[spike]

I recently read an article about Disney not being able to sell there Disney Stores in North America. The article went on to explain that they have closed many of their stores this past year (2 in my area) now down to 369 they are aiming to cut back to 300 stores. They also mentioned that Disney has found some success testing a new store concept in 10 markets by selling more high-priced items that do not overlap or compete with major retailers like Wal-Mart that also sell Disney merchandise.

Has anyone been to one of these new concept stores?
I am very intrested in finding out what high-priced items they are selling.

[noahsark45331]

No, I haven't seen one of the new stores. I would like to see them revamp the stores though. I would like to see more unique merchandise available. Maybe even more of a selection of clothing. The one in our area is toys (that can be bought at Wal-mart cheaper), some stuffed toys, a limited selection of T-shirts/sweatshirts, costumes or pjs. They have the obligatory movies & Cds also. I liked the stores when they first opened. The selection was much better.

[DisneyTeacher]

My local Disney has the usual stuff, pjs, kids clothes, over priced toys, movies, and CDs. I used to love the Disney Store. It was always our first stop when we got to the mall. I had to decide what to buy, there were always so many things I wanted. Now we often skip the DS all together.

[Pistoljerry]

My wife and I are big Disney people and not having children I would like to see more adult oriented type merchandise in the Disney stores. There used to be more collectables, watches and apparel for adults in the stores but over time they've changed to mostly a "kids" store (sorry parents). I would just like to see a better balance between adult and children items.

[DisneyAnne]

No need to apologize pistoljerry... (BTW... welcome to DC!!! ;)) I think many of us with kids also feel there is a need for more adult merchandise not being met by Disney. All three of our stores in Columbia, SC have closed with the closest one being 2 hours away in Florence. :cry: By the time they closed however, the merchandise they offered was missing the adult market that had grown up on Disney. It wasn't a huge loss for us in that aspect. I personally just miss being able to walk into one of the stores and feeling the Disney magic whenever I hit the mall.

[Captgoodguy]

I agree with Pistoljerry.

There needs to be more for the adults. Those of us without children have money to spend as well. The Disney Store is now just another toy store.

If you speak with the cast members about it, they will tell you that they do have adult clothing. I'm sorry, but one T-Shirt doesn't qualify as a line of adult clothing.

It seems like they are missing out on some income by leaving us high and dry.

[noahsark45331]

Helllooo Disney Powers That Be!! Are you listening?! Give the consumer what it wants and they WILL spend their money in your store!

[lopo]

I was able to visit one of the "new" stores in Salem, NH. I am not impressed! In fact, it was a big disappointment to me.

The store was in the same place as it had been before it closed for rehab. and, I think, it is now smaller (!?) Perhaps they used some of the old space I think that was lost for a stoage closet or something. Anyway, the store is very bright now. When I entered the front of the store, the whole front (1/3) was packed with Halloween costumes. It seemed that the princess costumes far outnumbered any otehr type. I didn't see any adult costumes either. (BTW, this visit was in September during the grand reopening). The middle of the store actually had one of those queues (you know . . . those stanchions with ropes attached that direct people into rows . . . often found at airports) for people to utilize while waiting for the next cashier. It took up a lot of space! I do not know if that was a temporary set up due to the party atmosphere surrounding the gran reopening or if it would continue to be there as a permanent fixture. The DVDs and a lot of the trinkets and jewelery, etc. were arranged around this area. At the back of the store, I found clothes (mostly shirts for kids) although they did have a complete display of adult shirts. It was one of those cubes set on the floor with a hutch-style shelf so that shirts could be piled. Unfortunately, there were slim pickings. I wanted to purchase an XL Grumpy but there weren't any. Most of the sizes were small and medium. I do not know if it was because all of the larger sizes were already sold or if the store hadn't received enough merchandise.) There were some expensive kids' jackets hanging on a back wall and there was a snowglobe display in back, too. Again, the variety was quite limited. They were also offering a lot of merchandise at 50-75% off in the back. However, it was all stuff no one really wanted anymore (imo) such as some boys' toys from one of the less successful movies (sorry! I can't even remember the name.)
Oh, there were also a lot of princess dolls and stuffed animals on display. But, I didn't think that they had as many stuffed animals as I am accustomed to seeing in some of TDS in Massachusetts.

I just do not recall seeing any big differences in the merchandise offerings. I really wanted to buy something, too. I finally preordered a DVD.

Hopefully, TDS will heed our cries for adult merchandise and better offerings, too. (Why would someone want to spend $30 for a stuffed animal at TDS when one could purchase it for about half that at the local Wal-Mart, etc.?)