Stuffed with Hugs

Today, Build-A-Bear is holding a truly wonderful event: their annual Stuffed with Hugs day. Customers have the option of building a bear for a less fortunate someone, and the cost to the customer is null. Although Build-A-Bear limits the number of donated bears to 150 per store, that number adds up quickly: Build-A-Bear owns hundreds of stores internationally.
This year, Build-A-Bear has put a twist on the event: choose your charity. Yes, Build-A-Bear has selected four charities it considers important and reliable: Super Siblings, Sunshine Kids, Pet Shelters Across America, and FirstBook (I've made those names links so that you can view the organization's website). With this, Build-A-Bear suppports a variety of causes: children's health and wellness, pet adoption/humane education, and literacy, respectively.
This event is a great oppurtunity to teach your children about the joy of giving. Why not have your child make two bears - one for themself and one for a child in need? Or, if your children already have several Build-A-Bears, use this oppurtunity to make a bear exclusively for another child. It's also a good oppurtunity to teach your children about the cause you'll donate the bear to. Better yet, teach them about all three causes and let them decide which to give to!
Build-A-Bear is showing its caring side, and we should all support whole-heartedly. Build-A-Bear is giving its customers an oppurtunity to think of others above themselves and parents to teach and spend quality with their kids. I would support that any day.

Pawsome Panda arrives and Kuddly Koala gets a makover

Build-A-Bear has been rennovating their old bears lately: Black Lab, Kuddly Koala, Pawsome Panda - even Beremy has changed. They're making their bears cuter than ever, simply by changing fur length and style. It's a simply pawsome idea, and I'm all for it! So, without further ado, let's start talking about Pawsome Panda!

This panda, at only $16, is adorable! Her long, soft fur is a new addition, and the price has gone down an encouraging $9! Yet another improvement: Build-A-Bear has started advertising the fact that she looks good in almost any outfit. She's perfect for a little girl's or boy's birthday gift, her price is within a good Build-A-Bear budget, and her eyes are cute enough to melt your heart. Build-A-Bear hit the nail on the head when designing Pawsome Panda: she's the ideal gift for anyone!

Build-A-Bear fans may also have noticed the newly-designed Kuddly Koala. Though not formally announced, this bear has grown his fur out and gotten a bit chubbier! She's cuter, furrier, softer, bigger, and more huggable than ever before. If you're going to pick up Pawsome Panda, you have to pick up this bear too. They'd make a cute and huggable pair!

Build-A-Bear's improvments have made a "BANG" in the Build-A-Bear world. I can't wait to see what they'll do next!!!

Don't forget to read my blog on Tuesday for another report on current stuff!

See you then,

Lilli <3

This blog article (c) Copyright 2008 by the author of the blog.

Build-A-Bear improvements

IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE CONTACT BUILD-A-BEAR(the red text is a link to Build-A-Bear's e-mail). A short e-mail may be enough to change Build-A-Bear's thinking.

We all know by now about Build-A-Bear's most recent idea: Build-A-Bearville. Yes, it seems that Build-A-Bear is depending on Build-A-Bearville to leverage its sales. But is it really such a good idea? Today, I'm going to look into some ways Build-A-Bear could more effectively use Build-A-Bearville without creating resentment among loyal customers.

Let me explain where I'm coming from. In our household we have six Build-A-Bears from varying Build-A-Bear eras. We've made over 70 purchases - in our household alone there are probably 40-50 outfits. We've bought over $1,000 in Build-A-Bear stuff, even though we live a good 45 minutes to an hour away from the closest Build-A-Bear Workshop. Two of our Build-A-Bears will be married this summer, and we had planned a high budget for wedding supplies. And yet, we are excluded from the Bear Boutique and denied Build-A-Bearville privaleges. Why is that?

That is the question many Build-A-Bear fans are asking while being shut out of Bear Boutiques and sunny beaches. Why us? Why must we, the loyal customers, be excluded from the "fun stuff" of Build-A-Bearville, while others enjoy the luxury of exclusive online furniture and accessories? Why would Build-A-Bear reject its most loyal customer base?

Maybe because someone has to be excluded, or so Build-A-Bear thinks. The basis of Build-A-Bearville is "Buy more and you get more! Pamper yourself - having is better than wanting! You deserve more stuff, after all" and "Other people have it - you're entitled to it! Look at how much fun they're having. Don't you want to be better than them?" That theme doesn't work without exclusion. Instead of fostering a love for teddy bears and family relationships, Build-A-Bearville is fostering a generation of greed and an attitude of "Dogs eat dogs - do you want to be eaten?"

