Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
 

About

Fanlisting?
A fanlisting is a place for all fans of a particular show, movie, actor/actress, singer, etc. to come together and build the biggest listing of people from all around the world who are fans of that subject. If you are a fan of Build-A-Bear please take a look around and join this fanlisting.

The Fanlisting?
This fanlisting is for the company, Build-A-Bear Workshop

The Mission
At Build-A-Bear Workshop®, the mission is to bring the Teddy Bear to life. An American icon, the Teddy Bear brings to mind warm thoughts about our childhood, about friendship, about trust and comfort, and also about love. Build-A-Bear Workshop embodies those thoughts in how we run our business everyday.

The Founder
Maxine Clark has been Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. since the company's inception in 1997 and has served as chairman of the board of directors since conversion to a corporation in April 2000. From November 1992 until January 1996, Maxine was the President of Payless ShoeSource, Inc. Prior to joining Payless, she spent over 19 years in various divisions of The May Department Stores Company in areas including merchandise development, merchandise planning, merchandise research, marketing and product development.

Maxine Clark is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. During her 30-year career, her rare ability to spot emerging retail and merchandising trends and insight into the desires of the American consumer generated growth for retail leaders, including department store, discount and specialty stores. By year end 2006 there will be nearly 300 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company owned stores in the U.S. , Canada and the United Kingdom and franchised stores in Europe, Asia and Australia . Another of Maxine Clark's additions to entertainment retail is friends 2B made®, which launched in 2004. It's based on the simple premise that kids, especially girls, love dolls.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, friends 2B made and Maxine Clark are proud to be recognized in their industry. In 2006 Maxine Clark was inducted into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame. In 2005, the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC) made Build-A-Bear Workshop Portfolio Company of the Year. Build-A-Bear Workshop was a 2005 iParenting Media HOT Award Winner, named one of the International Council of Shopping Centers Hottest Retailers of 2004, and the Retail Innovator of the Year for 2001 by The National Retail Federation. friends 2B made® received First Prize: Exterior - In-line Store Category in the Chain Store Age 2004 Retail Store of the Year Design Competition. Maxine was recently named a Customer-Centered Leader in the 2005 Customer First Awards by Fast Company. She was one of the Wonder Women of Toys by Playthings magazine and Women in Toys and was also one of the National Finalists in Retail for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2004.

Maxine is a member of the Board of Directors of The J.C. Penney Company, Inc., where she also serves as Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis and her alma mater, the University of Georgia . She is also Chair of Teach for America St. Louis and a member of the Committee of 200, a leading organization for women entrepreneurs around the world. In May 2006 her first book The Bear Necessities of Business. Building a Company with Heart was published by Wiley.

The Mascot
Bearemy®, the huggable mascot, was born on August 21st, 1998 in St. Louis, Missouri. When he came to Build-A-Bear they knew he was a beary special friend, so how would they find the pawfect name? They put out a search in all their Build-A-Bear Workshop stores to find the beary best name for their new friend! They had lots of great ideas, but the one that fit the best was from their young friend Samantha from Madison, Illinois - Bearemy!

Bearemy is 9 ˝ paws tall (about 6'4"), but is beary shy about his weight. Let's just say he LOVES honey!

Bearemy quickly became the hottest bear in the country. He enjoys meeting Guests at new store openings and in-store events. He also travels around to visit children in the hospital and where ever someone needs a hug.

Bearemy gives the beary best hugs and believes that a bear hug is understood in any language! He gives thousands each year!

Look for Bearemy at in-store events at Build-A-Bear Workshop or when a new location is opening in your area!

You can make your beary own 16" Bearemy in the stores or at the website! He even has a beary cute mascot outfit you can purchase for him too!

Bearemy has lots of friends, but his best friend is Pawlette Coufur®, Fashion Advisor to the Furry Famous. She makes sure Bearemy always looks his best! And they have so much fun together playing in the store!

Pawlette Coufur was born in a small carrot patch near Pawston, and soon found the world of furry fashion calling her name. She moved to Bearis and worked with all of the hot designers, including Fuzzy, Grizz, and Floppy. Pawlette Coufur soon became the final word on fashion for the furry. Build-A-Bear is un-bear-lievably thrilled to have her with them!

