Pixie Dust & Profits
Pixie Dust and Profits is a podcast for small business owners who LOVE DISNEY and want to SPRINKLE SOME OF THAT MAGIC onto their own businesses. Join us as we explore the mouse's $69.5 BILLION-DOLLAR operation and break down exactly how you can apply these concepts to your 4-5-6+ FIGURE BUSINESS.
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Down the Rabbit Hole
11/14/2023
Down the Rabbit Hole
Join us as we unveil the magic of internal promotion – not in ranks, but in marketing! And we’re not just talking about content repurposing. We’re diving into the rabbit hole to find how strategic promotion can help you sell your products from within your existing offerings. Drawing inspiration from how Disney cleverly markets new attractions within their parks, this episode is all about leveraging what you already have to enchant and engage your customers further. Listen now and discover: How Disney uses The Haunted Mansion rides to promote its movies Strategies for seamlessly guiding customers from one product to the next The importance of creating a "rabbit hole" of related content to keep customers engaged And so much more! Your small business takeaways: Just like Disney creates a sense of anticipation and connection between rides and movies, small businesses can create seamless pathways for customers to discover more products. By integrating mentions and promotions of other offerings within each product or service experience, you not only increase the customer's awareness of your range but also build a sense of a cohesive, interlinked brand universe. Remember, every interaction with a customer is an opportunity to subtly guide them to the next magical experience with your brand.
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Seasonal Treats In Your Business
10/31/2023
Seasonal Treats In Your Business
As we gear up for our next Pixie Dust LIVE event, we reflect on how Disney theme parks consistently surprise and delight their regular visitors. From limited-time treats at the parks to the clever marketing strategies Disney employs, we discuss how small businesses can take a page out of Disney's playbook and share some advice on how businesses can create their own “limited-time offers" to entice and retain customers. Plus, get ready for a bit of an unexpected debate about Disney merchandise. Listen now and discover: The brilliance behind Disney's limited-time merch and its ability to create a buzz. Disney's adaptable strategies, from exclusive credit card designs to novel ice creams. The business side of limited-time offers and how businesses can incorporate "drops" to attract and retain customers. And so much more! Your small business takeaways: Much like Disney continuously innovates to keep its recurring visitors engaged, businesses too can craft limited-time offers, seasonal products, or exclusive experiences to keep their customers intrigued and coming back for more. This strategy not only creates anticipation but also adds value by making customers feel special and catered to. Whether it's through exclusive product drops or limited-time educational content, there's always an opportunity to delight and surprise your customers.
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Genie+ Changes
07/18/2023
Genie+ Changes
In this episode, we discuss the changes to the Genie+ system at Disney, sharing our experiences – both successful ones and not-so-successful ones. Though the fluctuating prices of Genie+ can be frustrating, a dash of strategy here and a sprinkle of Pixie Dust there, and you'll conquer these parks without breaking the Genie+ bank to make the most of your next Disney visit. Listen now and discover: How Genie+ replaced Fast Pass at Disney parks, offering Lightning Lane passes for popular rides either through individual purchases or with Genie+, allowing one ride reservation at a time. Why some parks like Animal Kingdom and Epcot may not require Genie+ due to shorter wait times or individual Lightning Lane passes for specific rides. Nicole and Yasmine’s personal experiences, including times when the value didn’t meet their expectations And so much more! Your small business takeaway: By understanding and adapting to customer needs and preferences, like Disney, you’re able to recognize the complexity and customer feedback to changes in systems and respond in ways that enhance the customer experience. Everything from listens acknowledging customers' needs, adapting offerings accordingly, and continuously seeking ways to improve and simplify the customer experience are best practices of good business.
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Moving Your Mirrors
07/11/2023
Moving Your Mirrors
In this episode, we discuss a seemingly peculiar design choice of Disney Parks: the bathroom mirrors. More specifically, how they’re intentionally placed away from the hand-washing stations for a very conscious reason—and it’ll make so much sense once you hear it! (No one preens like Gaston, after all.) Listen now and discover: How intentional design can help run your business more smoothly and prevent bottlenecks The importance of identifying and addressing these obstacles to enhance efficiency and productivity Why effective communication and delegation within teams is imperative for autonomous decision-making and empowering team members to contribute and take action And so much more! Your small business takeaway: By focusing on identifying and addressing bottlenecks in business processes, you’ll be able to streamline tasks, delegate responsibilities, improve communication within a team, and easily be able to identify and move past obstacles that hinder productivity and flow. And by understanding the intentional design behind the absence of mirrors in Disney bathrooms, you can examine your own businesses and implement changes that promote efficiency and keep things moving smoothly.
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One Day at Disney
07/04/2023
One Day at Disney
In this episode, we discuss the concept of content multiplication using Disney's "One Day at Disney" as an example. We can’t get enough of how Disney strategically planned and executed multiple forms of content from a single project, including a coffee table book, a documentary, and short episodes. Listen now and discover: The importance of intentional content planning and structuring to maximize output across different platforms The difference between content multiplication and repurposing Why pre-planning and considering the unique requirements of each platform And so much more! Your small business takeaway: By thinking ahead and structuring your content to be easily segmented, any small business can maximize the value and reach of its content across various platforms. This involves considering the specific format and requirements of each platform, such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc., and tailoring the content accordingly.