Build-A-Bear's original purpose was much different. Teddy bears are classic, and Build-A-Bear coupled that truth with valuable themes. You picked a bear, gave it a heart and the ability to love, you clothed it, and you brought it home to care for it. You made a friend, you believed in love, you spent time with your family, and you found meaning in caring for someone other than yourself. That's what Build-A-Bear was all about - so why has it changed?

Build-A-Bearville has added a new facet to the Build-A-Bear experience, and I'm sorry to find it a negative one. Build-A-Bearville has added competition and greed. What could Build-A-Bear have done differently to improve Build-A-Bearville and support the classic Build-A-Bear experience?

Here are a few things that might have worked better. It's not too late to impliment them, and I strongly believe they would increase sales and customers as well as love:

• Crafts with your bear: Build-A-Bear's core purpose was creating a friend, but what should a customer do when they walk out of the store? How do you actually "play" with a teddy bear? Build-A-Bear could easily fill that gap the way American Girl did: create an activity book for you and your bear. Whether provided online (without depending on the customer owning a computer printer) or given to the Guest at time of sale, craft booklets are the perfect thing to keep the Build-A-Bear spark alive. The more "bonding time" a child associates with their Build-A-Bear, the more alive the bear will seem. Soon, the child will be asking to go to Build-A-Bear not because "I need more stuff!" but because "Fluffy is feeling cold and needs a new sweater" and because "Fluffy has grown out of his old swimsuit and needs a new one" and because "Fluffy's my friend, and I need to help him!"


• Bear clubs: When Bear Bonding fails, socialization will draw a crowd. Build-A-Bear needs clubs - after-school clubs, on-weekend clubs, you name it - but bring your bear! The clubs could take place at Build-A-Bear, and club members wouldn't be pressured to buy anything. They'd be organized by age so that the older members weren't meeting with 8-year-olds, and each age group could do appropriate activities. They'd go through the "Be 100% Pawsome!" program together, they'd read age-appropriate books together, they'd go out for pizza together - they'd do lots of things together. Guests would be given a brochure about the clubs at the time of their purchase, and many mothers are be looking for the right drop-off place for their child. Cost would be minimal or null, and Build-A-Bear would provide a safe environment that encouraged family values. Oh, and the big deal for Build-A-Bear is this: those club members (especially teens) will love to indulge in Build-A-Bear products again and again with the excuse "I was on my way to the club, and I just couldn't resist!"


• Fewer Build-A-Bearville exclusives: Build-A-Bear did the right thing when they allowed Welcome Passes for those guests with older bears, and they did the right thing when they restricted Cub Condo ownership to Build-A-Bear owners. However, I would make that the only restricted option. Have a non-Build-A-Bear owner visit a friend's Cub Condo enough, and they'll want one just like it. After they have their Cub Condo - the original reason they went to the physical Build-A-Bear - they'll begin to see Build-A-Bear's real purpose. And they'd see the love, the family time, the new friend, and they'd want to come back. All of this would happen simply because of Build-A-Bearville. After all, they're more likely to be playing on a website that's welcoming them ("Anyone can come and play on 99% of this website for free!!!!") as opposed to rejecting them ("What? No purchase? Oh, no, you can't survive here without a purchase! Yes, it says its free, but that's only 45% of the website. You have to pay for the rest.")

With these three Build-A-Bear improvements alone Build-A-Bear can make much more money. Shifting the direction of the website will not be seen as "Oh, we made a mistake" so much as it will be seen as "We love our customers so much, we decided to give you even more!" Adding the Build-A-Bear clubs and activity booklets will boost customer support, customer fun, and customer willingness to spend more money. And why shouldn't Build-A-Bear boost those things? It would make money, establish a customer base, and shore up Build-A-Bear's reputation.

Bears of the Past, Part I, Episode 3: Chubby Cubby

Hello again! Welcome back to Bears of the Past, Part I. We're interviewing some of Build-A-Bear's very first bears! With me today is Chubby Cubby. Hello, Chubby!

