Build-A-Bear Workshop
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Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: [BBW]
History
Build-A-Bear was founded by Maxine Clark in 1997. The first store was located in the St. Louis Galleria. Eight years later, there are over 170 stores not just in the United States but also in Canada, Japan, Korea, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, France and the United Kingdom. They also have "Make Your Own Mascot" stores at Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia), Jacobs Field (Cleveland), Great American Ballpark (Cincinnati), AT&T Park (San Francisco) and Busch Stadium (St. Louis) featuring the home team's respective mascots. Build-A-Bear is the largest of the create-your-own animal chains with the other companies in the business consisting of regional and/or locally owned operations. Build-A-Bear has more stores in North America than the next 3 largest companies, Wacky Bear[link], Pawsenclaws[link], Teddy Bear Connection[link], combined. Its sister site is [friends 2B made]On 7 March 2006, Build-A-Bear Workshop announced that it had given $1 million (US) to the World Wildlife Fund through the sales of its WWF Collectibear(R) stuffed animal series. For each plush animal sold one dollar goes to WWF to protect and conserve wildlife around the world.[Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) Donates $1 Million for World Wildlife Fund], 7 March 2006 On 10 May 2006, Build-A-Bear announced a line of toys based on its store would be included in McDonald's Happy Meals. It became McDonald's first ever plush toy collection to feature removable, mix-and-match clothing. Sixteen bears have been created, and will be released over the four weeks between May 12 and June 8. Each of the 16 bears will be released in one of two outfits, distinct to it, making 32 toys in all, before children "mix-and-match".[Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) Featured in McDonald's(R) Happy Meal(R) and Mighty Kids Meals; Summer of Happy Meal Fun Series Includes First-Ever Plush Collection with Removable Clothing], 10 May 2006
Criticism
Build-A-Bear stores have been criticized because it is supposedly targeting only female customers in its recent years. None of this has yet to be proved.Maxine Clark has also been criticized for claiming that she came up with the idea for the concept behind Build-A-Bear. The concept was actually developed by Merrilee and Eric Woods. Their Basic Brown Bear Factory[link] has been in operation at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco California since 1976. Though the concept was developed 21 years before she claims to have come up with it, she is the person who made it a national phenomenon.
References
External links
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