I've just returned from a vacation to Southern California, and while there, I made my annual pilgrimage to my own personal retail 'temple': Disneyland. Now, before you scoff, let me say that I grew up working retail from the tender age of 13 right across the street from the Park in my mom's hotel gift shop. I spent a lot of time inside Disneyland, and was tutored by the Disney method of merchandising - 'Retail as Entertainment' was in my lexicon before 'P&L' and 'Open to Buy' were!

There are a million lessons about retail, merchandising, and customer service to be gleaned from Disney, believe me. The more you read about how Walt designed his resort, the very measurements of the buildings and the way the lighting & music change throughout the day to stimulate shopping, well, you realize that retail IS entertainment - and it's also an art, and a science. It doesn't happen by accident, it happens by design.

And a part of that design is the intense level of detail that goes into the retail experience on Main Street USA. Did you know that Walt designed the park as a theater? And Main Street USA is the 'lobby'? Yep. All those twinkly, sparkly lights around the buildings are like the sign at a concession stand in a theater - they stand out, catch your attention, and draw you in. The stores are like candy cases - packed with goodies just waiting for you. Neatly arranged in rows and stacks and tantalizing colors, they beckon customers to grab one as a souvenir.

Accident? Not a chance. Even though this street is frequented by more guests in a single day than a mall store may be in a whole month, the staff is trained to keep those displays crisp, clean, well-stocked and easily accessible by every customer who passes by. And they do it all day, every day, 20 hours a day. They stock before the gates open at 8 AM. They stock after closing at 1:00 AM. They stock and clean constantly throughout the day. And they sell more merchandise than you can shake a stick at - at pretty high prices, too. Every store in America should be doing this! Are you?

Attention to detail in the visual presentation of merchandise is paramount to selling it - no matter what the product is. Walt Disney knew this, and his company is built on that premise. Maybe you can't get to Main Street USA to check it out - but try reading the book 'Be Our Guest' by the Disney Institute (available at the Main Street Magic Store & online) to learn more about the methods behind the Mouse's success. Now there's a souvenir for ya'.....