Chubby: umph....hello Lilli!
Lilli: What's that you're eating?
Chubby: Oh.....mmm....it's jusht a shinamin row....mmmmph..
Lilli: Sounds good! Did you make it?
Chubby: No...muh Mrs. made i'.
Lilli: Chubby, our readers won't be able to understand you if you keep eating that. Now, why don't you tell us a little about Mrs. Cubby? She made the cinnamon roll, right? Is that what you just said?
Chubby: Umph.....orkay.....jusht let me finish this bite....MMM! Okay, I'll tell you about Mrs. Cubby, but we'll have to go back to my younger days.
Lilli: That's what I'm here for.
Chubby: Alright, alright. As you already know, I was the one of the first bears introduced to Build-A-Bear. We had a great time, we bears. We would sneak out of Build-A-Bear every night through the vents - you know, like you always see on TV! We'd stay inside the mall, except for holidays.
Lilli: That's awesome!
Chubby: Yeah! Well, on Thanksgiving (it was in 1999, I believe) we ran into a stray bear from another toy shop. After we led her back into the mall and to her shop, I couldn't forget her. It was another year and one month before I retired, but I saw her every day anyway. On the night before I retired, I ran straight to the toy shop where she was!
Lilli: And?
Chubby: And? I promised her a plane ride to Alaska, where some of her relatives lived and where I already wanted to retire. She agreed, and soon enough I was visiting her at her parents' house. We were married a month later.
Lilli: Great! Now, I still have some questions before you need to go home to Alaska.
Chubby: OK. Go ahead.
Lilli: Was it difficult climbing through the vents because of your size?
Chubby: No. Though I was the heaviest bear in the group, I was one of the shorter bears. Many of the bears were 15 to 20 inches tall, so I had it pretty easy at 12 inches tall. They were big vents, too.
Lilli: Did you feel hot in the mall, especially during the summer, because of your long fur?
Chubby: Yes, I must admit, it did get quite warm. No worries - there were other longhaired bears (though longhaired bears were certainly the minority) who would go to Dairy Queen to get ice cream. I would go with them. I can still make a pretty smooth ice cream cone!
Lilli: Anything else you'd like to say? We'll have to sum it up now.
Chubby: Well, I'd like to thank Mrs. Cubby, my good friend Black Bear and my sons Grizzly Bear and Shaggy Teddy. And I'd like to send a big thank you all the readers out there - you're awesome!
Lilli: I totally agree - THANK YOU READERS!!!!

Well, that's Chubby Cubby. I hope you enjoyed the interview! Join me this Saturday for my report on the "new" Black Lab. I'll see you then!
God bless!
~Lilli

This post, as well as all articles ever published on buildabearbuzz.blogspot.com, are Copyright (c) by Lilli Cooper (the blogger). This one is Copyright (c) 2008

New Accessories for Bears and Pets

Build-A-Bear recently came out with a new set of accessories: a dog backpack, a saddle, and new hats have all been introduced into the Build-A-Bear collection. Since Build-A-Bear hasn't announced this, I figured it'd be great to tell you.

Let's start with the pets section. No doubt you've noticed that Build-A-Bear has custom-made accessories for their stuffed dogs. This spring, Build-A-Bear came out with their Helping Paw Backpack, complete with zippered pockets and an "Assistance Dog" label (too bad they put "Dog" on the label; I can think of other animals who might be happy to own a backpack that looks like the Helping Paw backpack). No doubt this release is in connection with the author promotion: if you haven't heard, Build-A-Bearville will be hosting an author who wrote a book on assistance dogs.

Horse-lovers will be mad at me if I exclude this one: a brand-new Build-A-Bear saddle. Though not the first Build-A-Bear saddle to be released, it certainly is unique. It's made to accomodate a Build-A-Bear sitting in the saddle and a Build-A-Bear underneath the saddle, making it a double win for customers. The set comes with a matching bridle and cute stirrups, and it's all only for $6. Get it quick - this is one item I have a feeling Build-A-Bear will raise the price on.

In the way of bear accessories, Build-A-Bear's hats are my favorite. Build-A-Bear has re-released some of their old hats, yes, but they've also introduced some new ones (or ones that haven't been seen in awhile) that are too cute to miss. Take, for example, the Straw Floppy Hat. Though you may wonder why it's called "Straw Floppy Hat" instead of "Floppy Straw Hat," you can't wonder about how cute it'll look on your bear. Couple this hat with a Gingham dress or a pink-and-jeans outfit for a cute combination. Of course, I'm biased toward this hat because it reminds me of the hat Julie Andrews wore in The Sound of Music, which happens to be my favorite musical. :)

Other new accessories include a huge selection of purses and other hats (some made to mimick Build-A-Bearville clothes), but the accessories mentioned above were my favorites.