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Disney vs. Universal
06/27/2023
Disney vs. Universal
In this episode, we discuss the concept of the lifetime value of a customer. Case in point: Disney and Universal. Both are theme parks that illustrate different pricing models. Disney focuses on encouraging longer stays and offers discounts for multi-day tickets, while Universal caters to shorter visits and prices accordingly. Tune in to discover how these insights into different pricing strategies can be applied to pricing services in the business world. Listen now and discover: How Disney’s “loyalty” creates an ecosystem that speaks to their specific target market How Universal’s employs an opposite strategy that works great for them What the lifetime value of a customer is and how to tailor pricing strategies accordingly And so much more! Your small business takeaways: Your goal when it comes to pricing is to align yourself with the lifetime value of your customers. Understand their behavior, tailor pricing to customer engagement, focus on long-term relationships, create a value ecosystem, and continuously evaluate and adjust. Balancing short-term revenue with long-term customer retention is crucial for small business success.
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Free Speech Extends to Businesses, Too
06/20/2023
Free Speech Extends to Businesses, Too
In this episode, we’re discussing the ongoing battle between Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, and Disney. It all started when Disney spoke out against a bill in Florida that restricts school children from talking about the “don’t say gay” bill. Disney has been striving to be more inclusive and representative in their content and employment practices. In *alleged* retaliation, Governor DeSantis threatened to remove Disney's special district status, which would shift the cost of managing Disney's infrastructure onto taxpayers. Tune in to discover how Disney is mitigating this and what you can learn from this in your own small business. Listen now and discover: How crucial it is for business owners to feel empowered to express their opinions without facing retaliation from the government Where consumer rights stand when it comes to supporting brands that align with their values The need for businesses to consider the ethical implications of their actions and decisions, beyond just providing products or services And so much more! Your small business takeaway: Every small business has the right to exercise free speech and express their values – even if it means taking a stance on social issues – however, they should be prepared with a responsible plan for any fallout that might come with it.
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The Disney Dining Plan Returns!
06/13/2023
The Disney Dining Plan Returns!
We’re kicking off summer with a brand-new series! Join us as we discuss the highly anticipated return of the Disney Dining Plan. While it may seem more expensive than paying out of pocket, we explore why people still love it. The convenience of upfront payment and the elimination of worrying about expenses make it a popular choice. We discuss ways you can incorporate convenience into your business offerings, such as offering automated payments and additional services. Tune in to discover how you can make your customers' lives easier and boost your business in the process. Listen now and discover: Business and marketing strategies for slower seasons when focus shifts, and how to implement them All about the convenience and prepayment benefits of the Dining Plan Comparison of different Dining Plan tiers and the upselling strategy employed by Disney Our personal experiences with the Dining Plan and its various options And so much more! Your small business takeaway: Consider incorporating convenient payment options and additional services to make customers' lives easier and enhance the overall customer experience.
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Backstage Pass: Pixie Dust LIVE
02/21/2023
Backstage Pass: Pixie Dust LIVE
Want to mastermind with other business owners in The Happiest Place on Earth? Pixie Dust Live is a live business retreat held at Disney World, designed for anyone who needs to find breakthroughs in their biz. During this mastermind retreat, you’ll work with industry experts (that’s us!) and other business owners like you to find 1:1 support and guidance for anything you might be struggling with, or growing towards, in your own biz. Plus — we have a lot of fun at Disney too (yes, we ride all the rides and see all the sights, mouse ears at the ready!). Want to see if this is a good fit for you? Listen to this week’s episode to get all the details! Resources mentioned: Pixie Dust Live application:
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Leadership Lessons from Bob Iger: Part 2
02/07/2023
Leadership Lessons from Bob Iger: Part 2
In part 2 of our series on leadership lessons from Bob Iger, we dig into what curiosity, fairness, integrity, and thoughtfulness look like as a business owner. If you missed part one, we encourage you to go back and listen to that episode first! There, we talk about some of Iger’s greatest achievements and how his unwavering optimism played a role in forging some of the most successful years in all of Disney history. Resources mentioned: The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company: Frustrating Your Fans: A Cautionary Tale About Disney:
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Leadership lessons from Bob Iger
01/24/2023
Leadership lessons from Bob Iger
During Bob Iger’s 15+ years leading Disney, he’s given small business owners something to look up to and learn from. In this first episode of a two-part series, we’re taking the leadership lessons Iger discusses in his book, The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company. We’ll dive into each of the 8 lessons that Iger shares and explain how you can also use these lessons in your own small business!
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The Importance of Autonomy for Your Employees and Contractors
01/10/2023
The Importance of Autonomy for Your Employees and Contractors
Have you ever wondered how Disney has trained over 75,000 Cast Members to create magic each and every day? They don’t tell their team exactly how to do it — they give them the resources and uniforms and trust their employees to be an evangelist for the brand. And it works! Wondering how you can bring this into your own business when you hire a team member? In this episode, we’re talking all about teams, leadership, and the importance of autonomy to build culture. Tune into find out how your team can create magic at every turn.
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Should You Abandon Ship?
12/13/2022
Should You Abandon Ship?
