Company Profile

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Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is the leading and only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in 1997, the company and its franchisees currently operate more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR™ space - with the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual world, stuffed with fun. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $468 million in fiscal 2008. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company’s award-winning Web site, www.buildabear.com.

We offer an extensive and coordinated selection of merchandise, including over 30 different styles of animals to be stuffed and a wide variety of clothing, shoes and accessories for the stuffed animals. Our concept appeals to a broad range of age groups and demographics, including children, teens, parents and grandparents. Our stores, which are primarily located in malls, are destination locations and draw guests from a large geographic reach.

Our competitive strengths include:

  • An exciting interactive shopping experience;
  • A broad and loyal guest base;
  • Strong merchandising expertise;
  • A high level of guest service through consistent execution;
  • An attractive store economic model; and
  • A highly experienced and disciplined management team.

Key Facts:

First Store Opened

1997

World Bearquarters

St. Louis, Missouri

Revenues

$468 million (FY 2008)

Employees
(as of Jan. 3, 2009)

1,200 full-time
4,800 part-time

Number of Stores
(as of Jan. 3, 2009)
  • 346 company-owned stores in U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France.
  • 62 franchised retail stores in International locations – Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan and Thailand.