Thanks for reading my blog! Tune in on Thursday to read an interview with a fun-loving bear, and read up on Build-A-Bear news this Saturday during our main post. Thanks again and have a great day!

~Lilli

Pawlette Coufur's Birthday Celebration

On April 22, Pawlette Coufur will celebrate yet another birthday. And though Build-A-Bear doesn't want to tell us how old Pawlette really is (girls are like that about birthdays), we are all invited to celebrate her ump-eenth birthday.

Pawlette began her celebration on April 16th in Build-A-Bearville, where she began her private showings of her newest designs. Pawlette's very first fashion show pulled off with a bang - users flock to the runway to receive their private showing of the newest stuff. From plaid to dresses, Pawlette really thought out-of-the-box for these clothes. She jazzed up her most popular shoes - ballet flats and high heels - and added in some new guy clothes. She also gave away a one-of-a-kind fashion bag to every show-goer, and many users proudly flash these bags in the Town Square.

Pawlette also celebrates her birthday in stores. Pawlette appears at every single Build-A-Bear store this weekend - you won't want to miss it! And as a gift to all the guests shopping in Build-A-Bear stores, Pawlette has created "Fashion Dog Tags" to be handed out to the paying guests.

Pawlette's birthday hails the first in-store givaway with (almost) no strings attached. A small Build-A-Bearville reward, yes, and overlapping with the Hannah Montanna Build-A-Bearville promotion. But seen by itself, this promotion could pave the way for more in-store events. We should support this whole-heartedly, since it may mean fewer Build-A-Bearville "bribes" and more in-store fun.

Happy Birthday Pawlette! :D :D :D :D

I'll see y'all on Tuesday, when I'll post on...well, that's a surprise. ;) On Thursday, we'll interview another one of Black Bear's old friends in "Bears of the Past, Part I."

See you then!

~Lilli

Bears of the Past, Part I, Episode 2: Black Bear

Good morning, Build-A-Bear fans! I have secured an interview with the Honorary Black Bear, and he should be here any second. Oh, here he is now!

Black Bear: Hey, Lilli!
Lilli: Hi, Black Bear! I'm so excited to have you on the show!
Black Bear: No, the excitement is all mine. I've been following your blog, and you're doing a great job!
Lilli: Thanks! Well, let's get on with the interview. The first thing I usually ask is, "Tell us a little about yourself," but I guess you have a lot more to tell than most bears.
Black Bear: Indeed I do. For starters, I was introduced to Build-A-Bear the very first day the store opened. That was an immensly exciting day, and there aren't words to describe it. I lasted all through the winter of that year, and all us bears celebrated Christmas by sneaking into the snowy night while the mall was closed. Most of us had short fur (myself included), so it was a brave thing for a teddy bear to do!
Lilli: Wow! I can't imagine. What happened after that?
Black Bear: I'll cut my long story short; I'm sure other bears can tell you some of the fun times we had. But, one by one, we were retired. I retired in January of 2002, the year they retired most of their original bears. I was the first bear that year to retire, and it was awfully sad to leave. I, at least, knew my retirement was coming: during the previous summer, Build-A-Bear introduced Black Bear II and sent me on the "sell-out" path.
Lilli: So, what did you do after you retired?
Black Bear: I went on vacation, of course! First, I visited the Baby Bears, Blue and Pink. They'd never admit it, but they were teddy bear celebrities with speaking engagements and a trailer! After I traveled with them for awhile, I joined Chubby Cubby in Alaska (he was an old-time friend who'd retired in December of 2000). The snow was cold, however, and I had short fur, so I moved down to Chicago and took a job with the Chicago Bears (I coach their mascot).
Lilli: Thanks for coming, Black Bear! It's been an honor having you here on the show. I'd love to publish more of your stories sometime!
Black Bear: Anytime, Lilli. I'll see you later.

