Press Release

October 8, 2002, St. Louis, Missouri-This years Thanksgiving is sure to be a special one for teddy bear fans everywhere when the teddy bear is featured on a float especially designed by Macy's Parade Studio and Build-A-Bear Workshop® for the 76th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade . The parade, held in New York City on Thursday, November 28th beginning at 9:00 A.M., traditionally launches the holiday season for many New Yorkers as well as television viewers across the country. Last years parade reached an estimated 62 million people. Build-A-Bear Workshop's float tells the story of the teddy bear and its historical roots with bright, colorful and animated furry teddy bear characters. The float also commemorates Build-A-Bear Workshop's yearlong celebration of the 100th birthday of the teddy bear.

Named after Teddy Roosevelt in 1902, the Teddy Bear will take center stage on this fun-filled float that will feature a birthday bash so big it could only be held as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Leading the celebration is the company's beloved mascot Bearemy and Pawlette Coufur , Build-A-Bear Workshop's fashion advisor to the Furry Famous, both on a wonderful ride down Broadway to Herald Square. Bearemy, who is a big believer that "A bear hug is understood in any language," will be joined by all his furry friends who have come to celebrate the Teddy Bear Centennial™, THE party of the holiday season!

"The company is honored to participate in this years parade," says Maxine Clark, Chief Executive Bear and Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop." Its very exciting to be a part of an event which has been such an American tradition for so many years. And, we are pleased to be able to bring smiles to children everywhere in this historic 100th year of the teddy bear."

Robin Hall, the producer and director of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade says, "2002 marks the 100th birthday of the Teddy Bear, so the addition of Build-A- Bear Workshop® to our Parade family seems very timely indeed. The folks at Build-A-Bear Workshop have been ideal partners for the team at our fabled Parade studio and together we have created a whimsical and larger-than-life salute to the Teddy Bear that's bound to become an instant Parade classic."

About Teddy Bears-
For the last one hundred years, teddy bears have been a timeless toy treasured by boys and girls of all ages. The teddy bear's popularity began in November of 1902 when President Theodore Roosevelt, who was known around the world as Teddy and was a conservationist at heart, refused to shoot a young bear cub while on a hunting expedition. Roosevelt soon made bear history when a Washington, DC newspaper ran a cartoon depicting the President and his act of kindness. Soon thereafter, the stuffed toy bears were popularized and became known as teddy bears. The enduring connection between children and their teddy bears lives on today, and has become a part of every day life through storybooks, stuffed animals, cartoons, novelties, movies and more. Today, teddy bears have come full circle - 100 years ago they were made one at a time -and once again it is possible for each Guest at Build-A-Bear Workshop to make his or her own furry friend and to personalize it, from stuffing and stitching to fluffing and dressing.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop®
Build-A-Bear Workshop is an interactive, entertainment mall-based retailer that invites Guests of all ages to create their own customized stuffed animals. The company is proud to be a part of the Teddy Bear Centennial™ celebrating 100 years of this endearing huggable friend. Build-A-Bear Workshop will operate109 stores nationwide by end of 2002. For more information visit the company's award-winning Web site at www.buildabear.com.