usabridesweb

471 0 0 0 16 9. When Toys R’ Us announced plans to close all 735 of its U. The gravitational pull of online shopping has decimated many iconic brick and mortar brands, and toy stores are love2shop toys r us exception.

In an era of smartphone shopping and same-day delivery, one decades-old toy chain has managed to weather the storm. In February, Build-A-Bear announced its fourth straight year of profitability. In the middle of every Build-A-Bear store is a comically large aquarium, of sorts, for fuzzy animal innards. Existentially speaking, it’s also indicative of everything Build-A-Bear stands for. Something that holds shoppers’ attention for longer than the time it takes to snake through a checkout line. Build-A-Bear figured this out a long time ago. It starts when you walk in the door, and come face-to-face with dozens of plush animal species.

Build-A-Bear doesn’t bill itself as a toy store, or even a stuffed animal store. It’s in the business of selling memories. Ben Row, a retail specialist at the analytics firm Bigtincan. Every retailer needs to find that place. The thing about Build-A-Bear is that it isn’t just for kids. Whatever you’re into, and whatever your age, Build-A-Bear probably has a stuffed animal accessory for you. There’s a Hot Topic line that’s right up your alley.

Reyne Rice, a global toy trend hunter and consultant. They know some of the characters, they know the play pattern, and now they can share that experience with their child. Build-A-Bear’s sentimental pull is so strong that even people who don’t have kids are spending money there. I can’t BEAR to go to prom without you! Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price John, and it’s helped boost Build-A-Bear’s reputation across age groups. But the company has focused on immersive shopping since it opened up shop in 1997, she says. The rest of the market is finally playing catch up.