If you’re a perfectionist like us, you want to see a project through to the very end. But in business, not every project is going to make it. And if you’re not careful, something that was meant to be fun and exciting could very quickly turn into a money pit. So, how do you know when you should or should not abandon a project, and what are some ways you could avoid that fate? Listen to this episode to find out!
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Bob Iger Is Back
11/29/2022
Bob Iger Is Back
I don’t think ANYONE could have predicted the latest news — Bob Iger is back! After stepping away for 999 days and telling us that he wouldn’t be returning as CEO, Iger has returned to replace Bob Chapek, the CEO with arguably the rockiest reputation in Disney history. So, why did this happen, and what can we as business owners learn from it? Listen to this episode to find out!
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Magical Onboarding Experiences: Client Gifts & Small Touches They’ll Remember
11/15/2022
Magical Onboarding Experiences: Client Gifts & Small Touches They’ll Remember
Have you ever had a magical credit card onboarding experience? Probably not, huh? It always feels boring at best, and stressful at worst, to sign up for a new credit card. Unless, that is, you’re signing up for a Disney credit card! They’ve managed to make signing legal disclaimers feel fun with a few simple elevations to their onboarding packet — and they included gifts! Let’s talk about how you can implement a similarly fun experience into your own customer onboarding process, with client gifts and thoughtful touches.
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How to Create Elevated Inclusion in Your Business
11/01/2022
How to Create Elevated Inclusion in Your Business
Have you ever wondered how Disney manages to make you feel like you’re having the most exclusive and individualized experience, even when you know thousands of other people are being treated the same way? We did, too! So today, we decided to break down what Disney does so brilliantly and how their exclusive inclusivity works so well.
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Delivering the Full Experience to Repeat Customers
10/18/2022
Delivering the Full Experience to Repeat Customers
You want clients and customers to keep coming back for more — but how do you keep the magic alive for them? Recently, a trip to Disney World left Nicole a little less than satisfied. Listen to this episode as we discuss how to keep the magic alive for your long-term clients and customers!
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How To Avoid Business Meltdowns
10/04/2022
How To Avoid Business Meltdowns
Managing your client's expectations can be a day job in and of itself. In this episode of Pixie Dust and Profits, we’re talking about how Disney does this so well and how we can do the same in our own businesses!
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Cast Members Going Above and Beyond
09/20/2022
Cast Members Going Above and Beyond
You know how going to any Disney property is absolutely magical? It’s all thanks to the amazing cast members! So today, we thought we’d extend the lessons of that podcast and talk about some times that cast members went above and beyond their duties for us… and how you can apply that to your own business! We talk about how Disney meets disabled guests with kindness and accommodations, how even the littlest guests have an amazing experience, and more. Then, we share THREE key strategies you can take from Disney cast members to apply to your own business. Yes, ANY business can give their customers or clients a truly magical experience — no cast members or rollercoasters required.
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That Time I Got COVID at Disney World
09/06/2022
That Time I Got COVID at Disney World
Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we’re discussing that time Nicole ended up with a postive COVID test during her vacation… yikes! Listen now and discover how the situation was handled and why crafting a good client experience isn’t only about a single interaction or a single event. A great experience can even turn a disappointing situation into one that’s not-so-bad in the end.
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Summer Series: The Day-to-Day of Running Your Biz
08/16/2022
Summer Series: The Day-to-Day of Running Your Biz
Revisiting Disney’s Trajectory Over the Last Two Years We’ve got a Super Summer Series Surprise for you! For those who have been following along, or those who have just arrived (welcome!!), this summer we’ve been revisiting our favorite Pixie Dust & Profits podcast episodes from seasons past. So far, we’ve had such an amazing time listening back to these popular episodes AND giving you updated information from our 2022 perspectives on the topics. This week, though, we’re giving you something a little extra! ✨ When we decided to revisit , we immediately knew it was going to be different from other Summer Series episodes. We recorded this episode in April 2020, right after the lockdown started. This was deep in shutdown, and we had just begun to see some of the biggest business shifts in history happen right before our eyes. Of course, things have changed considerably since COVID first came on the scene, and it might not make sense to look BACK at this episode… so instead, we made a new and improved version of the episode! So, let’s discuss what’s happened with Disney since July 2020, and what we can take away from their projects and operations to support our businesses through hard times. Disney does “new normal” in unexpected ways On March 15, 2020, Disney closed its magic gates (so very sad) only to reopen them four months later in July of the same year, but with some pretty strict rules in place for returning park guests. They began with “soft” launches, each park receiving a different day to reopen with attendance capped and a new reservation service in place for all guests. This service included all areas of the park from attractions, to restaurants, to stores, to modes of park transport. Some of the new major safety measures that were instituted included: ✅ Temperature checks & required face coverings were mandatory for all visitors and cast members ✅ Magic bands were used whenever possible to facilitate mobile interactions rather than face-to-face (specifically in dining locations). ✅ An increased use of plexiglass barriers between guests and cast members ✅ Annual passes were no longer available for purchase; only existing annual pass members could renew. ✅ And the hardest pill to swallow: No parades, fireworks, or character meet-and-greets, and yes, that included character dining. 