Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Brick and mortar is a very tough sell these days…but I do tend to agree if they stick to the more boutique type places and limit them…it could be solid
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Disney Store Returns to Malls With New Limited-Time Pop-Up Concept
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
It'd be nice if they had some for the Character Warehouses in Orlando - it'd be harder to sell than generic WDW merch, but it would sell like hotcakes among locals.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Yeah I think there trying to move away from the local/employee eBay flipping market…
It's not working. Trust me it's not working. Cast Connections alone... Never mind the warehouses. No one except a local/CM would buy something branded to the character warehouses!
donaldtoo
Well-Known Member
I’m not exactly sure what the limited-time pop-up concept consists of, but I worked at our local mall Disney Store from August of ‘09 to October of ‘13, including 1+ year as a Lead Manager. It was one of the old, original “pink and green” stores, with big fig scenes above the wall fixtures, “Plush Mountain”, busy carpet, etc. It was glorious…!!!!!!! 
Unfortunately, that location has been closed for several years now.
I wore 3 different “costume” shirts during my time there. The red leftover from The Children’s Place, a blue and white gingham and, finally, a dark cobalt blue.
I remember we had a lot of business, especially during the Holidays. Little kids would run into the store exclaiming “Disney World…!!!!!!!”.
Later down the road, we were told all stores would eventually be converted into “IP” stores…no, not that kinda’ IP…“Imagination Park” stores. Toned down and keeping more with “modern” trends, including interactive elements, and such.
Kiss of death, I pondered…?!
Our Store Manager and some senior CMs, such as myself, even did a District Manager-approved field trip to the first IP store to open near us in San Antonio (ASM and junior CMs covered that day).
I was not a fan.
It just seemed like a desperate attempt to “reimagine”, when they shoulda’ just stuck with what they knew, and what fans also knew and loved.
But, at the same time, we all knew things were headed much more towards online. Is there anything they coulda’ done to remain relevant, in terms of “brick and mortar”…?!
Who knows, but, apparently, they’re willing to give it a bit of a shot again.
It’ll be interesting to see how this goes…….
Unfortunately, that location has been closed for several years now.
I wore 3 different “costume” shirts during my time there. The red leftover from The Children’s Place, a blue and white gingham and, finally, a dark cobalt blue.
I remember we had a lot of business, especially during the Holidays. Little kids would run into the store exclaiming “Disney World…!!!!!!!”.
Later down the road, we were told all stores would eventually be converted into “IP” stores…no, not that kinda’ IP…“Imagination Park” stores. Toned down and keeping more with “modern” trends, including interactive elements, and such.
Kiss of death, I pondered…?!
Our Store Manager and some senior CMs, such as myself, even did a District Manager-approved field trip to the first IP store to open near us in San Antonio (ASM and junior CMs covered that day).
I was not a fan.
It just seemed like a desperate attempt to “reimagine”, when they shoulda’ just stuck with what they knew, and what fans also knew and loved.
But, at the same time, we all knew things were headed much more towards online. Is there anything they coulda’ done to remain relevant, in terms of “brick and mortar”…?!
Who knows, but, apparently, they’re willing to give it a bit of a shot again.
It’ll be interesting to see how this goes…….
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Well they’ve had one bad retail idea after another…maybe the approach is to go with the direct approach again?I’m not exactly sure what the limited-time pop-up concept consists of, but I worked at our local mall Disney Store from August of ‘09 to October of ‘13, including 1+ year as a Lead Manager. It was one of the old, original “pink and green” stores, with big fig scenes above the wall fixtures, “Plush Mountain”, busy carpet, etc. It was glorious…!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, that location has been closed for several years now.
I wore 3 different “costume” shirts during my time there. The red leftover from The Children’s Place, a blue and white gingham and, finally, a dark cobalt blue.
I remember we had a lot of business, especially during the Holidays. Little kids would run into the store exclaiming “Disney World…!!!!!!!”.
Later down the road, we were told all stores would eventually be converted into “IP” stores…no, not that kinda’ IP…“Imagination Park” stores. Toned down and keeping more with “modern” trends, including interactive elements, and such.
Kiss of death, I pondered…?!
Our Store Manager and some senior CMs, such as myself, even did a District Manager-approved field trip to the first IP store to open near us in San Antonio (ASM and junior CMs covered that day).
I was not a fan.
It just seemed like a desperate attempt to “reimagine”, when they shoulda’ just stuck with what they knew, and what fans also knew and loved.
But, at the same time, we all knew things were headed much more towards online. Is there anything they coulda’ done to remain relevant, in terms of “brick and mortar”…?!
Who knows, but, apparently, they’re willing to give it a bit of a shot again.
It’ll be interesting to see how this goes…….
I think Disney store online…which was pathetically rebranded and then back…lacks still. They can’t get their private Amazon right.
I will visit one of the pop ups no doubt…let’s see this?
donaldtoo
Well-Known Member
Yea, it’s like they’re still not willing to totally give up on “brick and mortar” retail, but they just can’t dial in the right combination.
They want the physical exposure outside the parks, but they just can’t quite find their “Magic” spot.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I’d say one store every 100 miles or so would do the trick…and limited edition stuff would help
Resellers would be the issue
donaldtoo
Well-Known Member
My apologies, I meant their “Magic” spot as in the overall retail universe, as it were.
Yes, resellers will always be an issue, no matter how Disney sells.
I remember when our mall Disney store first opened in ‘93. Like all the rest, they had collectible animation cells, decent watches, snow globes, etc.
We still offered a sizable amount of snow globes when I started working there, but all the rest of the higher-end stuff had given way to more toys, t-shirts, princess dresses galore, etc.
Even snow globes were no longer on the shelves sometime around ‘11.
So much cheap, recalled crap that we had to take out back and toss in the crusher, too. It was a bit nuts, sometimes.
Curious what merch they will concentrate on with this, although I have a pretty good idea.
Baloo124
Well-Known Member
Kinda harsh words towards the city which gave us the likes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and the Pittsburgh Pirates.Pittsburgh…not a lot to do there
One has taught kids for decades through television sets all across the country that no matter how many disappointments or shortcomings occur today, we can always try harder tomorrow.
The other is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Guess where I grew up?
The strength was the people…not the geography and entertainment
And it ain’t the Stillers either
Pirates? Right city, wrong team
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I think that contract is still going…and I can’t see it being renewed.