This and all other Build-A-Bear Buzz stories are Copyright (c) 2008 by the writer of this blog.
If you have a photo of Black Bear, please e-mail it to me for blog consideration at buildabearbuzz@gmail.com

Build-A-Bearville's decline and how YOU can help

Attention faithful readers! I have finally become exasperated with Build-A-Bearville, watching them decline into a website that's depending heavily on Build-A-Bear sales. I've sent them an e-mail with my opinion on selling products through an online world. Please help me out! Send Build-A-Bear officials a quick note (or a long e-mail!) asking for Build-A-Bearville reform.
You can e-mail Build-A-Bear at Guest.Services@buildabear.com. You can also send e-mails through the Build-A-Bearville website. All it takes is 15 minutes of your time and a small effort. Please make the subject of your e-mail informative, such as "Build-A-Bearville for free?" or "Suggestions for Build-A-Bearville." (that way, they can see your topic at a glance)
Please help us out! Let's get this news around and make changes happen!
~Lilli

Build-A-Bearville Communities DO exist

So, I bet you're wondering.....where are all the social people? Build-A-Bearvillle was supposed to be a place for kids to play games AND hang out, but no one is hanging out. So? Where are the communities?

Turns out, there are at least three great Build-A-Bearville communities around. I'd like to introduce you to them - they rock!

• Build-A-Bearville Blog: This is not just a blog. Frequent blog postings are EXTREMELY helpful and very well-written, and they serve as topics of conversation. Users ask questions, get answers, plan parties, and more! You can find this awesome community at buildabearvilleblog.wordpress.com
  


• Build-A-Bearville Quest: I just joined this forum not too long ago; nevertheless, it looks like a great place to socialize. From what I've seen, it's also a forum for finding answers and having fun!!! You can find this helpful forum at babvquest.proboards62.com



• Build-A-Bear Cub Club: The Build-A-Bear Cub Club is a brand-new place for Build-A-Bearville members to gather. Once a week, the club goes out for an activity (such as Bear-to-Bear Baseball, a day at the beach, etc). Every month, one of the activities is a party! Joining is free, and only requires that you be a member of Build-A-Bearville (with a bear) and a member of Wordpress. You can find this fun club at buildabearcubclub.wordpress.com

Those are my favorite three places to hang out. I hope to see you at one of them!

I'll see you on Thursday, when we'll interview another one of Build-A-Bear's very first bears. See you then!

~Lilli

Topaz Teddy...

Build-A-Bear has released their latest in the line of Gem of a Friend, Treasured Topaz Teddy. And although the fur is soft and the face is cute, this bear's color is a wee bit off. Bright yellow is adorable and white is precious, but this in-between color makes matching outfits difficult.

Depending on why you go to Build-A-Bear, this bear is a great idea or a real flunk. Topaz is the birthstone for November, but...well, by November this bear will have retired. Fluffy for those little kids to hug, but not great when buying fashions. A great smile spreads across her face, but it somewhat mimicks that of Kisses fur You Teddy, Gem of a Friend Precious Pink Teddy, A Friend for All Seasons Winter Teddy, and the like.

Personally, I don't think Build-A-Bear picked the right color or time of year for this bear. Otherwise, I think another bear is a cute idea.

I'll see you on Tuesday for my blog on a new Build-A-Bearville club, and on Thursday for another episode of "Bears of the Past."

CU then!

~Lilli

Bears of the Past, Part I, Episode 1: Baby Bears

If you have a photo of Baby's First Blue or Baby's First Pink, please send it to buildabearbuzz@gmail.com for use in this article!

Welcome to my new seiries, Bears of the Past. For the next few weeks, we'll be looking at Part I: The First Bears, in which we'll interview some of the very first Build-A-Bears ever released.

Today, we have two special guests to interview: Baby's First Blue and Baby's First Pink. So, without further ado, here they are!

Lilli: Hello! Welcome to Build-A-Bear Buzz!
Blue: Hey Lilli!
Pink: Hi, Lilli!
Blue: I'd just like to start by saying what a priviledge it is to be here on your "show."
Pink: You have a wonderful place here!
Lilli: Thanks, but let's cut to the chase. Why don't you each start with telling us a little about yourseves?
Pink: Well, we're identical except for our noses (mine is pink!) and the color thread they used to stitch our paws. I guess that kinda makes us twins!
Blue: Yeah! We were both released in October 1997 with several other bears. We were reccomended for kids ages 3 and under.
Lilli: That's a good idea. I understand that you weren't the smallest bears, either.
Pink: Oh, no! We're 14 inches tall. The smallest bear released in October of 1997 was Classic Brown Teddy, who was only 11 inches.
Blue: I really enjoyed being one of the only bears especially made for younger kids.
Pink: Me too. I didn't want to retire so soon!
Lilli: When did you retire?
Blue: We had to leave about six months after our arrival - June of 1998.
Pink: We were the second set of bears to retire, and weren't replaced until Cuddly Teddy Blue and Cuddly Teddy Pink were released in January of 2002.
Lilli: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks so much for letting me interview you!
Blue: Sure, Lilli!
Pink: Thanks! Bye!

