Press Release
BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP® WHERE BEST FRIENDS ARE MADE®, OPENING in Richmond, VA at Short Pump Town Center and Stony Point Fashion Park!
Build-A-Bear Workshop is based on the premise that nearly everyone, regardless of age, has a special fondness for stuffed animals. At Build-A-Bear Workshop, visitors, or Guest Bear Builderssm, create their own stuffed animals as they "choose, stuff, stitch, fluff, name and dress" their way through a series of bear-making stations. A variety of inventive bear merchandise is also available, including hundreds of coordinating outfits and accessories for all bear occasions.
Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark, former president of Payless ShoeSource, knows what families want in a shopping experience, and the store is her response to happy memories of shopping as a child. Build-A-Bear Workshop's innovative store concept takes children's interactive entertainment retailing to a new level, combining the process of making your own bear with the exciting atmosphere and fun of shopping the way it used to be. "When I was young, it was exciting for me to see all the decorations in the stores, and I loved every minute of it," says Clark. "That excitement was something I wanted to re-create for children and families today."
"We want to provide a quality fun shopping experience for children and families," says Clark. "Besides, we all need to remember what it is to be a kid. We love seeing the smiles on our Guests' faces, sharing their excitement and watching them have fun."
Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animals are very affordable, ranging in price from $10 to $25. In addition, with every purchase of $10 or more, each Guest joins the Buy Stuff Club®, which is the Build-A-Bear Workshop frequent-buyer incentive program. For every $100 spent, Guests receive $10 off their next purchase.
Clark is looking forward to opening stores in Richmond. She notes, "Our plan is always to open in the premier malls across the country, and we will continue this approach as we open at Short Pump Town Center and Stony Point Fashion Park. We have had many Guests in the Richmond area ask us when we will be opening in their community. Now that we are opening these stores, we will be able to reach more Build-A-Bear Workshop Guests in the area and we are thrilled to be there."
"One of the reasons that these malls are in the category of premier U.S. malls is the work of their development companies, Forest City and Taubman" says Clark. "Forest City and Taubman have both been wonderful to work with and we are looking forward to bringing another Build-A-Bear Workshop to one of their locations."
In 2003 a major focus of the company's commitment to children includes Nikki's
Bear, a very special bear that was introduced in January of 2003, dedicated
to raising money for pediatric cancer. A portion of the proceeds from the sale
of each Nikki's Bear is donated to the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to support
treatment programs and children's cancer research and to help families of children
with cancer. Since January, tens-of-thousands of Nikki's Bears have been purchased
to help the cause of children's cancer.
Build-A-Bear Workshop aims to continue its aggressive expansion plan nationally to such new markets as Columbia, SC, and Akron, OH-as well as internationally. The company has been planning its global strategy for the past several years, and is opening stores in Japan, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada symbolizing a natural extension of its international business growth.
Commenting on the plan, Clark said, "Our decision to open stores abroad is a response to the thousands of requests we have received from our international Guests who have shopped in our stores in the United States and on our Web site since we opened our first store in 1997-both factors indicating a strong customer base and reputation in other countries. Build-A-Bear Workshop's expansion has continued to exceed our expectations during this past year and we look forward to bringing more smiles to our Guests and friends in these countries."
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 continues to redefine the concept of mall-based entertainment retail
and in doing so, has been recognized by the retail industry with numerous awards
including: National Retail Federation's International 2001 Retail Innovator
of the Year and ZD Net Interactive's 2001 Best Places to Work.
Build-A-Bear Workshop currently operates 140 stores nationwide with a very successful
e-commerce business, and will have over 150 stores in 36 states by end of 2003,
including four locations across Canada. Build-A-Bear Workshop is the innovator
and leader of the make-your-own-stuffed animal concept for mall-based retailing.
The premier store opened in Saint Louis Galleria, St. Louis, Missouri, in October
1997. For more information, call (888) 560-BEAR or visit the company's award-winning
Web site at www.buildabear.com.
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 continues to redefine the concept of mall-based entertainment retail
and in doing so, has been recognized by the retail industry with numerous awards
including: National Retail Federation's International 2001 Retail Innovator
of the Year and ZD Net Interactive's 2001 Best Places to Work. Build-A-Bear
Workshop currently operates 139 stores nationwide with a very successful e-commerce
business and will have over 150 stores in 36 states by the end of 2003, including
four locations across Canada. Build-A-Bear Workshop is the innovator and leader
of the make-your-own-stuffed animal concept for mall-based retailing. The premier
store opened in Saint Louis Galleria in October 1997. For more information,
call (888) 560-BEAR or visit the company's award-winning web site at www.buildabear.com.