😭 Despite it all, Disney still remained confident that they could give their guests the same magical experience they’re known for. They even created the “social distancing squad,” a group of friendly cast members trained to enforce safety rules in a fun, energetic way. In all, Disney did a great job “protecting the magic” of the parks in a post-COVID existence. And hey, some form of Disney is always better than no Disney at all! Now that it’s been two years since their reopening, Disney has done away with a lot of the stricter guidelines: masks are optional, and parades, fireworks, and character dining and meet-and-greets have all returned. However, there are still some things that remain changed. ✅ Annual passes are very hard to get, and when you can, the prices have increased from previous years. ✅ Disney’s reservation system remains in place and is looking like it’s here to stay. You still have to reserve the park you want to visit on the day you plan to. ✅ You cannot “park hop” until after a certain time of day (2 pm most days, but it may vary). Gone are the days of spontaneity! Disney Genie+: Pros and cons After over a decade, the FastPass system is a thing of the past. Move over and make room for the new kid on the block, Disney Genie+. Genie+ works a lot like the old method. You purchase the add-on ($20 a person) and have ultimate access to the Lightning Lane on 19 different Disney attractions. But there are limits to this magic, of course. When you choose to use a Lightning Lane on an attraction, you cannot reserve another Lightning Lane spot on a different attraction until you’ve either already completed your previous ride or have waited 2 hours. On top of that, you cannot use Genie+ repeatedly for any of the rides. So, if you plan on riding Haunted Mansion 20 times in one day, be prepared to wait in line for at least 19 of those rides. It is interesting that Disney used the time that they were closed to innovate something like their line system. If the parks never closed, would something like Genie+ even exist? We don’t think so! While Disney does address some visitor pain points with this new method, a drawback of the Genie+ system in comparison to the FastPass system is the inability to choose a specific time to return to the attraction, which might leave you racing across the park madder than the Mad Hatter. The “new normal” for your small biz When we talk about our “new normal,” we’re seeing so many changes. We saw a ton of businesses pivot — especially ones whose services or offers were mostly held in person. We also saw that many people had to decide how to grow their business while kids were at home, family members needed care, and if spouses or partners were laid off. It was a time of rapid change, and we’re still feeling the ripple effects today. As we navigate a post-COVID world, there are a couple things to take from Disney’s decisions: ☝ Be aware of the current inflation situation. Inflation is at a record all-time high, and you need to respond accordingly! Is it time to raise your rates? Do you need to raise your team members’ pay? Remember, what you’re paying yourself right now isn’t what you were paying yourself even a few months ago. If you don’t want to increase rates, how can you decrease your expenses? ✌ Be flexible – on a whole different level. One of the things we’ve realized is that we want to ENJOY more of what’s going on around us. Don’t miss out, be intentional in slowing things down to open yourself up. Some of this means personal expense choices, like diverting savings or not making investments you planned to make. It’s okay to do this! Life is short, make it sweet. We want to hear how your priorities have changed in this “new normal”//“post-COVID” world! Reach out to us, we love receiving and answering Instagram DM’s! If you’re interested: we are currently taking applications for the next Pixie Dust Live event, click here to submit yours today! And if you’re planning a trip to Disney soon, and want to understand more about programs like Genie+ before you get there, visit our good friend Wish Upon a Planner® for all the ins and outs you’ll need for your next magical adventure with the Mouse! 🏰🐭
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Summer Series: Growing Your Business With Collaboration
08/02/2022
Summer Series: Growing Your Business With Collaboration
Episode 65: Revisiting Episode 014: Growth by Collaboration Our Summer Series continues this week with another back-to-the-basics episode from Pixie Dust’s past! As you might already know, we’ve been spending the summer revisiting some of our favorite episodes and also providing some much-needed updates from a 2022 perspective! This week, we revisit Episode 014, where we discussed the successful collaborations that Disney has created — with some unexpected brands. We dig into Disney’s versatility and ability to leverage any and all opportunities, while also providing some insightful information about how to make brand collabs work for YOUR biz. Minnie Vans: Disney + Lyft If you’ve visited Disney recently, then you might have seen the world's cutest car cruising around Disney property – the Minnie Van! These red buggies, decorated adorably with Minnie’s well-known white polka dots, are Disney’s answer to skipping long bus lines at the end of a long day and receiving faster transport back to your hotel. But, no, it’s not actually Minnie’s car. The Minnie Vans are a collaboration between Disney and Lyft Services. Disney knew that they didn’t need to build their own proprietary system for this, but they also knew they had a really strong brand that could attach itself to something already established. Enter: Lyft! 