Franchising Information
- International Opportunities -
The strategy is to grant an exclusive Build-A-Bear Workshop franchise per country (outside United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United Kingdom). The franchisee will be responsible for owning and operating all Build-A-Bear Workshop store locations within the country. The preferred franchisee would live in the country of franchise, have experience operating a retail or related service business in that country, and possess an extensive understanding of the culture of that country. The friends 2B made® stores are not yet franchised. For more information on Build-A-Bear Workshop international franchising, please email a letter of introduction to our international team at futureworkshop@buildabear.com.

- Company owned and operated -
Currently, all Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as all friends 2B made® locations, are company owned and operated and are not franchised. Our World Bearquarters is located in Saint Louis, Missouri. We have over 300 locations under consideration. We are open to any suggestions for locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United Kingdom. Email your suggestions to futureworkshop@buildabear.com.

Partners
- World Wildlife Fund -
Build-A-Bear Workshop® is proud to partner with World Wildlife Fund (WWF). They donate $1 to WWF for each Giant Panda and Leopard stuffed animals purchased at the WWF stores and on www.buildabear.com. With this donation, they support WWF's efforts in protecting endangered animals and their habitats.

- Bearemy's Kennel Pals® -
Build-A-Bear Workshop donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each full-sized Bearemy's Kennel Pals friend to local animal shelters and stray pet rescue and rehabilitation organizations around the country. Money raised through the sales of these animals is directly granted to shelters and animal programs in the United States and Canada on a quarterly basis.

- Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation -
Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is committed to improving communities and impacting lives through meaningful philanthropic programs that support causes for children and families. The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation and Nikki's Bear programs are driven by the inspiration and spirit of kids helping kids and the central messages of courage and hope. Proceeds from the sale of Nikki's Bear™ will be distributed through the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to fund children's cancer research and treatment programs.

- First Book® -
Build-A-Bear Workshop® is a proud partner with First Book®, a national literacy organization. They donate $1 to First Book for each Read TeddyTM purchased at their stores and on www.buildabear.com. With this donation, they help First Book provide new books to children who might not otherwise own a book.

The Process
Make a new doll friend. Cre8 a heart unique 2 your doll's personality, then place it inside your doll with love. Give your doll gr8 style with a fabulous outfit and a fun name 2 match. Then your new friendship is honored with a customized friendship certificate. You bring all the fun & fashion home in an exclusive friends 2b made memory box to start your new adventure together!

Why the fanlisting?
When I was in high school and college I used to visit my cousin for her birthday during spring break. On one of those visits my aunt took us to the Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the mall to buy my cousin and I a build-a-bear for her birthday. We were able to make the animal and get it one outfit. I decided to make a golden retriever dog one since I had a golden retriever at the time. When I got the dog I registered my email so that I get updates. One day I got an email about them opening up Build-A-Bearville website where you can register a build-abear animal that you bought at the store and play with it online. At the time when the site first came out I was not able to use the golden retriever dog and was required to purchase another animal. I was however able to register on the site and play without an animal but you could not do some things as you did not have an animal. I later purchased the pumpkin kitty which I then registered. I am also a huge Lakers and Mets fan so when they came out with both Mets and Lakers jerseys/outfits I bought them for my golden retriever. I am also a huge Hello Kitty fan so I purchased the very first Hello Kitty they came out with. I love the store because I love the stuffed animals and the outfits. I love stuffed animals and collect them so I love going to this store and making one. I may not go on the site that much anymore but I still love the stuffed animals and outfits. I may not be making anymore animals but I do love to go to their website to see what new ones they have out and what outifits they have. Even though I will not be making anymore animals I will still continue to buy outfits for the ones I have already. To show my love for this store I have decided to create a fanlisting for it.

« back | home | top | forward »
Making Friends was designed by Joy and is not to be duplicated in any way. No profit is being made in the running of this site nor is any copyright infringement intended in the making of it.