Press Release
Barry Erdos Joins Build-A-Bear Workshop as President and Chief Operating Officer Bear
Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer of Ann Taylor, Inc., one of the nation's leading women's specialty retailers. At Ann Taylor Erdos was responsible for numerous functions including financial, domestic and international operations and logistics, store planning, inventory planning and internal audit and investor relations. He also served as a member of the corporation's Board of Directors. During his five-year tenure at Ann Taylor, the company was recognized as one of the strongest most innovative operational efficient specialty retailers in the country.
"I am thrilled that Barry has joined Build-A-Bear Workshop," said Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark. "We are fortunate to have some one of Barry's caliber and reputation join our company. His extensive career in department store and specialty store retailing and his vast experiences and responsibilities are just what we need to help fuel our future. I look forward to partnering with Barry to take Build-A-Bear Workshop into our next phase of growth and world wide brand expansion. We will make a great team."
In his position as Chief Operating Officer Bear Barry will be responsible for Finance, Bear and Human Resources, IT, Allocation and Planning, Distribution and Logistics as well as International Operations. Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark will handle all Merchandising, Marketing, Licensing and Store operations.
"The prospect of working with an innovative, growing company like Build-A-Bear Workshop is exciting, "said Erdos. "I look forward to the challenges of growing the brand and expanding the retail experience to many more Guests."
Build-A-Bear Workshop is an interactive, entertainment mall-based retailer
that invites Guests of all ages to create their own customized stuffed animals
through an exciting bear-making process. The first store opened in St. Louis,
Missouri, in 1997, and the company now operates over 150 locations in the USA
with four stores in Canada. Build-A-Bear Workshop opened its first international
store in Sheffield, England in the fall of 2003 and recently opened stores in
Japan, Korea and Denmark. The company is on track to open more international
stores this year including its first store in France, making it the global leader
in the teddy bear business. For more information on the company and its products
call (877) 789-BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning web site at
www.buildabear.com.