Be 100% Pawsome enters Environmentally Savvy phase

Build-A-Bear's latest great idea, Be 100% Pawsome, was created to encourage kids into great lives. The first month, March 2008, was "Be Pawsome in your Community" month. (Build-A-Bear Buzz post "Build-A-Bear's newest way of helping kids.") This month, Build-A-Bear focuses on the classic theme of "staying green" with their newest phase, "Be Pawsome to the Environment."

Build-A-Bear's April program came with a brand-new recycling center for Build-A-Bearville, as well as a new booklet for participants to fill out and return to Build-A-Bear by May 31st. By the time participants have finished this month's challenge, the'll have talked over such issues as energy-conserving lightbulbs and paper-plasic-aluminum recycling, as well as creating bird feeders. Most will probably have recycled some Build-A-Bearville "trash" by the end of the month as well.

The positive impact of this program is amazing, and Build-A-Bear does a great job of handling the idea. Family time, money-saving, animal-helping....I'm all for those great ideas. Build-A-Bear doesn't drag in any issues about Global Warming, acid rain, and the like - those issues are just too complicated for kids, and they're much too controversial. All in all, I'm really excited about this month's program. I think it's way better than last month's program.

I would love to hear stories from people going through this program. If you're doing it yourself, or if you're going through it with your kids, or whatnot, send me an e-mail at buildabearbuzz@gmail.com

I'll see all of you on Thursday for the debut of "Bears of the Past."

See you then,

~Lilli

Build-A-Bearville decorating for parties and more

Lilli's Whimsical Post: Cub Condo interior decorating

Hey all! Lilli here, your guide to Cub Condo decorating. (of course, I'm referring to the virtual Cub Condos on Build-A-Bearville) I'll start out by telling you a few tips - you know, I expect you all to be trendsetters and follow what you want.
So, here we go!

• Many users theme their bear's rooms. A bear named "Snowflake," for example, might have a light blue room with a snowflake bed. One of my sisters (remember, I'm a Curly Teddy!) is named "Peppermint." Her bedroom includes a pink bed, candy-cane chairs and a red table, a candy-cane dresser, pink tile and pink walls. (it looks a little like an Ice Cream Parlor, actually!)


• When decorating for a party, let yourself off the hook! Put as many balloons in your front room as is possible, don't forget about cake and pizza, and paint your walls a bright color!!


• When decorating with a classy style in mind, swirly carpets in not-so-bright colors look like hotel waiting rooms. When decorating with a homey or sweet style in mind, use hardwood floors and pastel or earth-tone wallpaper. (in the light flower pattern) Don't forget about color association; blue and brown make a user feel differently then peach and brown.


• And finally, buy furnature that fits!!

I hope that helps you get started on your designing - so go design away!!! E-mail me at buildabearbuzz@gmail.com with snapshots of your designs, and I may post them in a later blog post!

See you on Saturday for the main post on the latest Build-A-Bear news,

~Lilli

April surprises!!!

How time flies! Build-A-Bear has already released their April calendar, even though it seems like just yesterday that they released the one for March. This month's calendar cooperates with my computer! (no loading problems this month!!) So, without further ado, here are some of the events to keep your eyes open for:

• One new limited-edition bear


• One re-released bear


• One in-store givaway


• One continued promotional


• One new shop in Build-A-Bearville


• One new Build-A-Bear Workshop store in Moscow

As you can see, Build-A-Bear's new theme seems to be "one." Though I'm not against that number in any way, I don't think it should define some of Build-A-Bear's fun events! Read more later this month to hear details on each of these events.

