(Subscribers are encouraged to also visit: Teddy Bear Stuffers)
Maxine Clark, founder of the Build-A-Bear Workshops,
took a winning idea in early 1997 and turned it into an 
international operation. Her first store
opened in the St. Louis Galleria, with others following in rapid
succession. By the end of 2002, Build-A-Bear boosted over 100 stores. Few
entrepreneurs have the motivation or savvy to expand at such an
astronomical rate.
"We currently have stores in the U.S. and Canada. By the end of 2003 we [had] stores in Japan, Korea and the U.K. More countries will follow in 2004,” Clark states. “I expect that will cover most of the major countries where this concept can have critical mass appeal by 2005."
She attributes her success to universal appeal. "We hit a warm, fuzzy spot with our guests. The teddy bear mixed with a fresh and unique concept is just what the customer was looking for,” Clark says. “The landlords recognize a hit when they see one and they worked aggressively with us to expand the concept quickly, but without losing its special appeal."
Clark has a wealth of business experience under her belt. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she is an award-winning businesswoman with a 30-year background in retailing. She worked for May Department Stores Company for 25 years, where she created partnerships with Disney, American Greetings and Mattel. She was also the president of Payless Shoe Source for four years and developed the retailer into the world’s number one seller of licensed children´s footwear.
Build-A-Bear Workshop was named "Best New Concept for 1998" by Chain Store Age magazine. The National Retail Federation named Build-A-Bear Workshop the “Retail Innovator of the Year” for 2001.
When asked for her personal philosophy or secret to success, she
replies, "I do believe that it takes a village to raise a bear. In order
for anything to be successful it takes the work of many people. Impeccable
implementation and attention to details is required to be successful in
today´s world."
Her workshops encourage
participation. Shopping is more than selecting a toy from a shelf and
taking it to the cash register. The process involves choosing the outer
casing for the animal, stuffing it, fluffing it and sewing it up. The
final steps involve grooming the animal and dressing it. The toy leaves
the store as a pet in a take-home decorated box.
Interactive, family-oriented and fun, the
atmosphere draws a vast crowd from toddlers to adults. "We attract a broad
range of customers, but our target is families with kids under 12. We have
equal amounts of boys and girls, and a strong adult appeal as
well—everyone loves teddy bears."
Although the teddy bear is her biggest attraction, not all her designs are bears. The workshop currently features a lion, a leopard, a turtle and a variety of dogs and other domestic pets and wildlife. "We normally have about 30-35 animals in our assortment at any one time. We are always retiring animals and bringing in new ones. Bears are our number one sellers.”
With many more awards sure to follow, Clark seems excited as she says “We can ´bearly´ wait."
Please post your comments below and share your thoughts with others. Scroll down:
Select a Build-A-Bear Workshop® Country Investor Relations. Select Your Country. buildabear.com/
Build-A-Bear Workshop Bearisms™ fur Teddy Bears: Remember your very first Teddy Bear. buildabear.jp/
How Bears Can Help: Grants Workshop offers grants in two areas, literacy education and pet programs. buildabear.com/aboutUs/ community/bearscanhelp/Grants.aspx
Build-A-Bear Workshop The NBA jerseys will be available in select stores by team market and ... will be available on the Build-A-Bear homeparents.about.com/cs/familycrafts/a/buildbear.htm
Build-A-Bear Workshop® Partners With NBA, WNBA ChristmasBuild-A-Bear WorkshopTreatsPlay homeparents.about.com/b/a/028877.htm
See Comments Below:
I really love build a bear! They helped me make Ginger, my very best friend!
Although I love build a bear, the clothes are very expensive. I mean 5 dollers for a hat? Well the outfits are in a good quality, and that probably explanes the prices. I also love the Limited Two fashions. And they should make more commersials about promoting them. The only reason I found out is because a friend told me about it! They should also put more stores around. The closest one to my house is almost 35 miles! Even though al of these set backs I still love Build a Bear, and they are doing a great job!
I have ongly been to Build-A-Bear once, but I LOVED it!!! :) :) :) :) :) :)
I enjoyed my first vist to Bulid-A-Bear and getting Angel!! Thanks Bulid-A-Bear!!!
