Photo Illustration/CNN
by Corey Alderdice
When Steve Jobs joined Disney’s board of directors with the Mouse-Ears Company’s acquisition of Pixar, the company hoped Jobs work a bit of that Apple magic for them as well.
With Jobs’ insight and blessing, Disney intends to borrow heavily from Apple’s playbook and their Apple Retail Stores in a forthcoming update to the Disney Store chain.
It’s not just about new shelves and a fresh coat of paint. As many stores are just trying to get by amid slumping sales, Disney is rushing toward a major investment. The key is not so much a change in product, but the actual experience of shopping at a Disney store. After all, the company that’s all about entertaining your family at the movies, on Broadway, and in theme parks worldwide might as well have your attention at the local mall. The New York Times explains:
Disney Stores, which the media giant is considering rebranding Imagination Park, will become more akin to cozy entertainment hubs. The chain’s traditional approach of displaying row after row of toys and apparel geared to Disney franchises will be given a high-tech makeover and incorporated into a new array of recreational activities. The goal is to make children clamor to visit the stores and stay longer, perhaps bolstering sales as a result. Over the next five years, analysts estimate that Disney will spend about $1 million a store to redecorate, reorganize and install interactive technology.
“The world does not need another place to sell Disney merchandise — this only works if it’s an experience,” said Jim Fielding, president of Disney Stores Worldwide. The company plans to unveil the new look in May in Southern California, Long Island and Madrid, and is close to signing a lease for that Times Square flagship.
Where does this fit into your speech? As the recession lingers, questions about the economic outlook will find themselves into each tournament. Moreover, as we approach what is expected to be another glum holiday shopping season, questions will pop up about the retail outlook. You might even work this into a speech about reinvention, the need to try something new, or other situations where change is happening in business or industry.