Build-A-Bear Workshop Opens in Canada!; Innovative Retailer Opens First International Store in Edmonton, Alberta.Entertainment Editors/Business Editors ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2003 Build-A-Bear Workshop Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) is an American retailer that sells customizable teddy bears and other stuffed animals. 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 (R) -- the leading make-your-own-stuffed-animal concept for mall-based retailing -- is opening in Canada! Founded in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is one of North America's most cele-bear-ated retailers, as it is the innovator that invites Guests of all ages to create their own customized stuffed animals
A stuffed animal is toy animal stuffed with straw, beans, cotton or other similar materials. Some stuffed animals are very old – home made cloth dolls stuffed with straw go back to at least the . Since the opening of its first store in St. Louis, Missouri, nearly six years ago, the company has grown to more than 118 stores across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Now, Build-A-Bear Workshop is bringing its unique entertainment-retail concept to Canada as its first step into the global marketplace. Build-A-Bear Workshop will open its beary first international store at the West Edmonton Mall West Edmonton Mall (WEM), located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is the largest shopping mall in North America and the third largest in the world. in Edmonton, Alberta on Thursday, May 29th; the Chinook Centre Chinook Centre is the largest enclosed shopping mall (by area) in Calgary, Alberta (1,175,000 square feet / 109,161 m²). It is also the most visited. It is located near the geographic centre of the city on Macleod Trail, just north of Glenmore Trail about 5 km (3 miles) south of in Calgary, Alberta on Friday, June 20th; and Square One in Mississauga, Ontario For the First Nation, see . Mississauga (pronounced: [ˌmɪsɪˈsɑgə] listen toward the end of summer 2003! "Our decision to open in Canada is in response to the thousands of requests we have received from our Canadian Guests who have shopped in our U.S. stores and on our web site," says Maxine Clark, Chief Executive Bear, Build-A-Bear Workshop. "Our expansion continues to exceed our expectations and we look forward to spreading bear hugs Bear Hug An offer made by a company to buy the shares of another company that is too high for the board of the target firm to refuse. Notes: If the target company says the merger is okay but they want a higher price, it is called a "teddy bear hug. across Canada Across Canada was an afternoon program that formerly aired on The Weather Network. The segment ran from early 1999 until mid 2002. The show ran from 3:00PM ET until 7:00 PM ET. !" Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark created Build-A-Bear Workshop based on her keen intuition and business savvy. A recognized retail innovator, Ms. Clark spent 25 years with The May Department Stores The May Department Stores Company was a department store chain founded in 1877 by David May in Leadville, Colorado. Its headquarters moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1905, and the company went public in 1911. and then went on to lead Payless ShoeSource Payless ShoeSource is a discount footwear retailer that was founded in 1956 in Topeka, Kansas. Shaol Pozez and his cousin Louis Pozez founded and operated Payless Shoes. In 1961, it became a public company as Volume Shoe Corporation. to achieve the position of #1 seller in the world of children's licensed footwear. The innovation of the Build-A-Bear Workshop concept came from Ms. Clark's insight into knowing what families want from a shopping experience and their nostalgia for more fun shopping times. The Build-A-Bear Workshop unique store concept takes children's interactive entertainment retailing to a new level, combining the hands-on, personal experience of making your own bear with the friendly and exciting atmosphere and fun of shopping the way it used to be. "When I was young, it was exciting for me to see all the displays in the stores, and I loved every minute of it," says Ms. Clark. "That excitement was something I wanted to re-create for children and families today." "We want to provide a quality fun shopping experience," says Ms. Clark. "Besides, we all need to remember what it is to be a kid. We love seeing the smiles on our Guests' faces, sharing their excitement and watching them have fun." About Build-A-Bear Workshop Build-A-Bear Workshop is an interactive, entertainment mall-based retailer that invites Guests of all ages to create their own customized stuffed animals through an exciting bear-making assembly line that combines experience with purchase. Build-A-Bear Workshop is the innovator and leader of the make-your-own-stuffed-animal concept for mall-based retailing and currently operates 118 stores in 35 states, and a very successful e-commerce business. There will be more than 150 locations in the USA by the end of 2003. Canada represents the first step for Build-A-Bear Workshop into the global marketplace, with three stores opening over the next few months in Edmonton, Calgary and Mississauga. For more information, call (888) 560-BEAR or visit the company's award-winning web site at www.buildabear.com. |
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