:) :) :) :) :) :) :)
PO PO !!!
i love it !it was hard to pickyou bear then if you want a sound put im it .and to pick leo s name out now that was hard . but i finly got leo the lion . and the close was hard to pick out . and to pick ymmmmm..... do i want it to be a boy or a girl . but i picked leo a boy .
i love it !it was hard to pickyou bear then if you want a sound put im it .and to pick leo s name out now that was hard . but i finly got leo the lion . and the close was hard to pick out . and to pick ymmmmm..... do i want it to be a boy or a girl . but i picked leo a boy .
it like tottly rocks!!yeah
i love j dawg
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO CURT WHY DONT YOU WANT TO GO OUT WITH ME U LIKE ME I LOVE YOU X X X X X X X
i never been to bulid a bear workshop i want my 11 year old birthday party there i want to invite 3 people but the peroblem is i dont kno who to invite well i really want to go to bulid a bear workshop i heard it is cool.
my sister kenzie loves bulid a bear workshop she wants her party there my wish is that she does
i wish there was a build a bear workshop at walterboro south carolina i love dillon nadzak
iwould like to say to sophia plzzzzzz talk to me at yahoo messager my name is lil_evil_one200 if you get on talk to me iwent out wit curt???
i love
I absolutely LOVE bulid-a-bear! I got one of my own and it''s a boy-named: Dimples and he''s so cuddly and cute, I really enjoy it!
I have a Teddy Bear From The Store Build a Bear workshop and they are so cute
I have 6 a tiger,black lab,monkey,lion, unicorn and rudulf the red nose randeer they are so cute
manchester ct, has the BEST bulid a bear. The people there are awsome.I had the best time!!!
bulid-a- bear workshop is so cool!
I went to build a bear today! november 30 2004
my bears name is chloe
i love chloe she can talk
It is so cool . You could never have any thing better!!!*********** ******************** ******************** ******************** ******************** ********!!!
I love my bear very much
I
bea bears are cool .tramaine is crazy
BRITANY IS SLOW
Great
I think the Build a Bear stores are a really great Idea. Shocker Toys
I want one a pug puppy
i hate them
Great idea...
I love it like so very much I cant stop holding it at nite.
I hate my build abear because it keeps bugging me at nite.
I love build abera thet are sooooo coll
build-a-bear rocks my sister and I went there and made one. Then I one a birthdary party on chay am going jan 8, o5 I hope to make a bunny!!
The bears are so cute.
build -a -bear is so awsome my bear''s birthday was last month the 29 of december and i got her alot of new stuff/clothes and her name is Gracelen Jean.
i''ve never been to build the bear but it sounds so fun i don''t care if they are expencive i would pay any thing but not over $50 thoght but it does sound fun!!:) :):):):
hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey bye bye bye bye bye bye ttyl ttyl ttyl it means tak to you later no one copy !
hey hey hey ppl love this web by bye ppl
i have only been once but for christmas i got a card and latter i am going to get one i love my monkey& can not wait to go agin lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol it means lots of love no one copy
hey that sooooooo cool cool i want to weddingbear.
I HAVE 8 BUILD-A-BEARS 2 CATS BOO AND ALISHA,2 BEARS CINNAMON AND VELINTINE,ELMO,MONKY NAMED GOERGE,A DUCK CALLED ***ER CUP,AND RUDULFF THE RED NOSE RANDEER.I LOVE BUILD-A-BEAR!!!
ilove build a bear it rocks i can''t wait to go there again
I love build a bears, my bear just had her birthday!keep up the good wook!
i loooooooooooove you build a bear
i love build a bear workshop i just love it build one in port sait luice florida! :)):):):):):):):):
ilovebuldabearsososo sososososomuch
ilove bulid a bear
I love Bulid A Bear Workshop
Ilove Bulid A Bear Workshop because I made my best friend there.His name is sox,and I love him very mouch.
Ilove Bulid A Bear Workshop because I made my best friend there.His name is sox,and I love him very mouch.
I love Bulid a bear Workshop .Were I made mybest friend Brownie
I love Alex Rochwaick
Hey Nicloe why did you go to build a bear shop in the first place?
i love them bears are sooooooooooooooooooo ooooooo cute
ilove my kola i am going to go make a new one
my sister loves bulid a bear i love 23945
thanks so much for letting me give megan a partie at the oak park store, those kids had a very wonderful time making such CUTE bears, hey take your parties to biuld a-bear like we did. see you beary soon.....
I LOVE BIULDABEAR!!!
i love my bear its name is angel i do evey thing with it i love angel
i love my bear
Where are the birthday party reservations? I was going to have my birthday there.
I wish I could go to Bulid-a-Bear every day !!! It`s the BEST!!!
I LOVE BULID-A-BEAR !!!