🚗 But what’s special about the Minnie Vans? What makes them different? That’s where Disney’s brand comes in. The Minnie Vans themselves are owned by Disney, operated by Disney employees, and only run during park hours/on park property. This adds a level of safety and security to both Disney and their patrons. So really, the only part that truly uses Lyft Services is the app itself. This is how Disney maintained their high bar of quality/safety experience within the partnership. The Disney/Lyft partnership is an important example of how to be strategic in your collaborations. They recognized a pain point (people wanting a faster, safer way to get around Disney’s properties) and met it in a way that was mutually beneficial to both parties (Disney got what they needed, Lyft got more subscribers to their mobile app). How do you apply this to your business? Thinking about the collaborations or partnerships you can find even in the most unlikely places. You find a brand that is complementary to your field/industry and leverage their audience to sell your product – Presto! You’re in a partnership! With a joint venture or partnership, the other person/brand already has credibility with their audience, and that trust they’ve built bleeds into your brand, increasing conversion rates and revenue. The percentage that you end up paying out to affiliates or partners is something that you’d be spending anyways in marketing and promos, but without doing all the audience-building work. If you’re thinking a collaboration might just prove lucrative for you, think about the right brands or people for your business. It’s not selfish to think about you, and make sure their branding and visions align with yours. Think about it like this: Even if you are a nutritionist who serves mostly moms, you can still pair up with a local bike shop if they want to help more moms get active. It isn’t necessarily the most logical fit (unlike if you paired up with a prenatal nutritionist, let’s say), but the collab still works — and can prove really fruitful! Disney & Target: A match made in heaven The Mickey Mouse clubhouse has officially moved venues – but don’t worry, it’s to another simply magical place most of us know and love: Target! In October 2020, Disney and Target worked together to launch 25 mini-Disney stores inside Target locations. They also launched this on their online stores so others in the U.S. and outside it could get the goods. This was a seriously smart move for Disney. They ended up getting foot traffic that drive sales, but didn’t have to handle distribution, retail, or hiring new employees. They leveraged Target’s infrastructure and assets to sell their exclusive products. In return, Disney agreed to open a Target store in Orlando in 2021 on Disney property. For Target, this was definitely a win in itself. The added convenience of having a store like Target is an awesome perk for vacationers who don’t feel like having to go off-site of Disney property for much-needed necessities. We all know the benefits of a good Target run, after all! 💓 How does this relate to your small business? This example is for all of our favorite product-based small businesses! Consider your platforms – do you sell your products on Etsy? Sell your designs to sites like Minted? Maybe you self-published through Amazon, it’s essentially the same idea! What you’re doing is taking advantage of someone, or some site, with a bigger audience and a larger platform in order to sell your product. They receive a cut of the sale, but you’re getting more visibility and more traffic. If you were to have your own site, you have to do a lot of work to drive traffic there – they don’t just come because you built it! But starting on a bigger platform and working your way up is a good way to leverage an audience of your own. And you can always have both, too! So many product-based small businesses use one site to boost the other, like using your Etsy to drive people to your website. What’s changed: Exclusive episode updates! Well, it’s pretty obvious that things have changed – remember that whole global pandemic thing? Because of COVID, the Minnie Vans went away for TWO years! But don’t worry, they’re back this summer and Disney’s partnership with Lyft is still going strong. Disney also has maintained their collab with Target stores and has officially shut down a large majority of their standalone Disney stores. But things certainly have changed for the…well, we’ll let you decide! We’ve noticed that Disney’s collabs have become a little more expensive than in the past. Disney has partnered with high-end brands, such as Gucci and Coach, to sell Mickey & Minnie-covered purses and apparel at super high price points. They even recently collaborated with Drake (yes, that one!) to create a collection for his OVO Fest called the “Nostalgic Capsule Collection.” It’s an interesting choice, but it’s definitely getting the Disney brand out there, and making it accessible to people from all walks of life. Disney is becoming chic, trendy, and desirable, all at very high price points. Another new brand collab technique that Disney has been sporting is the renovated Disney Springs outlet. Downtown Disney has officially been reinvented into a high-end, more luxurious-styled boutique waterfront outdoor mall. What this does for Disney is that in order to have a store in Disney Springs these high-end brands (think Lilly Pulitzer) need to be onboard with Disney’s technology (think Magic Bands, Disney Gift Cards). There’s certainly value on both sides, but Disney continues to elevate their brand status! Now think about the potential collabs you can have: are they pretty casual? High-end? Both? Look at opportunities from all sides. Ask yourself: How can I serve both our audiences best and how will it benefit everyone involved? There may be different audiences you can reach with a higher-end collaboration, while you may be able to reach even more people with a more casual connection. It’s all about assessing opportunities to see what’s beneficial for everyone.
