New calendar, new look for Build-A-Bearville news

It's March 1st, the day Build-a-Bear reveals the events to take place for the next month! Two furry friends, two contests, a promotional, two online events....Build-A-Bear has packed this month full!

Of course, some of us didn't want February to end. For those of you who are still excited about this year's "Leap Day," there's still a bit of time left for your Build-A-Bear in-store reward - a free t-shirt with a $15 or more purchase. So hurry in - the t-shirt may look dorky, but the virtual Build-A-Bearville reward makes it worth it.

Build-a-Bearville has something else that's very new, and you can't miss it: they've changed the look of their news bulliten. More efficient and attractive, it makes reading the "Build-A-Bearville News" much easier than just staring at a block of text. (like it used to be) It looks a bit like a web browser with tabs, making it a fun "toy" to go check out! Each tab has a label: "News & Events," "Friends," "Fashions & Stuff" and "Games & Quests."

I think it's a good idea to change the look of the Build-A-Bear news, and Build-A-Bearville certainly kept me more informed than the main Build-A-Bear website! Evidentally, Build-A-Bear is trying to make Build-A-Bearville their "website" and buildabear.com their "shop-site." This is great for the users - get on Build-A-Bear to play and not to shop. I'll go for that any day!

In the upcoming posts, (don't forget about the mini-posts this Tuesday and Thursday!) I'll tell more about Build-A-Bear's "five-month reward program," fashions on Build-A-Bearville, and the brand-new spot where Build-A-Bearville users will love to hang out. Until then,

~Lilli

The Newest Easter Bunny has arrived!

The newest edition to the Build-A-Bear family has soft fur, ears bigger than her head, and a new limited edition dress. She is hailed by Build-A-Bearville and by the Build-A-Bear website. What I just said made her sound like any other springtime bunny, but I haven't told all. She's really something special.

She's an out-of-the box idea for Build-a-Bear - a tester. Out of the five bunnies released between January 2000 and February 2005, four were brown and one was white. This new bunny's sales will pave the way for future bunnies. She will show Build-A-Bear whether unusual bunnies are profitable.

The newest bunny is pink.

Yes, pink! Pawsome Pink Bunny (I wonder where they got the name!!) was released on February 15th, and she's all the buzz on buildabear.com and Build-A-Bearville. Not surprising, since Build-A-Bear is anxious to sell their newest idea. I always like it when Build-A-Bear is creative, so I'm pretty happy about this new bunny. However, I really wish that they'd name it more creatively!

On another note, Build-A-Bearville has brand-new fashions available at the Pawlette Coufur Boutique. If you like crazy stripes, leopard-print ballet flats, and beanies worn in the middle of summer, these fasions are just what you're looking for. If you're like the rest of us, you'll stick with the old fashions. Needless to say, I haven't seen anyone in Build-A-Bearville wearing the newest "trends."

Our final topic will be the Ultimate Build-A-Bearville Sweepstakes. Yes, Build-A-Bear has started yet another of their sweepstakes, but you may want to sit up and take notice of this one: the prize is worth $10,000, and it's not in Build-A-Parties or Build-A-Bear merchandise. It's what Build-A-Bear calls a "Home Technology Center," and it includes a brand-new computer, brand-new music equipment, brand-new furniture and $3,000 for "tax assistance as a result of prize acceptance." Wow! This is one you may want to enter.

See you next Saturday!

~Lilli

Happy Groundhog Day!

(above image from buildabear.com)

Happy Groundhog Day, Build-A-Bear lovers! It's Groundhog Day, the biggest weather prediction of the year. Of course, Build-A-Bear would not miss this event for the world - they celebrated by releasing a Groundhog in late January, to retire today. And as we bid goodbye to our furry friend, we also bid goodbye to six weeks of warm weather - for the virtual Groundhog on buildabearville.com has seen his shadow. Yes, in Build-a-Bearville, the ultimate Build-A-Bear town online, they have a groundhog! Just look in the Friendship Forest Cave, near the bongo drums. There's a little cave that you can click on and view the video.

Stuff fur Stuff members, be sure to enter the Stuff fur Stuff Club Appreciation Days sweepstakes! The prize is a 32" tall Hearts-fur-You puppy. No purchase necessary, but a purchase made on your Stuff fur Stuff card before February 4th will automatically enter you into the contest.

And lastly, for every $1 you spend on Build-A-Bear products in-store or online you will recieve $100 in Bear Bucks on Build-a-Bearville! So spend on - I have a feeling Bear Buck inflation may become a problem sometime soon.

Interested in the cute picture, above? Here's what's included in your online order of Furbulous Forcast Groundhog from buildabear.com:

• 16" Groundhog
• Groundhog tee
• Faded Denim Jeans
• White Tennis Shoes
• Groundhog Hat

That sums up this week - tune in next week for a report on Valentine's Day!