Merchandise Shortage

[GimpYancIent]

Hmmmmm merchandise shortage? Maybe involvement in developing manufacturing sources closer may help, say, South or Central America maybe Canada, how about the Caribbean and then there is (hold on to your shorts) Made in the USA.

 

[Lilofan]

Hmmmmm merchandise shortage? Maybe involvement in developing manufacturing sources closer may help, say, South or Central America maybe Canada, how about the Caribbean and then there is (hold on to your shorts) Made in the USA.

Highly doubt the prices on merchandise at stores made in USA will be similar to merch made in China. That's a given.

 

[Bartattack]

So, has Disneyland the same problem with shortages? Or do they get the merchandise that arrives in California first, before WDW?

 

[TikibirdLand]

Highly doubt the prices on merchandise at stores made in USA will be similar to merch made in China. That's a given.

True. But, I'd expect them to be of higher quality. And, it would allow the merchandisers a chance to fix quality issues before finding them when they hit this shore. In the business I'm in, engineers have to travel throughout Asia addressing quality issues. Unfortunately for us, Asian suppliers can build to a high quality standard. However, we, as outsourcers, don't oversee their work (and our specifications) sufficiently to make sure that happens.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

But that would undo that bold Iger initiative where they converted every square inch that didn’t accept the dining plan to peddle the same 10 items!

It's a huge hit to capacity (which directly affects the experience, as you mentioned) but they've seemed very willing to diminish the overall park experience to save money/increase profit over the past few years, and it seems to be ramping up even more with Chapek as CEO.

Wait, so…cramming merch everywhere is a craven cash grab - but closing stores is also a craven cash grab?

As the owner of two stores, I’d love to know how to make more money closing one rather than restocking it. (Hint: That only works if you’re failing.)

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The loss of stores like Sid Cahuenga's and the Magic Kingdom antique shop (among many others) was a huge hit to the believability of those themed areas.

and some existed merely to add to the story but were probably going to operate at a loss.

I was unlikely to ever buy anything at Sid Cahuenga's or the antique shop, but I would go in and look at what they had because it was interesting.

Hmm…

 

[John park hopper]

Highly doubt the prices on merchandise at stores made in USA will be similar to merch made in China. That's a given.

Stuff mad in China or elsewhere maybe slightly cheaper sold here but is it really in the long run. When you outsource American manufacturing money made by workers in the USA stays in the USA and circulates within our economy, Out source manufacturing you put people out of work who then collect government benefits payed by those who still work (taxpayers). Out source manufacturing jobs which once paid a "living wage" are gone a kid out of high school could raise a family be middle class. Out source manufacturing as we have seen we are left with minimum wage entry level jobs and little opportunity for advancement into middle class positions.
In reality is that China made product cheaper IMO NO

 

[Tony the Tigger]

No company is ever going back to brick and mortar. I saw there are 23 Disney stores left. I think there were 800 at its peak.

its lost to history

Just doubled sales, year over record-breaking year.

If I was in charge I would bring in some small shops to help fulfill merchandise until the supply issues get better. Some good pr helping the little people and getting merch on the shelves and costs nothing.

They could let Target open some mini-stores at WDW. I hear they have Disney merch.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Wait, so…cramming merch everywhere is a craven cash grab - but closing stores is also a craven cash grab?

As the owner of two stores, I’d love to know how to make more money closing one rather than restocking it. (Hint: That only works if you’re failing.)

I think it’s just simply eliminating the guaranteed overhead of a chain of stores and centralizing…

Doesn’t matter Even if the math “works”…it’s all “perception” on Wall Street anyway. We’re through the looking glass

 

[drizgirl]

I get my mum a mug every year for Christmas and when I tried this year NADDA. I think they had a whole wall of stitch ones at world of Disney and that was it. They also had no plush at all, but it looks like that’s starting to make its way back. Makes me wonder if that was part of the (many many) reason(s) they pulled the plug on Disney store, they saw that there was not going be enough merch coming in for 150 stores spread across the country.

I think they pulled the plug before the pandemic started. Or at least put the plan in motion. I’m guessing the were waiting for leases to end.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think they pulled the plug before the pandemic started. Or at least put the plan in motion. I’m guessing the were waiting for leases to end.

Agreed…it just accelerated it a little. That stupid target plan was announced prior

 

[lazyboy97o]

Wait, so…cramming merch everywhere is a craven cash grab - but closing stores is also a craven cash grab?

As the owner of two stores, I’d love to know how to make more money closing one rather than restocking it. (Hint: That only works if you’re failing.)

Nobody says it makes sense, but even before the pandemic the world’s busiest theme park had abandoned and underutilized retail, dining and attraction space.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Nobody says it makes sense, but even before the pandemic the world’s busiest theme park had abandoned and underutilized retail, dining and attraction space.

Two people working for $9.62 an hour was “worth” more to them than $100 an hour in revenue…

“new math”…I suppose?

 

[drizgirl]

Two people working for $9.62 an hour was “worth” more to them than $100 an hour in revenue…

“new math”…I suppose?

Unless they figured people would still go to one of the other open locations to make their purchases.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Unless they figured people would still go to one of the other open locations to make their purchases.

Are you calling Disney parks customers “spineless and in some delusional ether of nonsense called “magic”?”!!!!!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Businesses are not charities. Every individual shop or restaurant at WDW should be profitable. If it isn't, then yes, it should be closed/consolidated and no, that's not heartless, spineless, careless, etc. That's life. That's business. If you ignore taking on water, you're going to sink.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Businesses are not charities. Every individual shop or restaurant at WDW should be profitable. If it isn't, then yes, it should be closed/consolidated and no, that's not heartless, spineless, careless, etc. That's life. That's business. If you ignore taking on water, you're going to sink.

So you are doing that “straight capitalism” thing at a site that is 150% controlled by one operator and they charge you $125 a day to walk past?

…it could work?

 

[Lilofan]

Stuff mad in China or elsewhere maybe slightly cheaper sold here but is it really in the long run. When you outsource American manufacturing money made by workers in the USA stays in the USA and circulates within our economy, Out source manufacturing you put people out of work who then collect government benefits payed by those who still work (taxpayers). Out source manufacturing jobs which once paid a "living wage" are gone a kid out of high school could raise a family be middle class. Out source manufacturing as we have seen we are left with minimum wage entry level jobs and little opportunity for advancement into middle class positions.
In reality is that China made product cheaper IMO NO

Your argument while good will not convince the many American companies who outsource their operations to China and even India primarily to save on labor costs , etc. Our family friend flies on a regular basis to check on outsourced operations in India that products the Indian workers make is bound for the USA.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

So you are doing that “straight capitalism” thing at a site that is 150% controlled by one operator and they charge you $125 a day to walk past?

…it could work?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You understand my point…which is the same in about 90% of the posts these days…

they’re not the gap…they’re selling the total package. “Divide and account” is not wise. Just for them.

wdw is primarily a cash cow because of the extreme profitability of the merch…all BS aside. Happy people buy stuff they never needed at huge profitability in quantity.

…oops…did I give away “the secret”?