Disney animated characters have been a staple in American homes for decades. They bring happiness and hope to children every day. Disney is known for positive messages and lovable animated Disney characters. Walt Disney animated characters have become an establishment all on their own with retail products, movies, TV shows and much more.

Disney's animated characters can take your retail business to the next level when you offer a selection of animated Disney character products, including the likes of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse and other animated Disney movie characters. To increase sales and popularity in your retail establishment, you should:

1. Survey your customers to get a sense of the Disney character animation products to stock.

2. Pick the animated Disney characters to sell and represent in your store.

3. Purchase animated Disney character products from a reputable Disney merchandise seller.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Survey your customers to determine which of Disneys animated characters to carry

In order to provide the Disney characters your customers will purchase, you need to know their favorites and those they'll buy. Set up a simple survey system with forms at the check-out or by offering incentives for taking the survey like a drawing for free merchandise. Become familiar with the characters first in order to create the survey.

I recommend: The Big Cartoon Database has a listing of all the classic and current Disney movies with detailed information and character lists. They also offer ratings on the movies, showing you which are more popular than others. Amazon offers the Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters. This could provide a great interactive way to survey your youngest customers. Allow them to leave page markers on the characters they love the best.

Pick the animated Disney characters to sell and represent

How you choose the characters should no doubt reflect the surveys of your customers, but it should also coincide with your current merchandise and theme of the store. If you have a girl's boutique, for instance, consider offering the Disney princesses merchandise.

I recommend: Cartoon Products offer a variety of Disney's animated characters in many different products. They boast a fundraising program and a good return policy. KNG America manufacturers and distributes novelty items, such as lamps, phones and bathroom decor with a large selection of Disney brand merchandise.

Purchase animated Disney character products

Disney character products can be purchased many places. To provide a few products on a one-time status, consider purchasing as a corporation and receiving a discount. If you need merchandise that replenishes as it sells, like in a retail atmosphere you will need to become a Disney merchandise retailer.

I recommend: Visit the official Disney store and purchase as a corporation to receive corporate discounts. This is good for smaller orders, or non-replenishing orders. Check out the information at Disney Corporate for supplier information and guidelines. They have very specific guidelines for working with the Disney company and representing their products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Stay abreast of popular trends in the Disney universe so you are always offering the most desirably products.