Children's Place to Buy Disney Stores?

[monorail256]

This sorta makes me wanna puke...

Children's Place to Buy Disney Stores?

The bright side is that they wouldn't all be closing if this deal went through... but still... we wouldn't be considered CM's. Oh bother.

...I like my job WAY to much...

 

[raven]

And so goes the company, down the long spiral we knew are fearless leader would take us.

 

[prberk]

I am really sorry, Raven. I hope it does not go through.

I have said before that the Disney Stores were a great idea when they were selling unique adult merchandise, like ties and watches and other specialty items. Of course, that was also when they were profitable, which should speak volumes.

The mass-market merchandise at Wal-Mart (and maybe even at Children's Place) should be considered separately.

 

[Stitch79]

From what I heard Disney will be getting a licsensing fee from Children's Place if this goes through. Do you think Disney will have any control over what the inventory is? Maybe Children's Place will go back to selling more the adult/collectible stuff, but I think that is just wishful thinking......

 

[weluvtink]

I love my store, so as long as we stay open I'm ok with it. I just hope we can keep what park benfits we have left.

 

[CTXRover]

This is something that I believe Roy and Stanley also supported and the apparent inability for Disney (and Eisner) to sell them was one point they used against Eisner at the recent shareholder meeting, if I remember correctly. If this goes through, it will be another roadblock in their campaign against Eisner.

Does anyone know much about Children's Place? What are they like? Will they be a good owner in terms of keeping to the Disney quality?

The Orlando Sentinel article mentioned that this deal would be similar to the deal Disney has with Oriental Land company for Tokyo Disneyland and the Tokyo Disney stores. Are the people who work for Tokyo Disneyland still considered Cast Members? If they are, would that mean that folks still working at Disney stores in North America would too?

If Children's Place is a well run speciality line, it might be good for Disney stores to be operated by a company whose sole purpose is to operate chains of stores like this. They most likely will keep the Disney feel, look and, of course, the merchandise. Its better than closing them. If they do sell the stores, this will be another positive for Eisner, as far as most shareholders are concerned.

 

[wdwmaniac]

But I feel they are apart of the magic and should not be gotten rid of. Roy I think should be trying to reform them not rid us of them.

 

[Mia's Daddy]

If this goes through, I will be relieved. My wife is a castmember with the stores, and we are expecting our first baby next month. I am just happy she has a job and health insurance. At least Disney did not just lay all of the Store castmembers off. Now not getting the theme park perks.....well that bites. I think this will be a good move....I think.

 

[Woody13]

The Children's Place Interested in Disney

Thu Jun 3, 1:20 PM ET


SECAUCUS, N.J. - The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. said Thursday it is in discussions to buy and operate Walt Disney Co.'s retail store chain in the United States and Canada.



Financial terms and additional information on the possible deal weren't provided Thursday.


Secaucus-based Children's Place said the companies have not entered a formal agreement or letter of intent.


Children's Place chief financial officer Seth Udasin said the potential deal with Disney would make the combined operations one of the leading retailers in the newborn to age-10 category.


Children's Place also reported better May sales on Thursday.


For the four weeks ended May 29, sales at stores open more than one year, also known as same-store sales, climbed 9 percent. Analysts were expecting a 6 percent rise. The company opened 11 stores in May.


Children's Place reported total sales of $57.2 million in May, up from $48.4 million a year ago. The company said its accessories and boys' businesses were the strongest during the month.


For the 17-week, year-to-date period, same-store sales jumped 14 percent and total sales rose to $283 million from $229.4 million.


Children's Place operates 711 stores, including 665 stores in the United States and 46 stores in Canada.


Children's Place shares traded at $24.84, up 74 cents, or 3.1 percent, Thursday afternoon on the Nasdaq Stock Market.


Disney shares traded at $24.48, up 6 cents, on the New York Stock Exchange (news - web sites).

 

[Mia's Daddy]

The VP of the stores left a voice mail message at my wife's store yesterday, and i am sure many others. She explained the possible sale of the stores, and it was very positive. She emphasized that nothing was a done deal, but it looked good. The store will keep the name, although I like The Disney Place. It was still not clear if CMs would still be CMs.

 

[monorail256]

Originally posted by Mia's Daddy
It was still not clear if CMs would still be CMs.

I really doubt if we would continue to be called CM unless that's what 'The Childrens Place' refers to their employees as.

Anybody on the boards work at any of the Disney Stores overseas? Are you still considered CM's and do you still retain any perks?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

From what I heard at my store this past weekend, CM's will still get to keep the Disney benefits even if we are sold. I hope we aren't, it makes my hands feel numb, just typing that.

Regardless of whether we're called CM's or not, we are truly CM's. We're helping keep Walt's dream alive.

Everybody, keep shopping at The Disney Stores! My store had a great weekend! Please, help keep the magic in your town!

TheDisneyGirl02

 

[ThreeCircles]

This really sucks!

How can they just sell off part of the company like that? Personally, I would rather see the entire chain closed and shuttered for good rather than have it in the hands of an independent company.

Perhaps we should sell off Epcot too. Maybe universal would like to operate it.

