Company Children's Place to exit Disney Store

[Tom Morrow]

Children's Place to exit Disney Store chain

Children's Place to exit Disney chain Reuters Retailer Children's Place on Thursday said it was exiting the Disney Stores in North America and would reduce spending and cut jobs, sending its shares up more than 12 percent. The children's retailer said it is in advanced talks with The Walt Disney Company for the company to regain ownership of two-thirds of the Disney Store chain. Disney confirmed it was in discussions about the potential deal. Children's Place, which like many retailers has suffered from a tough economic environment that has made consumers more reluctant to spend, said it would cut 80 jobs of its shared-services workforce and not fill 50 open positions as part of the plan to exit the Disney Stores business. by Kristina Cooke complete article

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[stevo505]

Disney really needs to buy their stores back.

[California Dreamin']

So true! I loved it when it was owned by Disney.

[TimmyII]

One problem with those stores is they don't offer enough ADULT stuff....shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, etc. Offer more adult things and I'd shop there more often!

[Executioner]

What they need to do is bring it back to how it was when they opened them originally. They had a whole slew of stuff for all ages. Clothes, toys, collectibles and such. When I was working there our store was a target store for the company. We had the place redesigned and they took away all forms of adult stuff yet adding more kids things. Then they completely gutted the store and changed it from how it used to look. Then sold it off to Children's Place. Oh well.. I sure do hope the stores stay around though. I like them and like the fact that you can buy passes there and other merchandise. They just need to redevelop their marketing and what they will sell.

[stevo505]

Yeah they used to have stuff for everyone, but now when I walk in there I see Power Rangers and only little kid stuff. If Disney took them back I'm sure they would have more of a selection for all ages.

[phd516]

I've always liked the Disney Store for their mugs and t-shirts. The snowglobes always grab my attention too. Of course, that's after walking all the way to the back of the store past all of the Power Rangers and Hannah Montana items..

[Wdzni]

I work at the Disney store and I can't tell you how RELIEVED I am that they want to buy it back. The Children's Place makes me so mad. Thank God. Best news I've heard yet!

[ShrunkenNed]

Originally Posted by Executioner

What they need to do is bring it back to how it was when they opened them originally. They had a whole slew of stuff for all ages. Clothes, toys, collectibles and such. When I was working there our store was a target store for the company. We had the place redesigned and they took away all forms of adult stuff yet adding more kids things. Then they completely gutted the store and changed it from how it used to look. Then sold it off to Children's Place. Oh well.. I sure do hope the stores stay around though. I like them and like the fact that you can buy passes there and other merchandise. They just need to redevelop their marketing and what they will sell.

Amen Brother. Preach On.

Disney is in negotiations to buy back two thirds, and from what I read will shoulder the cost of closing the other third. Less Disney Stores = good move on their part. Get more good merchandise back like the old days and make it a destination store again. THAT'S how to make it work once more!

[HMF]

I am so glad Disney is buying it back. The Disney Store and to an extent Disney itself is looked down upon most people as Kiddy Stuff.
Whenever I walk into a Disney Store to get a free Walt Disney World Pamphlet I feel embarrased because of the image the Store creates and want to walk out as soon as possible. Hopefully under Disney ownership they will offer more All-Ages stuff and I wont feel Socialy Awkward in there anymore.

[ah92us]

YAY! Thank goodness.

[stevo505]

Originally Posted by HMF

I am so glad Disney is buying it back. The Disney Store and to an extent Disney itself is looked down upon most people as Kiddy Stuff.
Whenever I walk into a Disney Store to get a free Walt Disney World Pamphlet I feel embarrased because of the image the Store creates and want to walk out as soon as possible. Hopefully under Disney ownership they will offer more All-Ages stuff and I wont feel Socialy Awkward in there anymore.

That's exactly how I feel whenever I walk in there to check out if they have any stuff about the Parks. I walk in and see the little kids running around, taking stuff and walking around with it, then they throw it where it shouldn't be. I am so relieved Children's Place is not owning Disney Store anymore.

[disneyfreak59]

i work at disney store #7032 in the new prototype store called "pixie dust," and its absolutely beautiful! im hoping and praying disney takes us back!

[aurora1987]

I also work at the Disney Store. I really hope that they keep my store open. My store looks like the older stores with the characters above. I was so happy that the Disney company was buying back most of the stores. It will be even better news when I know for sure that they are keeping my store. It is the best job anyone could have.

[JCrickett]

I am thrilled about the prospect of Disney buying back the Stores. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if anyone followed the Stores, Disney had a horrible time running them which is why they ended up selling them in the first place. I have worked for the Disney Stores of and on for about 8 years, when Disney owned us and when The Childrens Place ownership. The Stores have seen many changes, losing the Adult merchandise was a bad move, but they are trying to bring it back. It is a children's store and adult merchandise is a new area for them.

If you think of the Stores early on, we sold merchandise priced the same as the Parks, not a good move when you can go to many other retailers and find similar things for quite a few dollars less. There was also mention of Park merchandise in the Stores.... aside from guide books and free flyers, there was no other Park merchandise in the Disney Stores.

It will be a good thing to bring the Stores back into the family. Overall a good thing in my opinion.