So, that's the latest news. Tune in next time to hear Lilli say....if you don't know what I'm referancing, Build-a-Bear needs to come out with some VeggieTales bears. ;)

See you on Thursday,

~Lilli

More Build-a-Bearville Fashions arrive

The newest Build-a-Bearville fashions have arrived at the Pawlette Coufur boutique, designed by Miss Coufur herself. From skirts to tanks, from hats to bags, these fashions are sure to rock your world.

For starters, Pawlett has created a set of girly top-and-skirt outfits to match your style. Whether it's hearts or swirls, polka-dots or modern squares, these are sure to jazz up your favorite outfit. If you prefer shorts, Pawlette has designed some athletic teeny shorts for you. If you don't like wearing halter tops (as many of the new tops are), you can pick out your favorite tank top from Pawlette's new selection. The possibilities are endless - but most require some compromised modesty.

Personally, as a modest dresser, I would rather not wear them. There are plenty of choices in the Build-A-Bearville fashion world that are much more modest. With a little creativity, you can create endless possibilities that suggest nothing but "Trendy Girl" to all you meet. (see my March 6th post on Build-A-Bearville Trends for ideas)

That's my two-cents for 2day! (at least, until Saturday's post!) Toodeeloo!

~Lilli

Build-A-Bear stock plunges

As we watch the fall of the economy due to our over-spending, we can also see the decline of a favorite toy store: Build-A-Bear Workshop. Stock values have declined drastically, from a high of $31 to the current $8.84. A look at the price chart from NASDAQ reveals the tragic yet full-of-suspense journey this stock has made.

Investors in late December saw their stock at $16 - only half its spring value. Then, on December 13 - before Christmas! - the stock went down to $14. For the rest of December, it fluctuated from $14 to $15. This was surely keeping the investors on the edge of their seats, just waiting for their stock to recover - it never did. On Christmas Eve, the stock was stable - only a $0.02 difference between the high of the day and the low of the day, and was worth about $15. It was the eye of the hurricane - a false peace. That was the last day Build-A-Bear stock was worth $15, and February 4th was the last day (to date) that the stock rested at $14. On Valentine's Day, the stock dropped opened at $11.02 and closed at $10.34. And in March, the stock dropped from $11.76 on March 3rd to $8.91 on March 22.

Investors must hope that the stock recovers soon: if Build-A-Bear's stock continues to take this path, as many stocks have suffered this winter, the value may be down to null.

See you on Thursday for my Whimsical Post,

~ Lilli

Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, stock values are the high values of the given date. Values found at the NASDAQ online archive of Build-A-Bear's stock values over the past year.

Another pink bear.....released in March?!

The rose-colored teddy looks innocently at you from behind the store glass at Build-a-Bear Workshop. "Don't blame me!" she says, "I wanted to see you on Valentine's Day!"

Henceforth is writ the traigic tale of the forgotten pink teddy bears released after Valentine's Day!

Seriously, though, I do find the late release of these bears to be a bit sad. You see, Build-A-Bear has a tradition of releasing a pink bear with heart-print fur. Only, they release these bears not in February, but in late March or early April. The end of winter. It's almost as if Build-A-Bear forgot to release a bear every year.

This year is no different.

The victim: Pink Hearts Teddy. A soft pink with white hearts delicately sprinkled across her fur, this bear would make a perfect Valentine's Day gift. A belated gift, anyways, since she's being released four days after winter officially ends. Why, oh why, Build-A-Bear, do you so forget your cutest teddies?

One of my own bears is a forgotten pink teddy bear. Kisses fur You Teddy, released only a few years ago, is adorable. She is now on the path to retirement, as Build-A-Bear makes room for their (newer) cute teddy.

So go - one and all - and buy your pink teddies. But do not forget that these teddies are diamonds in the rough: the teddies forgotten by Build-A-Bear but not by the fans.

I'll see you on Tuesday, when I report about the Build-A-Bear stocks, and on Thursday when I have my whimsical post!

Until Tuesday!

~Lilli

Outfits multi-task, too!

Lilli's Whimsical Blog Post:

Saving your $$ without sacrificing your bear's wardrobe

Hellloooo faithful readers, and welcome to LILLI'S WHIMSICAL BLOG POST!! Today, we'll be taking over how your outfits can double as other outfits.

