Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Retail, Steve Jobs, Apple History
Steve Jobs helping overhaul Disney retail
The New York Times has posted about a new project that our own Mr. Jobs has taken on: he's now helping out Disney Stores with their retail business. You have to hand it to Disney, no matter what you think of the Mouse House -- when they have a problem with part of the business, they bring in the experts. First they have Pixar's John Lasseter come in and take over animation (and they're about to release what looks like the best 2D movie in ages), and now they've got Steve Jobs himself sprucing up their retail spaces. Sounds like they're making the store more interactive (walking by some displays with certain products will create an audiovisual reaction), and taking some of the tech as well (employees will be able to check out items on mobile units, and control certain displays in the store with iPhones).
They also borrowed another page from Jobs' playbook: they've apparently created a prototype store (just like Apple did way back when), not only to test out what everything might look like, but to give a charge to executives and investors who get a tour. Sounds interesting, but then again, it makes sense. What else is an Apple Store, but a toy shop for big kids?
[via MacUser]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tourian A5 said 11:21AM on 10-13-2009
So, Mr. Jobs. Have you forgotten what the point was? When did this consumeristic world become more attractive than doing something meaninful?
Sometimes I think Apple has lost itself in the lust of shinny products and forgotten it's roots... so much for fixing up the world.
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Chris Rowe said 11:27AM on 10-13-2009
Now they just need to get Apple web deisgners/developers to redo the Disney site and cut back on the Flash overuse and all will be well.
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Al said 11:33AM on 10-13-2009
I must agree with you there. The Disney website is awful. Much needed overhaul is needed. Too many links make the user experience less fun and enjoyable.
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JohnnyCaraveo said 12:39PM on 10-13-2009
Sounds interesting, I just got back from Disney Land California and the stores are looking good, but they could be great!
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Rob47 said 1:04PM on 10-13-2009
Now how about not polluting children's minds with Hannah Montana and High School Musical. And make some quality programming.
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Randy McCreary said 10:46PM on 10-13-2009
I have to agree that the Disney web sites are horrible. To big to much flash and horrible to load with slow connections. The stores could be so much better both brick and morter and online. A5 What do you think Apple is besides a company that produces a product (one that I happen to like but that is beside the point). Rob there is good programing on Disney, if you don't like what is on change the channel to another Disney (I have 3) or just watch PBS.
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ABCNEWSER said 7:12PM on 10-13-2009
Why are people so stupid? Disney didn't feel awful about themselves and decide they needed to go out and hire Steve Jobs. He wouldn't agree to anything like that. The reason he did it is that HE IS ON THE DISNEY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Also, Disney didn't go out and pouch the Pixar designers for their own animation team, DISNEY BOUGHT PIXAR. Steve Jobs has a special place in his heart for Disney. That's also why all of the new Apple commercials air on ABC first. DISNEY OWNS ABC. Unfortunately, for some reason nerds like those damn commies over at nbc/uni. You don't know what you're missing. ABC has many great shows. Give'm a chance. You'll see why they have more viewers than nbc in every time slot, and are often #1.
And about Disney's website, yeah it feels like you're walking through four feet of $h!t, but you must remember their target audience. We all think Google and Twitter look great because they are so sleek. Kids don't want that. They want lots of colors, motion, and music all at the same time, and they want all sorts of animations when they move their cursor over every button on the page. We don't want that, but kids love it. Disney doesn't care how many grown men visit their site. First and foremost, Disney is a children's entertainment company, focused around the imagination and magic. If they wanted to create a great, quickly loading site with minimum flash, they could easily do it, they have virtually unlimited resources. Just look at the other Disney sites, like ABCNEWS.com or ESPN.com (any site that has a 'go.com' in the url is a Disney site.) They look great.
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Mambo said 12:46PM on 10-14-2009
Also, John Lasseter used to work at Disney in the Bad old Days when the Pixar was still an imaging computer. Would be interesting to hear his views on being owned by the Mouse again.
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