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Summer Series: Disney+ Lessons Learned for Your Next Launch
07/19/2022
Summer Series: Disney+ Lessons Learned for Your Next Launch
We’re continuing our Summer Series this week. As usual, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business, but this Summer we’re spending some much-deserved quality time with some of our older and most popular episodes. This week, we’re revisiting In Episode 012, where we talked all about the launch of Disney+ and one of Disney’s biggest Hot Mess Express launches. It feels weird to think about planning movie nights without the platform now, but during the launch, things got tricky, especially for Canadian streamers! But what that experience did provide was a pivotal example of what a launch might look like (read: not perfect), and the benefits of offering bundles while launching. The benefits of bundling When Disney+ was preparing to launch, they began sending their target audience (Disney pass holders/vacationers/club members) emails to build excitement and pre-pay for the streaming service ahead of launch day. This was a risky move because, well, there wasn’t even a full or verified list of what was going to be ON the service yet! But, that didn’t stop a lot of people from signing up – and that’s because Disney sweetened the deal with exclusive bundle offers that made it pretty impossible to say no. Bundling, or stacking offers, is about paying attention to what people on your list are willing to buy that you can pair together for a better price point. The Disney+ subscription had two different options: The Disney+ standalone option for $6.99/month The Disney+/Hulu/ESPN bundle for 12.99/month This was a smart bundling move on Disney’s part because ESPN is already under their ownership umbrella, and Hulu was a popular streaming service with an ever-growing streamer base. Plus, the bundling option saved streamers 33% if they had all of those three services on their own, so the possibility of cutting costs or saving that money was a big draw. Proof that launching isn’t perfect The most important thing to remember about launching is that your initial launch plan is a guideline — and not everything will go as planned. There are always going to be things that happen that are out of control or that you didn’t expect, and all of this is okay! You need to learn to be flexible and open to learning something new every single time you launch something. Let’s go back in time – to 1955 – when Disneyland first opened its doors to the public. It was a MESS! Guests at the gate tripled expectations, people were making fake tickets to try and sneak in, rides were breaking down, and on top of all of that, Walt Disney was in a dispute because of a plumbing strike! He had to decide the day it was supposed to open whether or not the park was going to have working water fountains OR working bathrooms. He chose bathrooms and was criticized for doing it just so people would be forced to buy drinks. It was not smooth sailing. Cut to 2019 and the Disney+ launch. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, either. In the United States, those who pre-purchased and even those who paid on launch day experienced a TON of tech issues on the platform, including not being able to set up profiles and content being unable to load. In Canada, Disney fans were never even given the opportunity to pre-purchase, so everyone was forced to pay on launch day. They too experienced long wait times for the platform at significantly slower speeds. Our point? Disney’s launches have been bumpy, too. We’ve seen ALL types of launches, and hiccups happen! It’s frustrating at the time, definitely, but you learn from it and you optimize for next time, you don’t give up. What if Disney decided all those difficulties were too much and he decided to not open Disneyland? The horror! Learning from the past When you’re going through your next launch, think about the fact that Disneyland didn’t have working fountains on the first day, and nearly didn’t have working toilets! Disney+ had tons of streaming issues. Nothing was perfect. For your launches, it helps to know that something is GOING to happen, and it’s how you turn it into a learning experience that matters. We recommend, above all else, having a post-mortem after your launch day. Which is when you sit down post-launch and review what went well, what didn’t, your successes, challenges, and what you can do for next time. If a launch doesn’t go well, or as expected, there are ways to redeem your offers: Market your offer some more! Tweak aspects of your offer that might not be working as expected Start collecting more testimonials to build credibility/social proof Get feedback on offers to make improvements Bundle what you can to offer deals Looking forward: Episode updates! There were so many great lessons to learn about launches from Disney+, and now, 3 years later, we’re definitely able to see that despite the hiccups the platform is seriously successful! Things that have stayed the same: Disney is still very much pushing their Disney+/Hulu/ESPN bundle. They began referring to this package as “The Disney Bundle” in order to make it more enticing for potential customers, despite the content on these platforms not being exclusive to Disney. Things that have changed: The obvious first change is the price, which has increased to 7.99/month, 79.99/year, and 19.99/month for the Disney Bundle. These price increases do reflect the inflation of other streaming services, and the bundle still saves you about 32% if you were to have each subscription separately. Something else Disney+ changed is reducing the delay from getting something that was in theaters to the platform. It’s now only 45 days. (Remember having to wait MONTHS for this??) Reasons for this could be because viewership at cinemas is still low due to COVID, but also Disney is benefiting from building off the hype of the theatrical release, boosting engagement and subscription rates (because you’ll be locked in, not just a one-time payment for seeing a movie like at a theater). Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want Disney+ in 2022? With all the MCU exclusive Disney+ shows, the lowest turnaround time from theaters to your living room (for Turning Red it was only 3 weeks!), and they even gave Jeff Goldblum a show for him to talk about…literally whatever he wants! If you’re not tuning in, you’re probably experiencing some definite FOMO. Stay tuned as we cover the rest of our Summer Series and revisit some of our best episodes!