Let's cut to the chase: we all want to spend less and get more. So here's a few tips on re-using outfits:

• Buy PJs the smart way - look for tops that can be re-used as ordinary shirts. Out of all the girls' pajamas Build-A-Bear has to offer right now, just about all look like they'd have acceptable tops. The Cute Frog PJs, Glamour Girl PJs, Hello Kitty Princess PJs, and Chicks Rule PJs are especially cute as ordinary wear.


• Baby stuff isnt just for babies! The cute onesies are perfect as pajamas - especially the Baby Cub Sleeper. The booties make adorable slippers. Diapers double as underwear. The possibilities are endless!


• Boxers or PJ pants? No one will know those are bear underwear - just slip a pair of colorful Bear Boxers onto your bear for purr-fect PJ pants. Just don't use white or grey. :)


• Ballerinas can dress up, too. Who says the Ballerina Outfit can't be a formal dress? That's what I use for my Christmas and Easter dress, and it works great. Even better - the Pink Fairy Gem Dress, above, has detatchable wings!


• Get creative! Multi-tasking isn't hard once you get the hang of it. So dive in and start tasking!

Thanks for reading - see you this Saturday for my main post!
~Lilli

Build-a-Bear springs into fun (and money-saving techniques)

Build-A-Bear just sent out their new catalog. Titled, "Spring into Fun," the catalog features a new cover layout with three pictures instead of just one (though they all feature Read Teddy). Aside from Read Teddy, nineteen other bears were pictured at least once in the catalog. Here are some other fun statistics for the spring catalog versus the Christmas 2007 catalog:

• Five of the nineteen spring bears recieved full-page coverage, not counting the cover. Compare this to the Winter 2007 catalog, where twenty-eight different bears were pictured but only six recieved their own page.


• Out of the five who recieved full-page coverage in the spring issue, two were seasonal bears and one was new. The other two were made up of one best-seller (Bunny Big Ears) and one "experimental" bear (Triceritops, brought in from the Build-a-Dino line). Out of the six who had their own page in the winter issue, only two were new - the rest were modeling new fashions.


• In the winter issue, five out of the thirty-four pictures had bears interacting with each other. In the spring issue, none of the bears shared their picture. This isn't the best move for Build-a-Bear, since the thought of two BFF bears was quite appealing and created warm fuzzies.


• Out of the twenty-two outfits pictured in the spring issue, seventeen were girl outfits but only five were for boys. Out of the thirty-seven outfits pictured in the winter issue, twenty-two were girl outfits. This is understandable, since their target market is 10-year-old girls.

But what observant fans will note most is the cost cuts Build-A-Bear has placed on this season's catalog. The paper isn't shiney. There are eight fewer pages than the winter catalog. And there are only six non-white backgrounds instead of eight.

But these are minor drawbacks. Everyone should just be happy to get their catalog and leave it at that. :)

See you Thursday for my whimsical post on multi-tasking outfits!

~Lilli

Adorable Elephant makes her debut

If you've been to the Build-A-Bear website recently, I'm sure you've seen ads about their newest bear, Adorable Elephant. And she is adorable. Short, gray fur and floppy ears makes this elephant cute in almost any outfit - especially pinks and other light colors. For the money-motivated, Build-A-Bear has included 3,000 Bear Bucks (Build-A-Bearville currency) into the deal. She's a great size, even - 16 inches. But for those of you looking for a less-expensive bear, she's a bit on the high side for a Build-A-Bear - $20. The Nevertheless, I'd say the price is worth it. She's just as cute (or cuter than) several of the other bears priced similiarily, and if you've got an extra $5 to spend on a bear I'd buy her.

As to her lineage, Build-A-Bear elephants have quite an interesting history. Floppy Elephant, Adorable Elephant's predecessor, was the first of its kind, introduced in April of 2001. Floppy Elephant, though cute, was considerably less cute than the new bear because of its dark fur. This elephant stayed with Build-A-Bear for two years, until Build-A-Bear retired it May of 2003. As far as I know, there haven't been any elephants since then. But Build-A-Bear has bounced back the idea, and it's sure to be a sucess.

If you think Adorable Elephant is cute in that picture, wait until you see others of her! But here's what's in the picture for this post:
16" Adorable Elephant
Heart Tank
Pink Skirt
Pink Gem Flip Flops
White Quilted Purse

On Tuesday, I'll blog on Build-A-Bear's spring catalog. On Thursday, (for my whimsical post) I'll talk about how to multi-task outfits.
Thanks for reading today's blog!! Come back soon!
~Lilli