 

[Mia's Daddy]

Oh yes that would be great!!! Close all the stores, and put all those people out of work. YEAH, BRILLIANT!!! Is your last name Eisner? Don't shop there if you don't like it. In fact don't buy anything Disney from ANY store that sells Disney merchandise but is not a Disney owned store. Because it is just not Disney. So take back all those DVDs you bought from Wal-Mart, Target, or Best Buy because they don't have that Magic :brick:

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by Mia's Daddy
Oh yes that would be great!!! Close all the stores, and put all those people out of work. YEAH, BRILLIANT!!! Is your last name Eisner? Don't shop there if you don't like it. In fact don't buy anything Disney from ANY store that sells Disney merchandise but is not a Disney owned store. Because it is just not Disney. So take back all those DVDs you bought from Wal-Mart, Target, or Best Buy because they don't have that Magic :brick:

Dude... I think you may need to lay off the caffeine. Chill out. It's only a discussion board you know.

Deep breath in...Release.

Deep breath in...Release.

Oh, and I'll stick by my opinion. It will happen sooner or later. If Disney can't run their own stores, you think another company is going to miraculously make them profitable again? Yeah, sure. That's why Warner Brothers had such an easy time finding a buyer for their stores, right? Oh, wait, they couldn't.

 

[monorail256]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
Dude... I think you may need to lay off the caffeine. Chill out. It's only a discussion board you know.

Deep breath in...Release.

Deep breath in...Release.

Oh, and I'll stick by my opinion. It will happen sooner or later. If Disney can't run their own stores, you think another company is going to miraculously make them profitable again? Yeah, sure. That's why Warner Brothers had such an easy time finding a buyer for their stores, right? Oh, wait, they couldn't.

I'm a Disney Store castmember... and I agree with you, but I also disagree with you.

If Disney, a major company cant run the stores - I dont think anyone can. I think that if Disney didn't have a buyer within the next few years, I truly do believe they would have just closed them all down in one nationwide shutdown. Even if 'The Childrens Place' couldn't make them profitable again... I'd say that they would at least give us maybe 5 more years of magic in our towns?

I would really rather see them neither closed nor sold... I've grown up with my Disney Store. I would have one bad case of depression if my store ever closed *knocks on wood*.

Everyone at our stores been knocking on wood. Especially since another local store was put on the chopping block just last week (right after another one closed). It's weird... they say they are closing them based on the amount of sales they do... but this latest one was a top store. I'm beginning to wonder if they are going in store number order. If so... we are next to go.

Good luck to everyone who works at one out there!

 

[cloudboy]

Then again, Children's Place specializes in mall stores, so maybe they CAN keep it afloat. Disney simply doesn't seemto be able to under the current management. Perhaps Children's Place can show them how it is done, there is a management change, and the stores get repurchased.

Worth keeping up hope.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by monorail256
I would really rather see them neither closed nor sold... I've grown up with my Disney Store. I would have one bad case of depression if my store ever closed *knocks on wood*.

I should have been clearer in my original post. I too would much rather see the stores remain open as part of the Walt Disney Company. Yes, perhaps some of the slower stores do need to be closed, but I think that if anyone can actually turn them around it would be Disney themselves.

With that said, if it came down to selling them to another company or closing them, I would vote for the latter.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Warner Brothers was in the same boat only a few years ago. They were loosing money with their retail stores and attempted to liquidate the chain by selling it to another company. The only problem, no one wanted to touch the stores.

With the Disney name appeal, I think they may be able to locate a company that will be willing to purchase them. Although, from articles that I've read, the discussions have been somewhat hampered by the degree of control that the Walt Disney Company wishes to maintain over the stores through the licensing agreement. Perhaps another company can turn the stores around but Disney has tried and been unsuccessful.

 

[Mia's Daddy]

Perhaps another company can turn the stores around but Disney has tried and been unsuccessful.

DISNEY, DISNEY, THEY'RE OUR MAN IF THEY CAN'T DO IT NO ONE CAN!!! YEAH DISNEY

I really don't think you have given much thought to the impact of closing 335 stores would have on the thousands of employees who depend on those jobs. Someone who counts on that job for money to live off of probably won't care what company it comes from...Children's Place or Disney. You just don't put thousands of people out of work because Disney tried and could not get their stuff together. In fact, if Disney can make a profit off someone else selling their merchandise...MORE POWER TO THEM. They do it now anyway.

There is always the arguement that the magic will be gone if the stores are sold. That employees will not be castmembers, and the stores will not have that Disney feeling. The Disney feeling is not a t-shirt or snowglobe from a Disney Store, the Disney feeling is the first time you walk down Main Street looking in awe at Cinderella's Castle. The Disney feel is the anticipation you felt waiting to meet Mickey for the first time. It is a memory that creates a feeling that lives with you forever. At least that is what Disney is for me.

Unfortuneately, I do depend on the money my wife makes working at the Diseny Store. So in my opinion, I don't really care who runs the store as long as she gets a paycheck. I may not like the fact Disney is abadoning their stores, but after the way they have kept castmembers in limbo since the start of this sell off last May...I can live with it.

Oh and I have not had one drop of caffiene this morning