Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear WorkshopBy Michelle Hand & Samantha Rubeo

Start of Build-A-Bear WorkshopFounded by Maxine Clark Maxine and her friend Katie had a hard time finding a stuffed bear that Katie specifically wanted, which inspired the idea of making a bear that they wanted1st store opened in 1997 at Saint Louis Galleria in St. Louis, Missouri

(Let a child inspire you, 2015)

The founder of Build-A-Bear is Maxine Clark. Maxine had inspiration when she took her 10 year old friend Katie shopping for a stuffed bear. They had a hard time finding a stuffed bear that incorporated all the details Katie wanted. This led to Maxine thinking it would be easier if she were to just make one the one that included Katies desires. That simple little idea, led to the company it is today. After opening a toy factory of her own, Maxine was able to expand to retail stores and in 1997 at the Saint Louis Galleria in St. Louis, Missouri. Today there are over 400 company owned stores and franchised stores worldwide. In recent years, in order to keep up with the changing markets and demographic, the company upgraded their building interactions to a remote online experience. This allows for children who cannot make it to a store physically, to have the same experience and get the bear of their dreams designed by themselves (Let a child inspire you, 2015).Maxine graduated from the University of Georgia and has an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Louis University. She was the Chief Executive Bear of the company until June 2013. Maxine has done so much throughout her career and has achieved a lot of recognition. In 2005, she was named a Customer-Centered Leader, in the customer First Awards by Fast Company. She published her first book "The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart", in 2006. Maxine was also named one of the most influential people in retailing by chain store age in 2008 (Maxine clark founder, 2015).

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Fortunes 100 best workplaces2009 #942010 #802011 #482012 #622013 #782014 #632015 #592016 #45

Great benefitsFun and cooperative environment Flexible work schedules (100 best companies to work for, 2016)

Build-A-Bear Workshop has been listed on Forbes 100 best places to work in 2016 for the eighth year in a row. Also the company ranked in the 90 Percentile for being a company that is challenging, rewarding, has great communication, and great leadership to name a few. It has great benefits and flexible work schedules for its employees and provides a workplace that is a fun and cooperative environment (100 best companies to work for, 2016).

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Company Values

(Why you should become a bear, 2015)

ReachLearnDi-bear-sity

Colla-bear-ate

Give Cele-bear-ate

The value of the company was based on giving children and adults an experience that allows their imagination and creativity to wander to the unimaginable. They use the American Icon of the teddy bear, and strive to have it brought to real life. The teddy bear encompasses childhood, friendship, trust, comfort, and love. The core values the company promotes are - reach, learn, di-bear-sity, colla-bear-ate, give, and cele-bear-ate in everything. Reach is to push everyone to always reach fur the stars and see the paw-sibilities are endless if you put your mind to it. Learn is constantly ask questions, listen actively, look at different perspectives, take risks in life, and learn from mistakes. Di-bear-sity promotes people to embrace and value the uniqueness, individuality, background, and experience of everyone around you. It shows it doesnt matter what is on the outside, the good stuff in the stuff inside. Coll-bear-ate is to trust your teammates, define commitment within each other, and put things into action. It focuses on working together to build up. Give promotes always helping your peers and communities. Cele-bear-ate is to take time to recognize and acknowledge the successes made by each other, whether it is an independent or group contribution. It promotes having fun along the way of achieving everything (Why you should become a bear, 2015).

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Company cultureFoundation is HEARTFunImaginationTeamwork(Why you should become a bear, 2015)

The foundation of the Build-A-Bear culture is heart. Other key components are fun and imagination. Work gets done with a smile and bear hugs are approved. The emotional tie that a child experiences with a bear is promoted in the work environment. That same feeling is how her employees feel because they work for an organization that gives back and promotes positive emotional beliefs. The love that goes into to providing children with support in wellness and education, helps the company grow. The company values teamwork, listening, learning, recognizing accomplishments, and rewarding each other. Together they look for challenging goals and look past the obstacles to focus on the possibilities (Why you should become a bear, 2015).

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Job satisfaction (Build-a-bear workshop, 2015)

Job satisfaction in Build-A-Bear Workshop is very high based on employee ratings. Employees rated Build-A-Bear Workshop in six categories, all achieving 95% or higher. Great challenges was ranked at 96%, great atmosphere at 98%, great rewards at 95%, great pride at 98%, great communications 97%, and great bosses at 96%. These ratings was based on 832 surveys and an overall of 92% said it was a great workplace (Build-a-bear workshop, 2015).

