Build a Bear Workshop Store
Build-A-Bear Workshop® Fact Sheet
Background The Build-A-Bear Workshop® concept started from Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark’s desire to re-invent retailing for the 21st century. The idea was a culmination of her years of retail experience and a desire to bring the fun back to shopping, the way Maxine remembered it when she was a child. The “light bulb” went off for Maxine when she was on a shopping trip with her young friend, Katie, who was 10 years old at the time. It was the height of the Beanie Baby craze and Maxine and Katie were on a mission to find a certain stuffed animal. When the store didn’t have the one they wanted, a disappointed Katie picked one up and said, “These are so simple, we could make these.” What she meant was going home to start a craft project, but what Maxine heard was a bigger idea. Thus, she set out to create a company that would be unique and be of value to the industry for generations to come. The mission of Build-A-Bear Workshop is to bring the teddy bear to life. A classic icon, the teddy bear brings to mind warm thoughts about childhood, friendship, trust, comfort and also love. Build-A-Bear Workshop embodies those thoughts in how business is run every day. From the beginning, Build-A-Bear Workshop has been a fun place to work and play for associates in stores and in the corporate office, called World Bearquarters, in St. Louis. The company’s corporate culture reflects that of stores- bright and fun with flexible, family-friendly policies. Additionally, the company is committed to making a difference in every community in which it operates. Build-A-Bear Workshop has always been a company with heart and has achieved success by putting the fun and the heart back into retailing. Build-A-Bear Workshop strives to be wherever families go to have fun. After all, special stuff happens every day! Whether it is losing a tooth, performing in a dance recital, starting kindergarten or going to a first sleepover, Build-A-Bear
Background The Build-A-Bear Workshop® concept started from Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark’s desire to re-invent retailing for the 21st century. The idea was a culmination of her years of retail experience and a desire to bring the fun back to shopping, the way Maxine remembered it when she was a child. The “light bulb” went off for Maxine when she was on a shopping trip with her young friend, Katie, who was 10 years old at the time. It was the height of the Beanie Baby craze and Maxine and Katie were on a mission to find a certain stuffed animal. When the store didn’t have the one they wanted, a disappointed Katie picked one up and said, “These are so simple, we could make these.” What she meant was going home to start a craft project, but what Maxine heard was a bigger idea. Thus, she set out to create a company that would be unique and be of value to the industry for generations to come. The mission of Build-A-Bear Workshop is to bring the teddy bear to life. A classic icon, the teddy bear brings to mind warm thoughts about childhood, friendship, trust, comfort and also love. Build-A-Bear Workshop embodies those thoughts in how business is run every day. From the beginning, Build-A-Bear Workshop has been a fun place to work and play for associates in stores and in the corporate office, called World Bearquarters, in St. Louis. The company’s corporate culture reflects that of stores- bright and fun with flexible, family-friendly policies. Additionally, the company is committed to making a difference in every community in which it operates. Build-A-Bear Workshop has always been a company with heart and has achieved success by putting the fun and the heart back into retailing. Build-A-Bear Workshop strives to be wherever families go to have fun. After all, special stuff happens every day! Whether it is losing a tooth, performing in a dance recital, starting kindergarten or going to a first sleepover, Build-A-Bear