Press Release
Build-A-Bear Workshop and Major League Baseball Play Ball!
ST. LOUIS, Mo., Mar 14, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) (NYSE:BBW) and Major League Baseball(R) are again playing ball and providing fans across the country with opportunities to support their favorite teams in unique ways. Building on the success of the Make Your Own Phanatic(TM) store that opened in Philadelphia's Citizen Bank Park(TM) in 2004, two new Build-A-Bear Workshop stadium stores will open this season at Great American Ball Park(TM) in Cincinnati and Jacobs Field(TM) in Cleveland. In addition, the New York Mets(TM), Chicago Cubs(TM), Pittsburgh Pirates(TM), Kansas City Royals(TM) and St. Louis Cardinals(TM) will be giving away team-branded Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bears to fans on special promotion days.
In Cincinnati, Make Your Own Gapper(TM) by Build-A-Bear Workshop will be open during all Cincinnati Reds(TM) home games and will allow fans to purchase a Gapper plush doll, stuff it, give it a special heart, fluff it and then dress it in unique Reds clothing and accessories. The store will also feature a one-of-a-kind Reds Ballpark Bear, the first in a series of bears available only at Great American Ball Park. In the same fashion, fans of the Cleveland Indians(TM) will be able to make their team mascot, Slider(TM), at Make Your Own Slider by Build-A-Bear Workshop and an Indians Ballpark Bear. Both of these items are available only at the store in Jacobs Field which will be open during all Indians home games.
The stuffed animals made at Make Your Own Gapper and Make Your Own Slider stores range from $20 -$24 and can be dressed in officially licensed, team specific clothing. Outfits range in price from $5-$15 and include uniforms, tiny tees, biker jackets and all the latest fashions, including a pink team jersey and pink shorts. Plush game day snacks, team pennants, #1 felt hands and other accessories are available for $2-$10. Each new furry friend can be further personalized with the "Take Me Out to the Ballgame(TM)" song and the "charge" chant. All stuffed animals go home with their own specialized Gapper or Slider birth certificate and team branded Cub Condo(R) carrying case.
"Baseball is a tradition and part of the American landscape as are stuffed animals and that is one reason why our partnership with Major League Baseball has been strong and successful," said Maxine Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop(R). "Our Major League Baseball licensed merchandise available in all our stores gives our Guests creative ways to express support of their favorite team in very personal and distinctive ways. The Make Your Own Phanatic store that opened in Philadelphia last year created thousands of smiles. We are thrilled to be opening new stores in Great American Ball Park and Jacobs Field. The Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians promote family friendly environments and we look forward to being a part of and enhancing that family fun."
In addition to Make Your Own Phanatic, Make Your Own Gapper and Make Your Own Slider stores, Build-A-Bear Workshop is stepping to the plate and providing unique promotional items for several teams. Each team will give their young fans an exclusive teddy bear that will only be available at the ballpark on one specific day.
-- Pittsburgh Pirates/Build-A-Bear Workshop day sponsored by Bayer
-- Sunday, May 1 at 1:35 pm - Bucco
-- Kansas City Royals/Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) day
-- Sunday, June 5 at 1:10 pm - KayCee
-- Tuesday, July 26 at 7:10 pm - Roy
-- New York Mets/Build-A-Bear Workshop day
-- Saturday, July 23 at 3:15 pm - Casey
-- Chicago Cubs/Build-A-Bear Workshop day sponsored by Pepsi
-- Wednesday, August 10 at 1:20 pm - Homer
-- St. Louis Cardinals/Build-A-Bear Workshop day
-- Sunday, August 21 at 1:10 pm
As part of these promotional days, children that suffer with diabetes will be invited to the games as Guests of Build-A-Bear Workshop. Providing this opportunity for these young fans is part of an ongoing effort to support juvenile diabetes research. During National Diabetes Awareness month in November, Build-A-Bear Workshop donates a portion of the proceeds of every Nikki's Bear II, second in a series and the sales of special satin hearts to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) is the leading and only national company providing a make-your-own stuffed animal interactive entertainment retail experience. The first store opened in St. Louis in 1997 and as of January 2005 the company operated 170 stores in 40 states and Canada. With the opening of its international store in Sheffield, England in the fall of 2003 and the addition of international stores in Japan, Denmark and Australia in 2004, Build-A-Bear Workshop has become the global leader in the teddy bear business. Over 25 million stuffed animals have been sold world wide since 1997. In November 2004, the company also opened two friends 2B made(R) stores, the newest concept launch from Build-A-Bear Workshop. For more information about the company and its products call (888) 560-BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning website at www.buildabear.com.
Note - Photographs of Major League Baseball(R) licensed stadium store merchandise and game day promotional merchandise are available.
SOURCE: Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Shawn Bertani, 314-423-8000 ext. 5293
314-452-6391
shawnb@buildabear.com
or
Jennifer Mansell, 314-423-8000 ext. 5402
414-801-1146
jenniferm@buildabear.com