Press Release

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2005--In conjunction with National Diabetes Awareness Month, the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is raising funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Throughout the month of November, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Nikki's Bear III, 3rd in a series, will be donated to JDRF. Additionally, Guests can purchase purple satin hearts for $1. The money raised from the sale of these hearts will also be donated to JDRF.

Throughout the year, Nikki's Bear III helps raise funds for children's health and wellness issues, including juvenile diabetes during the month of November. Nikki's Bear III and the purple satin hearts are available in all Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) (NYSE:BBW) stores and on the company website at www.buildabear.com.

"We are grateful to Build-A-Bear Workshop for their efforts to raise funds for diabetes research and creating awareness of this debilitating disease," said Peter Van Etten, President and CEO of JDRF. "We have one goal at JDRF and that is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Partnerships with companies like Build-A-Bear Workshop help us get closer to reaching that goal."

Since the first store opened in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop has been dedicated to issues that affect families and children. "It is our fundamental philosophy to always be involved with our Guests and the causes that are important to them. From the very beginning we have been committed to making a difference in the lives of children who need it most," said Maxine Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop. "We know from our Guests' feedback that diabetes is a growing concern and that many families are affected by the disease. Supporting JDRF through Nikki's Bear III and our purple satin hearts is a great way to help this cause and get our Guests involved as well."

Build-A-Bear Workshop was inspired to create Nikki's Bear by Nikki Giampolo, a young girl who loved life, children and teddy bears. She expressed that love by giving bears and their hugs to all those around her, including her doctors. In 2002, at the age of 15, Nikki lost her life to cancer. Moved by Nikki's life and the way she lived it, a special bear, Nikki's Bear, was created in her honor to raise money to support children's cancer research and other children's health and wellness issues.

About Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with juvenile diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $900 million to diabetes research, including more than $98 million in fiscal year 2005. In 2005, the foundation funded 500 centers, grants and fellowships in 19 countries.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop(R)

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is the only international company that offers an interactive make-your-own-stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, the company currently operates more than 200 stores in the United States and Canada. The addition of stores in Europe, Asia and Australia make Build-A-Bear Workshop the global leader in the teddy bear business. In November 2004, the company expanded the make-your-own concept from stuffed animals to dolls with the opening of its first friends 2B made(R) stores, which feature doll making. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $302 million in fiscal 2004. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning Web sites at www.buildabear.com and www.friends2bmade.com.

TRADEMARKS

We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business. As you write your story we would like to ask that you use our full Name: Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) and that when referencing the process of making stuffed animals you use the word "make" not "build".

Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) should only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and services and should not be used as a verb.

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=4997319

CONTACT: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Shawn Bertani, 314-423-8000 ext 5366
cell: 314-452-6391
shawnb@buildabear.com
or
Jill Saunders, 314-423-8000 ext 5293
cell: 314-422-4523
jills@buildabear.com,/p>

SOURCE: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.