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Employee engagement

Work/Life BalanceServices at BearquartersAssociate DiscountScholarship ProgramOnline Corporate Perks Program(Why you should become a bear, 2015)

Employee engagement is kept through great incentives. A work/balance is promoted through flexible schedules to associates in the World Bearquarters, located in St. Louis, MO. The office environment with its atmosphere and dress are casual, and the walls are painted yellow with inspiring quotes. There are many services provided at Bearquarters. This includes having your dog visit the doggy day spa with pick-up and drop-off services at work, onsite oil changes, pick-up and delivery for dry cleaning, and lunch and learn programs. They also offer bring your dog to work day at World Bearquarters. Associates can take part in thirty percent off on all merchandise, which can be used by spouses, children, mothers or fathers. The company awards twenty college scholar-bear-ships to eligible associates to high school seniors or graduates that are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate courses at an accredited two or four year college/university. A last benefit is the online corporate perks program, which allows associates to have, discounts on a variety of products and services (Why you should become a bear, 2015).

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Management style and credibility ListenSupportOpen communication

(Martin, Renee, 2010)

Build-A-Bear Workshop has great management style that makes it an amazing company to be apart of. The key is to really listen, not only to the customers but the employees. The culture of the company promotes trying new and creative ideas. The management team is supportive, so they make their employees comfortable in sharing these ideas to better the company. There is also an open communication line from the managers and the employees. Maxine Clark who started the company believes the future of the company will succeed as long as the leaders always listen to feedback (Martin, Renee, 2010).

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benefit programsHealth & WellnessPaid Time OffSavings & RetirementBonus OpportunityLife & Disability

(Why you should become a bear, 2015)

Build-A-Bear Workshop provides great benefits to part-time and full-time employees. They want to show they care about the employees and their families, in making sure their health, well-being, and financial security are always kept in mind. Health and Wellness Benefits are offered to full-time and part-time associates. This includes major medical, dental, and vision benefits. They also have access to a nurse line that offers confidential answers to health care questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The company offers honey days to store managers, full time World Bearquarters (headquarters) and Bearhouse (Distribution Center) associates. This time off for vacation, sick days, religious holidays, or personal reasons. Associates are given a paid day off in their birthday month to cele-bear-ate. Full-time associates at World Bearquarters and Bearhouse are eligible to receive up to six paid holidays. Bear Builder Associate Appreciation Month also cele-bear-ates and recognizes all associates. Non-management, part-time associates that are employees for a minimum of ninety days prior to September 1st receive an extra average days pay. Build-A-Bear Workshop provides a 401(k) Plan for eligible full-time and part-time associates who qualify to save money, tax-deferred for retirement. They also offer a discretionary company match on the associates contributions. Flexible Spending accounts are also available to store managers and full-time World Bearquarters and Bearhouse associates to pay for health care and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. Bonus pay is available for store managers and full-time Bearquarters associates. The company offers life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance to store managers and full-time World Bearquarters and Bearhouse associates. This is in the amount of one times the annual salary. If employees wish, they can choose to purchase supplement coverage for self, spouse, domestic partner, and dependent children at group rates. Disability benefits are available in short-term and long-term plans. They vary by state and are available to store managers and full-time World bearquarters and Bearhouse associates (Why you should become a bear, 2015).9

Pay Packages(Build-a-bear workshop, 2016)Salary EmployeeChief Workshop ManagerAverage Base Pay-$48,490Average Extra Compensation-$3,437Total Pay-$51,927 Hourly EmployeeAssistant Workshop ManagerAverage Base Pay-$33,717Average Extra Compensation-$1,509Total Pay-$35,226Pay packages above depict the pay for the most common job on salary and hourly rates.

The pay rate for Build-A-Bear Workshop changes based on state and experience. The prices depict the average salary for the most common jobs on salary and on hourly. The most common job for a salary employee is a chief workshop manager. The average base pay is $48,490 and the average extra compensation is $3,437, which makes a total of $51,927 per year. The most common job for an hourly employee is assistant workshop manager and the average base pay is $33,717 and the average compensation is $1,509, which makes a total of $35,226 (Build-a-bear workshop, 2016).10

Hiring practicesHigh-energy, loving, and outgoing applicantsEmployees open to learn and be team playersApply online through Build-A-Bear Workshop websiteGroup interviews, role-playing, and assessments

(Build-a-bear workshop, 2016)

Build-A-Bear Workshop looks for characteristics that will make people stand out and provide their customers with the best service and experience there is. These characteristics are high-energy, outgoing, and loving. The company also wants their employees to have a passion for working there, so they can bring their passion and strive for the best results of the company. It is important for the employees to want to learn and be open to new ideas, and be able to work with a group of people.If someone in interested in applying for a job at Build-A-Bear Workshop they can inform the management team or apply online through the website. The company looks for enthusiastic and creative applicants, even starting with submitting the resume. If you are applying to a store, the interview process will take place in a group setting and the applicant will role-play how they interact with guests. At World Bearquarters, applicants complete a pre-employments assessments to make sure they match the requirements. There is also a ninety day orientation period and summary feedback from the assessment process. The company has a 2% job growth per year, about twenty-three applicants on average per every job opening. There is a 16% voluntary turnover of full-time employees in the past year and 11% new hires by employee referrals (Build-a-bear workshop, 2016). Applicants can also find other information about becoming an employee at Build-A-Bear Workshop through their website.

