Want To Fight Darth Vader? Visit One Of Disney's Redesigned Stores
Disney is taking experiential retail to the next level with a major store redesign.
The new concept will focus on providing an elevated customer shopping experience for families, including a slimmer product selection in the stores, Reuters reports. Visitors will be able to engage in interactive experiences such as fighting Darth Vader or chatting with Disney and Pixar characters, and the store will include live streams of theme park parades in order to lure customers in.
The redesign falls in line with a greater shift occurring in the retail sector where brands are pushing to offer the ultimate customer experience in stores to drive traffic, while increasingly shifting sales online.
Like other retailers, Disney is launching a new website that will work alongside the physical store and will have employees directing shoppers to the e-commerce site for a larger selection of products for all age groups, including luxury brands such as Coach Inc., Ethan Allen Interiors and more exclusive items typically sold at Disney theme parks.
Disney has experienced growth and downsizing throughout the years that brings its total store count to 340 retail stores globally, Reuters reports.
This new model is being tested in California, Japan and Shanghai with stores planned to open in Munich and Miami toward the end of 2017.