--- title: Can Build-A-Bear replicate the experience online? - The Hustle description: Is building a bear fun if you do it online? Build-A-Bear bets on an interactive, digital workshop. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/2057190144-News-Brief_2021-11-12T052905.041Z.webp --- # Can Build-A-Bear replicate the experience online? ![Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) [Juliet Bennett Rylah Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/JBRylah) Published: November 12, 2021 Updated: October 11, 2023 Source:* *[*Getty Images/SOPA Images*](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/in-this-photo-illustration-the-build-a-bear-workshop-logo-news-photo/1229154328?adppopup=true) ![Can Build-A-Bear replicate the experience online?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/2057190144-News-Brief_2021-11-12T052905.041Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=2057190144-News-Brief_2021-11-12T052905.041Z.webp) Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. — the chain that lets you customize your own stuffed animal — was founded in 1997, making it 4 years older than the “Fast and Furious” franchise. Today, the St. Louis-based company has [400+](https://ir.buildabear.com/corporate-profile#:~:text=Build%2DA%2DBear%20Workshop%20has,Mexico%20and%20the%20Middle%20East.) stores worldwide and, in 2019, saw $338.5m in revenue. #### **Bear Builder 3D Workshop is its latest iteration** The [experience](https://www.buildabear.com/bear-builder-3d-workshop) starts with choosing from the available bear — or dog or bunny — models. Next, customers drag fluffy clouds to their new friend until it is “pawfectly stuffed,” then add clothes, accessories, and sound effects. Finally, they fill out a certificate and give the toy a name. #### **But isn’t the charm the physical building of the bear?** For some, sure. But Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price John said via [a release](https://ir.buildabear.com/news-releases/news-release-details/build-bear-transforms-its-online-shopping-launch-bear-builder-3d) that the company’s goal is to meet consumers where they are, which is increasingly online. The online toy biz is worth [$20.5B](https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/online-childrens-toy-sales-united-states/) overall. During the pandemic, Build-A-Bear saw 20%+ online market growth during the pandemic, [per](https://www.retaildive.com/news/the-new-toy-store-experience/603176/) *Retail Dive*. And that might be a lasting trend. A 2019, pre-pandemic CivicScience study found that only [~41%](https://civicscience.com/most-holiday-toy-shoppers-are-shopping-online-only/) of holiday shoppers planned to buy toys in physical stores, while a 2020 [survey](https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/coronavirus-could-push-back-school-spending-record-level-uncertain) by the National Retail Federation found that 49% of K-12 parents plan to do back-to-school shopping online even after the pandemic. **Fun fact:** Build-A-Bear once [made](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/7918612.stm) a toy monkey with a mechanical heartbeat to help rear a baby [De Brazza’s monkey](https://www.zoonewengland.org/franklin-park-zoo/our-animals/mammals/primates/de-brazzas-monkey/) whose mother was unable to care for it. Topics: [Ecommerce And Retail](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/ecommerce-and-retail) ## Follow us on social media prev next - ![Excited about Bed Bath & Beyond’s return? 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