ST. LOUIS, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Build-A-Bear
Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) today unveiled plans to celebrate the
company's decade-long acknowledgement by a variety of organizations
that recognize great places to work with a donation in honor of
Build-A-Bear® associates. Based on responses to a new employee
engagement survey, and in line with the brand's commitment to help
make days a little brighter for those in need, Build-A-Bear will
distribute one-time gifts to a children's hospital and the
company's associate fund.
![Build-A-Bear(R) is a global brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little more heart to life. (PRNewsfoto/Build-A-Bear Workshop) Build-A-Bear(R) is a global brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little more heart to life. (PRNewsfoto/Build-A-Bear Workshop)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/776780/Build_A_Bear_Workshop_Est_1997_Logo.jpg)
Build-A-Bear Workshop® has consistently ranked among the best
companies to work for in a variety of categories and, last year,
executives at the 21-year-old brand set out to create new ways to
acknowledge Build-A-Bear's renowned culture while more closely
aligning with its beloved corporate values. After applying for and
being selected by a nationally-recognized organization as a "best
place to work" for 10 consecutive years, Build-A-Bear made the
strategic decision not to apply in 2019. Instead, the company chose
to distribute an internally-developed "Company with Heart" survey
to glean insights on ways Build-A-Bear can continue to serve as a
sought-after employer with heart.
More than 1,000 responses were received from the company's
associates, who help make Build-A-Bear and its service model so
special. According to the survey, more than 90 percent of
associates agree that "Build-A-Bear genuinely cares about its
Guests," that "Build-A-Bear is a fun place to work," and that they
are "proud to say [they] work at Build-A-Bear." When asked to share
what they like best about working at Build-A-Bear, many respondents
listed "working with fellow associates" and "working with our
Guests."
As part of the survey, to commemorate more than 20 years of
charitable giving, Build-A-Bear asked associates to rank a provided
list of organizations they would prefer to support through
Build-A-Bear charitable giving initiatives. Ninety-three percent of
survey respondents ranked children's hospitals as No. 1, a
demonstration of the love that the vast majority of Build-A-Bear
associates have for taking care of kids—in stores and in the
community.
To honor the survey response and engagement within the company,
Build-A-Bear is announcing that a one-time gift of $10,000 will be distributed between St. Louis
Children's Hospital and The Beverly Fund—Build-A-Bear's associate
fund created in memory of a beloved associate who passed away in
2006—that provides financial assistance to Build-A-Bear team
members who are experiencing financial hardship for reasons beyond
their control, such as natural disasters and unforeseen health
issues.
"As a company on a mission to 'add a little more heart to life,'
it was not surprising to see that so many of our associates find
the work they do each day meaningful," said Sharon Price John, president and CEO,
Build-A-Bear Workshop. "Giving back to our Build-A-Bear family of
associates and to charitable endeavors will always be a part of our
culture, and we are proud to know that every day, around the world,
Build-A-Bear makes kids—and associates—smile."
Build-A-Bear plans to continue to conduct internal surveys, as
well as other engagement opportunities covering a variety of
topics, in order to collect and consider ideas, inspiration and
feedback on a regular basis.
Information about current Build-A-Bear career opportunities can
be found at careers.buildabear.com.
About Build-A-Bear®
Build-A-Bear® is a global brand kids love and parents trust that
seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has
over 400 stores worldwide where Guests can create customizable
furry friends, including corporately-managed stores in the United States, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto
Rico, and the United
Kingdom, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia,
Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. Buildabear.com is the online
destination for unique furry-friend gifts, featuring
The-Bear-Builder™, a shopping configurator that helps create
customized gift options. In 2018, Build-A-Bear was named to the
FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the
10th year in a row. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
(NYSE:BBW) posted a total revenue of $357.9
million in fiscal 2017.
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SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop