Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (BBW) is an American specialty retailer that provides a unique, interactive experience for customers to create personalized stuffed animals. The company was founded in 1997 by Maxine Clark and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Build-A-Bear Workshop concept is based on providing a fun, engaging environment where customers can participate in every step of creating their own customized stuffed animals. Customers can choose from a wide variety of animal designs, stuff their chosen animal with the desired amount of filling, add a personalized recorded message, and select clothing and accessories to complete the customization process.
Build-A-Bear operates its stores primarily in shopping malls, but also has locations in select tourist destinations, standalone stores, and other high-traffic areas. In addition to its physical retail presence, the company offers e-commerce services through its website, where customers can shop for stuffed animals, clothing, and accessories.
Over the years, Build-A-Bear has expanded its product offerings to include licensed characters from popular movies, television shows, and other franchises, as well as collaborations with well-known brands. This strategy has helped the company maintain relevance and appeal to a wide range of age groups and interests.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has built a strong brand around its unique, hands-on retail experience, emphasizing creativity, personalization, and emotional connections between customers and their customized stuffed animals. This has allowed the company to differentiate itself within the retail market and create a loyal customer base.
as of April 11, 2023
Three years ago, this was a $1 stock. Today its 24x higher and based solely on the earnings per share, looks cheap. However, don’t be fooled by the low price multiple. To be fair, the death of retail seems overblown, especially with what I believe a crash in commercial real estate upcoming. That said, children are definitely the one segment where retail makes total sense. The ability to bring your kid to the store and let them play for an hour is a huge help for parents. Doesn’t make the company’s stock worth owning at this price.
