is asking a computer company how to build an imaginative store??... :rolleyes: Where are the Disney Imagineers? On a smoke break?
 
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