Disney Gives Their Retail Stores An Overhaul

Filed Under: Disney Business Blitz

Disney is enlisting the help of Steve Jobs and his Apple army to give the Disney Stores a facelift.

Rather than being a retail store with row after row of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, they're going the high-tech route to create an entertainment hub.

Jim Fielding, the Pres. of Disney Stores Worldwide says "The world does not need another place to sell Disney merchandise — this only works if it's an experience".

He makes a really good point. Besides, they'd probably prefer that you empty your wallet at a Disney theme park where it's more "memorable", right?

The new look will be unveiled in May at select locations including Southern California, Long Island and Madrid with Times Square to follow.

So what's this new shopping mall day care experience going to have?

Pretty much everything the childrenz could want!

There will be theaters for the kiddies to watch film clips of their choosing, karaoke contests, they can chat with their favorite Disney Channel star via satellite and tons of other shiz that will keep your kids entertained while you can actually enjoy shopping while sales associates endure your headache.

The Disney board members did show some of the concerns we thought of like the whole day care thing and parents bringing their kids for entertainment rather than spend money, but Jim Fielding is willing to take that $1 million dollar risk that it's going to take to re-do the stores. “When consumers are ready to spend again, we will be ready.”

Hopefully they won't be waiting too long.

Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products has really high hopes for the business venture. Mooney says "We will essentially be the only toy retailer left at the mall because everybody else has evaporated."

Dayum!

That's a really tall statement to make. Especially after only seeing a protype, which was constructed in a Glendale, CA warehouse.

For their sake, we hope it is successful because as of the beginning this year they weren't doing to hot. Gotta make up for that 32% drop!

[Image via AP Images.]

Posted: October 13, 2009 at 12:32 pm