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Training Keeps employees in a friendly and personable environment Salaried employees train on average 53 hours a yearHourly employees train on average 16 hours a year

(Employees and training, 2009)(Build-a-bear workshop, 2016)

Build-A-Bear Workshop uses training to keep their employees in a friendly and personable environment. Store managers go through an intensive training program (Bear University). The associates are trained highly in the bear making process and guest experience. New hires and employees are trained in order to retain people who are focused on making the company grow (Employees and training, 2009). Each year the salaried employee on average goes through 53 hours of training and the hourly employee on average goes through 16 hours of training (Build-a-bear workshop, 2016). Training is important because it helps the employees stay motivated in the company.

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Career opportunityRetail LocationsWorld BearquartersDistribution CenterInternship Program

(Careers at build-a-bear workshop, 2016)

Build-A-Bear Workshop offers great opportunities for employees in three different settings. They are the retail location, World Bearquarters, and Distribution Center. There are five different positions in the retail locations that allow employees to be at the heart of the business and working first-handledly with its customers. The positions offered are sales associate, part-time associate manager, full-time assistant manager, store manager, and district manager. At the World Bearquarters, employees focus on providing service and support in the location where the company all started. There are over fifteen different departments to work in at the World Bearquarters from human resources, legal, marketing, finance, etc. In the Distribution Center where the company grows, there are two roles, the web store and the warehouse. Build-A-Bear also offers a summer internship program which gives great opportunities to college leveled students to start and even grow in the company. It allows them to collaBEARate with other students as well as associates (Careers at build-a-bear workshop, 2016).

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Recognition programs

(Giving back, 2016)

Build-A-Bear Workshop takes part in many recognition programs that makes them stand out as a great company. The company focuses community outreach to improve the lives of children, families, and animals. These programs include Build-A-Bear Foundation, Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Huggable Heroes. Build-A-Bear Foundation allows children of all ages to support their communities and people in need. Applications are required and only accepted January 1 to March 31 of every calendar year. The foundation will help a recipient organization that serves an area within fifty miles of a Build-A-Bear Workshop store and it must directly support programs that promote H.E.A.R.T. H.E.A.R.T is helping communities with volunteering, experiencing teamwork, accepting peoples differences, respecting people and animals, and taking the lead to drive position change. For two years, Build-A-Bear Workshop allows guests to what they call, share their heart, and make a donation to help children with life-threatening medical conditions through working with Make-A-Wish. The company has been able to grant fifty wishes for children, which empowers the children to fight harder against their illnesses and promotes hope throughout their lives. In honor of Valentines Day, Build-A-Build Workshop also invited children to make furry friends for other kids and distributing them to children supported by Make-A-Wish and local hospitals. Build-A-Bear Workshop has been Santas Workshop for seven years in a row, for supporting Toys for Tots. They have donated over 25,000 furry friends to children who are in need of a hug, and with the help of their guests they have raised over 14,000 new toys for children who are less fortunate, and have together raised $400,000 to give to Toys for Tots. Huggable Heroes promotes the young to give back to communities and leave positive marks. It celebrates heroes in everyday lives and strives to recognize the youth that are doing great in their lives, by providing scholarships and donated to their cause. These are great programs Build-A-Bear Workshop takes part in and are only a few of the reason why it is such a great company (Giving back, 2016).

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Diversity efforts

(Build-a-bear workshop, 2015) GenderExecutive PositionsAgeMinorities

Build-A-Bear Workshop does not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employee. They are an equal opportunity employer and believe every employee and applicant has the same rights. They are not bias of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, or any other trail as required by federal, state, and local laws (Careers at build-a-bear workshop, 2016). Build-A-Bear employees are mostly 25 years or younger, but they do have employees in every age category. The employees are also 65% non-minorities and 35% minorities. Women hold 57% of executive positions, while men hold the remaining 43%. Employees in the company are 88% female, and 12% male (Build-a-bear workshop, 2015).

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References

100 best companies to work for. (2016). Retrieved from http://fortune.com/best-companies/build-a-bear-workshop-45/ Build-a-bear workshop. (2015). Retrieved from http://reviews.greatplacetowork.com/build-a-bear-workshop Build-a-bear workshop. (2016). Retrieved from http://fortune.com/best-companies/build-a-bear-workshop-45/ Careers at build-a-bear workshop. (2016). Retrieved from https://careers.buildabear.com/Careers.aspx

Employees and training. (2009, March 19). Retrieved from http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Build-A-Bear_Workshop_(BBW)/Employees_Training

Giving back. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/workshop/Giving%20Back/3100023/10100035

Let a child inspire you. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/workshop/The%20Story%20of%20Build-A-Bear%20Workshop/3100021/10100034

Martin, Renee. (2010, April 26). Build-a-bear founder on the importance of listening. Retrieved from http://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/articles/build-a-bear-founder-on-the-importance-of-listening/

Maxine clark - founder. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/workshop/Our%20Founder/3100021/100003 Why you should become a bear. (2015). Retrieved from https://careers.buildabear.com/AboutUs.aspx