trekkie
04-27-2003, 06:55 PM
When The Disney Store first opened, Michael Eisner billed them as an outlet to promote the movies and theme parks.
Now, they are nothing more than ... well ... nothing.
If Disney Store merchandise was selling so poorly (Which is why the original makeovers were ordered in the first place ... which all failed miserably, by the way), Why not come up with better products instead of figuring out ways to diminish the stores reputation and, as a result, destroy everything that made the place so "uniquely Disney"? Where are the store collectibles (Animation cells, framed pins, sculptures, watches, lithographs, signed Disneyana, etc)? Where are the "Art of... " books and broader CD/DVD/Video selections?
Current Disney should stop churning out sequels to practically every one of their timeless animated classics and instead focus on producing more original fare. This makes way for great merchandising opportunities and as a result would give the Disney Store greater business.
I am "sure" all those other highly educated Disney business men thought of this, though.
Please join the official campaign and sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds
And I have heard from a very good source that as a "service" to collectors, the Disney Store will have a catalog in which customers will be able to choose what Disneyana to buy (Once all stores get rid of all collectibles). I ask again ... "Why?"
When the Disney Store debuted, CM's would always go beyond the basic customer service. They would greet you at the door & ask what your interests were, and automatically reserve future items based on those interests.
And now, not only is this not practiced anymore, but the entire store has suffered because they're "not" practiced anymore. How? By destroying a huge part of what made The Disney Store so unique in the first place, people would rather go to a "regular" outlet such as Wal Mart or Costco for their Disney CD's, DVD's, etc. The unique customer service offered by Disney Store Cast Members always left a sense of true commrodery and relationship with the guest: the friendly greeting at the door, the automatic reservation of Disney merchandise; this is what made "many" guests come back time and time again. Sure, they could have bought those soundtrack albums at Wal Mart. But It was at the Disney Store where they truly felt special. Where their newfound friends act as Cast Members. And where that seemingly magical commrodery between guest and cast truly meant they were -- And had to be -- no place else but Disney.
Taking this all away not only destroyed customer loyalty, but it threw away the ideals and principles that Disney was founded on.
It is not too late, though. Please, Disney, reverse your mistake. Give the Disney Store back its reputation. Do it for Walt. Do it for Mickey. Do it for Roy O. Do it for Lillian. Do it for Frank Wells, Marc Davis and everybody else who gave one helluva damn for Walt Disney’s vision of a unique family entertainment experience; who sacrificed so much just so a few hundred million strangers could be happy.
Please join the official campaign and sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds
Please ... don’t totally ruin the Disney Store. Disney today preaches about family, yet at the same time ignores the very aspects and principles of family entertainment upon which they were built.
Walt Disney once said of his company, “It is not myself I am thinking about, but it is the effect of what might happen to whatever is left that bothers me.”
We used to be in their target audience. The entire family used to be their target audience. The Disney Store was built on the Disney principles, and that's what made them so unique and successful. Now, they have spit in the face of these very principles; and it's wrong. It's an outright insult to Walt Disney, his friends, his family, those who worked so diligently in realizing his lifelong dreams, and thousands of fans today who still believe in him & what he stood for; what he stands for; what he symbolizes; what people like Eisner are destroying; h#ll, what they have already destroyed.
It's not right; it angers me to think that something I am so very passionate about is being spat upon; and this is why we fight.
Please join the official campaign and sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds
Even the tiniest improvement to these stores would be welcome; or at least I think so.
If I had just one wish, it would be that the execs at Disney realize their boneheaded decisions and, at the very least, return high end Disney merchandise to all Disney Stores.
We cannot guarantee a change. But, if nothing is done, "nothing" will ever have a chance of changing.
Let me tell you: every time our family goes to one of the local malls and I pass by the Disney Store, I just get so angry; I have to literally force myself from cussing out Eisner -- out loud -- right than and there.
Please join the official campaign & sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds
Now, they are nothing more than ... well ... nothing.
If Disney Store merchandise was selling so poorly (Which is why the original makeovers were ordered in the first place ... which all failed miserably, by the way), Why not come up with better products instead of figuring out ways to diminish the stores reputation and, as a result, destroy everything that made the place so "uniquely Disney"? Where are the store collectibles (Animation cells, framed pins, sculptures, watches, lithographs, signed Disneyana, etc)? Where are the "Art of... " books and broader CD/DVD/Video selections?
Current Disney should stop churning out sequels to practically every one of their timeless animated classics and instead focus on producing more original fare. This makes way for great merchandising opportunities and as a result would give the Disney Store greater business.
I am "sure" all those other highly educated Disney business men thought of this, though.
Please join the official campaign and sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds
And I have heard from a very good source that as a "service" to collectors, the Disney Store will have a catalog in which customers will be able to choose what Disneyana to buy (Once all stores get rid of all collectibles). I ask again ... "Why?"
When the Disney Store debuted, CM's would always go beyond the basic customer service. They would greet you at the door & ask what your interests were, and automatically reserve future items based on those interests.
And now, not only is this not practiced anymore, but the entire store has suffered because they're "not" practiced anymore. How? By destroying a huge part of what made The Disney Store so unique in the first place, people would rather go to a "regular" outlet such as Wal Mart or Costco for their Disney CD's, DVD's, etc. The unique customer service offered by Disney Store Cast Members always left a sense of true commrodery and relationship with the guest: the friendly greeting at the door, the automatic reservation of Disney merchandise; this is what made "many" guests come back time and time again. Sure, they could have bought those soundtrack albums at Wal Mart. But It was at the Disney Store where they truly felt special. Where their newfound friends act as Cast Members. And where that seemingly magical commrodery between guest and cast truly meant they were -- And had to be -- no place else but Disney.
Taking this all away not only destroyed customer loyalty, but it threw away the ideals and principles that Disney was founded on.
It is not too late, though. Please, Disney, reverse your mistake. Give the Disney Store back its reputation. Do it for Walt. Do it for Mickey. Do it for Roy O. Do it for Lillian. Do it for Frank Wells, Marc Davis and everybody else who gave one helluva damn for Walt Disney’s vision of a unique family entertainment experience; who sacrificed so much just so a few hundred million strangers could be happy.
Please join the official campaign and sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds
Please ... don’t totally ruin the Disney Store. Disney today preaches about family, yet at the same time ignores the very aspects and principles of family entertainment upon which they were built.
Walt Disney once said of his company, “It is not myself I am thinking about, but it is the effect of what might happen to whatever is left that bothers me.”
We used to be in their target audience. The entire family used to be their target audience. The Disney Store was built on the Disney principles, and that's what made them so unique and successful. Now, they have spit in the face of these very principles; and it's wrong. It's an outright insult to Walt Disney, his friends, his family, those who worked so diligently in realizing his lifelong dreams, and thousands of fans today who still believe in him & what he stood for; what he stands for; what he symbolizes; what people like Eisner are destroying; h#ll, what they have already destroyed.
It's not right; it angers me to think that something I am so very passionate about is being spat upon; and this is why we fight.
Please join the official campaign and sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds
Even the tiniest improvement to these stores would be welcome; or at least I think so.
If I had just one wish, it would be that the execs at Disney realize their boneheaded decisions and, at the very least, return high end Disney merchandise to all Disney Stores.
We cannot guarantee a change. But, if nothing is done, "nothing" will ever have a chance of changing.
Let me tell you: every time our family goes to one of the local malls and I pass by the Disney Store, I just get so angry; I have to literally force myself from cussing out Eisner -- out loud -- right than and there.
Please join the official campaign & sign the petition at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bringback_tds