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Summer Series: The Importance of Data in Your Small Biz
07/05/2022
Summer Series: The Importance of Data in Your Small Biz
The nostalgia is REAL this week, folks! For the continuation of our flashback Summer Series, we’re taking it as far back as we can this week with our FIRST. EVER. EPISODE! 💗💛💜 Episode 001 aired all the way back in May 2019 when we were just two Disney lovers with a dream for this podcast. We love seeing (and hearing!) how far we’ve come, and hope that you’ll enjoy and get inspired by revisiting the beginning of it all with us! To recap: Episode 001 talked all about Disney’s data collection skills using their Magic Bands and how our favorite place on earth makes something like *shudders* metrics actually FUN and interesting to study! We also pivot from Disney to discuss how YOU could use measurements to grow and understand your business. Disney Magic Bands are the hypothetical keys to the kingdom! 🏰🔑✨ But physically, they are used to unlock your magical stay while on your Disney vacation. They do so many things once you’re on Disney property: unlock your hotel room, act as a pass (with no lines!) into the parks, get you onto rides and into attractions quicker, and even act as a personal Disney wallet with a quick card-free transaction for any and all Disney park purchases. But what’s so amazing about them from a business perspective? Well, let’s go on a little ride of our own through Magic Band history… 2008: A challenge was created to help create “magical ease” when scheduling, planning, and executing your Disney vacation. Disney wanted to streamline the process – less waiting times, easier access to facilities, and an overall better experience for families who had waited so long to experience the magic of Disney World. 2010: A single system was born, seamlessly connecting all park systems together: the Magic Band. A Disney engineer spent six months creating the band so that its design would be inclusive to all guests. Then, the Disney board of directors had to approve the 1 BILLION dollar project in order to put the system in place. 2012-2013: A full-scale demo & public testing of the Magic Band system took place in the parks! At first, people complained! There were obvious kinks to work out. But overall, the niche group of wristband wearers inspired other guests to say “hey, I want one of those too!” (I was one of those guests!) The pros of Magic Bands were crystal clear after the public testing, Disney knew they hit the jackpot with this costly venture. 💰 Because the Magic Bands are connected to your hotel room and your debit/credit cards, the cashless system made purchasing in the park so simple and easy that the bill would rack up without the slightest thought. Disney’s business intelligence element was flawless, no surprise there! The bands created a tracking system that collected data on how guests navigated Disney websites, where they spent their time in the parks, and even what they were buying. All that data was golden delicious in Pooh’s honey pot, Disney was able to use the data to create future plans for offerings & promotions tailored individually to their guests. (This is why we use Disney, everyone! Pure genius! 💡) Disney’s “path to purchase” tool is powerful in its design by not only tracking what a guest will buy, but the pattern that the guest uses before deciding to purchase. How can you use this for YOUR business? We know that not everyone has one billion dollars to spare like Mickey Mouse & the gang. But the history of Magic Bands does prove something invaluable: measure, measure, measure! 📐 Use less expensive tools for your website, like , to start tracking your own goldmine of data. Use this tool, and so many others like it, to track where your clients are spending time on your site. Metrics is a scary word – but think of it like this, all that it is is information meant to be gathered. Information that you can then take to and turn into leads, purchases, and new clients! New takeaways from Ep. 001: Magic Band Madness: So what ever happened to Magic Bands? Well, as of January 2022, Disney stopped offering them as free inclusions with your hotel stay – but they are still available to get for a discounted price! This is because the My Disney Experience app took on a lot of the same features as the bands. This is actually a good thing though – it proves that Disney is capable of keeping up with the shifting tides of technology. Everyone has a smartphone and everyone has access to an app, but still purchasing your own Magic Band gives a unique experience to Disney, and always will. We can’t recommend them enough – despite the changes! Metrics, always! Yes…unfortunately metrics are just as important as when we aired this episode three years ago! Maybe even more so now with the constant changes in the economic world due to Covid. We want you all to remember: data is just numbers! Evaluate it and look at the causes and effects. A bad trend in sales may not continue, and one number doesn’t mean everything. Always look at the BIG picture.
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Summer Series: Meeting Clients Where They Are
06/21/2022
Summer Series: Meeting Clients Where They Are
We’re back with a little help from our former selves to recap and revisit another popular episode from the past! Episode 007 (not to be confused with Bond, James Bond) aired almost two and a half years ago. In Covid years that must be something like a decade, right? This episode was so important to us, and to all of you, because we talked all about meeting your clients where they’re at and the steps to take to ensure equal presence and opportunity amongst your client base. We want to recap and also feature some new, exclusive content for you all to expand on these super important ideas. Once upon a time, in Episode 007, we began a conversation about meeting clients where they are by discussing the levels and tiers of Disney hotel rooms. Disney has over 30,000 hotel rooms ranging across 27 different resorts (and that doesn’t even count the off-park hotels and rooms!) The resorts are split between three important categories: Value resorts make up about 30-40% of the overall rooms in Disney. They’re great for families on a budget who still want that magical Disney experience. Moderate resorts are slightly bigger, slightly more expensive, and include some extras that value resort rooms don’t have (private bathrooms, less walking from the park shuttles for the end of those long days when you’re dogs are barking real loud). Deluxe resorts are the quintessential Disney hotel experiences, including fan favorites like the hallmark Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Disney vacation club. They make up about 20-25% of the overall rooms in Disney and are the top-of-the-line, bucket-list type experience. Disney’s hotel room level system aims to get all guests where they are so that everyone can enjoy Disney magic no matter what the circumstances may be. So what does this breakdown mean for your business? Breaking down the ascension model This is called an ascension model, which works like a ladder of different valued opportunities for your clients! Your ideal client is someone who WANTS to work with you, and if that person can’t afford certain services it’s important to meet them where they’re at using this model. Here’s the gist: Create a ladder of different value offerings that can grow WITH your client. As they advance their business, opportunities to work with you further also advance and become available to them. This episode also discussed how you can reward loyalty for your client base. At Disney, they use the Disney Vacation Club (which we are both proud members of!) Maybe you are trying to sell someone into a deluxe model of your business offerings, add in something extra or a special value that you’ve already built into the pricing on the backend. This will give the appearance of a loyalist reward that won’t break your bank. 💰 Such great information, right?! But we have even more in this updated episode, here are some ways we’ve been reflecting and creating ideas on this subject over the last 2.5 years: We still very much believe in the ascension model, and even see it working for clients as recent as a MONTH ago. That said, we want to remind you that there’s a lot of strategy that goes into an ascension model – ask yourself what step does your client need before this product, and what step do they need before they’re ready for this product: this is how you can create a model. Yasmine shared her personal experience with this model that she uses in her product-based business as owner of . She talked about ways that she ensures having products that serve everyone at any point in their crystal journey. Most importantly, she recommends a range in pricing for your products, much like the range of prices that you can find Disney ears in at the parks!
