Support NeoGAF

[Khalifa Jayy]

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/tech/Steve-Jobs-Commissioned-to-Create-iDisney-64114122.html

Apple CEO to head rebranding campaign for Disney stores across the country, Europe

Get ready for iDisney. Apple CEO and Disney board member Steve Jobs is set to give Mickey Mouse a makeover.

The Apple co-founder has been given the task of turning 340 Disney stores in the United States and Europe into an indoor "theme park" that gives customers an "experience," according to the New York Times.

The idea is for Jobs to recreate the magic he conjured when he rebranded Apple.

And Jobs will have a decent size pallet to work with. Mickey Mouse will empty his wallet to the tune of $1 million a store over the next five years to "redecorate, reorganize and install interactive technology" in each store. The goal is to get children to stay longer and in the process buy more things.

Disney plans to give a sneak peek of its rebranded look in Southern California and at a new Times Square flagship store, that the company is close to signing a lease for, in May.

The company is also considering renaming the stores "Imagination Park." Was iMagination already taken?

Old?

 

[RSP]

holy snap @ skinny steve!

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Was iMagination already taken?

Kill me now. :lol :lol :lol

 

[clav]

Great, now I get to see disney characters selling out to apple products.

I can already imagine the commercials now.

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

Kickass. Seems like Disney is going through some big changes lately. Expansion in their theme parks, rebranding of their popular brands and characters (Epic Mickey), expanding their business chokehold, and now this. I like it.

 

[SimleuqiR]

Great, now I get to see disney characters selling out to apple products.

I can already imagine the commercials now.

 

[Karakand]

So I guess this isn't a long-term strategy...

 

[Escape Goat]

Buy your iPod, X-Men comics and Princess Jasmine apparel all in one place. Finally, my prayers have been answered.

 

[Threi]

"Hi, im Marvel"
"Hi, im DC"

 

[Matt]

Kickass. Seems like Disney is going through some big changes lately. Expansion in their theme parks, rebranding of their popular brands and characters (Epic Mickey), expanding their business chokehold, and now this. I like it.

They are, and it's paying dividends. Disney is possibly in the best position right now when it comes to entertainment companies.

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

Smart move, Disney's style has grown a little tacky as of late.

 

[Escape Goat]

Smart move, Disney's style has grown a little tacky as of late.

Have you been in a Disney store lately? Its like hot topic but Disney. Everything is so chaotic in there. Fucking hate Disney store :lol

 

[Marty Chinn]

I used to love how the local Disney Store was when it first opened. It had Disney charm to it and a lot of unique Disney stuff that ranged in price to really nice high end stff. Then it got a make over and it became a cold sterile store with not a whole lot of things to choose from and I've hated it ever since. So maybe this will bring it back to something closer to what it used to be. I know for sure that what they did stopped me from going into that store.

 

[borghe]

They are, and it's paying dividends. Disney is possibly in the best position right now when it comes to entertainment companies.

Disney is probably one of the fastest growing entertainment companies in the world right now............... Disney.... yeah, isn't that a staggering thought.

that being said, the sound of it is actually kind of cool. Agree completely with Marty that Disney Store years ago (early to mid 90s) was actually kind of cool for Disney fans. They always had the second best collectible stuff next to the actual theme parks, had exclusive stuff, had awesome VHS and DVD pre-order bonuses, and was split about half and half between kids merchandise and adult targeted collectibles. Then they changed to almost 90% marketed at tween girls and the remaining 10% marketed younger. Hopefully this goes moer towards bringing mom and dad back in.

 

[andycapps]

Great, now I get to see disney characters selling out to apple products.

I can already imagine the commercials now.

So true, looks like they're going to be flooding the stores with Apple products, the stores will have wood paneled floors, be painted white, flurescent lights, etc. I think this is needed as the stores seem to be missing the magic that is Disney, I just don't know how I feel about it being Apple-fied.