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Summer Series: Slow Seasons in Business
06/03/2022
Summer Series: Slow Seasons in Business
It’s so weird listening to episodes that aired in “pre-COVID times.” Episode 13 aired over two years ago! It seems like so much of the world, and how we work within it, has changed. We wanted to revisit this important episode, and the tips we shared in it, to remind you and ourselves that maybe things aren’t as different as they feel. To recap: Episode 13 discussed the importance of knowing business trends and how to prepare for the slow seasons throughout the year. When we look at the Disney Parks model it shows that December is the busiest month in the parks and late August is the slowest due to hurricane season. If we follow that trend, you can almost never find discounts for Disney in December, but see a lot more in line with the slower months. Obviously, this is no coincidence, and the tactic is meant to drive up foot traffic during the quiet months. We also discussed offers that hit consumer “pain points,” such as Canadian exchange rates, and how Disney offers too-good-to-ignore deals that make expenses much easier to swallow for their Canadian guests. 💰 What’s most important to us with this Summer Series is to provide YOU with updated information and data from the first time you listened to these episodes. That said, we did have some important things to add knowing what we now do about living through such unprecedented times: If you’re a new business owner, DON’T look at 2020 as a sales comparison point. If you have data and sales from 2019 that is where you’ll want to make your estimates because the last two years are definitely no reflection of how the next two years will look! Think about what you CAN do to ensure consistent sales, such as smaller, more consistent promos, or regular coupon offers. Think micro, not macro, and remind your audience that you are still there during your slow season. The new takeaways from Ep. 13: Business won’t be apples to apples when referencing your pandemic sales, don’t reflect on those numbers and begin preparing for busier times. When it’s slow – don’t check out!
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Make Your Business “Stick(y)”!
03/15/2022
Make Your Business “Stick(y)”!
In this new episode of Pixie Dust & Profits, we discuss how Disney has made their 50th anniversary an event you won’t want to miss – and can’t miss, even if you tried! Inspired by our last trip through the Orlando airport, we were blown away by the effort Disney made to ensure their 50th-anniversary “sticks” in the minds of visitors and, honestly, anyone who travels through the Orlando airport. Tune in as we break down this marketing magic and discuss how you can apply the same “stickiness” that Disney perfected and implement it into your very own business, too. Listen now and discover: How Disney is promoting their 50th Anniversary What you can do to make your business “stick” Why you need to talk about your business more than you do Your small business takeaways: Consistent branding and incredible customer experiences will make your business “stick” in the minds of your customers. Links:
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Small Shop Safety with Misty Henry
03/01/2022
Small Shop Safety with Misty Henry
Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. This week we’re joined by Misty Henry, the creator of The Makers Resource Shop who is on a mission to help makers build successful and safe businesses. If you’re a small shop, you won’t want to miss Misty’s golden nuggets on compliance and consumer safety laws, especially if you sell goods used by children. As a member of our Profitable & Productive Party, she also shares how she’s seen incredible business growth an increase in revenue! We talk about how accountability and support really helps when you’re looking to reach that next stage in business. Listen now and discover: The first steps to take when creating a product for children Regulations for compliance and safety laws of children’s products How Misty doubled her business revenue multiple years in a row, and what you can find inside the Profitable & Productive Party Questions to ask yourself as a business owner when making decisions Your small business takeaways: How to get your business ready for growth through improving your product and operations You can create more impact by doing less and focusing on the next best step for your business. Links:
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Do the Pre-Work
02/15/2022
Do the Pre-Work
Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can better run your online business. In this episode, we’re talking about how important it is to do the pre-work before you make your trip to Disney and how you can apply this to your business launches. Tune in as we discuss the planning we do before we take a trip to Disney and how doing this same pre-work can benefit your business. If you have launches coming up, or you’re planning for major growth this year, you’ll want to tune in! Listen now and discover: The three questions we ask to plan our Disney trips How to apply this same pre-work concept to your business launches Why this strategy will create long term business growth for you and your team Your small business takeaways: Doing the pre-work before a business launch is vital to your success! Links:
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The Endless EPCOT Construction
02/01/2022
The Endless EPCOT Construction
Each week, we come to you with ideas for how you can better run your online business like Disney — and even a few things that you don’t want to do like Disney! This episode is about the latter, for once. In this episode, we’re discussing the seemingly endless construction at Disney World, specifically at Epcot. When we visited in October 2021, we were shocked by how much construction was happening in full view of the park goers! This was OK for us because we’ve been so many times, but we couldn’t help but think how this would affect someone who was making their first trip to the parks. It also made us think about small business owners, and how they often are a “work in progress” in full view of their clients and customers. If you’re always working on something in your business, and it’s affecting the experience people have when they visit your site or buy from you, it’s time to get focused! Tune in as we hash out the 6 phases of business, which pillar you need to focus on, and how to avoid the chaos of construction! Listen now and discover: The endless construction at Disney, specifically at Epcot Impact of COVID on Disney’s projects and timelines Avoiding “Squirrel Syndrome” during construction 6 phases of business Your small business takeaways: Choose the business phase you want to focus on and execute it well! Links:
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