BBW News & Events

Build-A-Bear Workshop (BBW) is launching its first-ever wholesale partnership with Walmart (WMT). Beginning today, Build-A-Bear Mini Beans, new collectible Micro Mini Beans, and the Build-A-Bear x Bluey collection in partnership with BBC Studios, are available in 1,500+ Walmart stores nationwide, a major new distribution milestone for the nearly 30-year-old brand.

Build-A-Bear announced that as part of a multi-year planned succession process, longtime Build-A-Bear President and CEO Sharon Price John intends to retire from her role effective June 11, the date of the company's Annual Shareholders' Meeting. The Board appointed the company's tenured Chief Operations and Experience Officer Chris Hurt to succeed Price John as CEO, who will transition her responsibilities to Hurt during this period. The Board also appointed Hurt to the Board of Directors effective upon assuming the CEO role, and Price John will remain on the Board and help to ensure a smooth transition. Since joining Build-A-Bear Workshop in 2015, Hurt served as COO, and more recently, Chief Operations and Experience Officer. Prior to joining the company, Hurt was at American Eagle Outfitters from 2002 to 2015 in various senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including SVP of North America, VP/GM of the Factory stores, Zone VPand Regional Director. Prior to that, Hurt held positions of increasing responsibility at Polo Ralph Lauren after starting his career at The Procter & Gamble Company.

Reports Q4 revenue $154.5M, consensus $155.71M. "We are pleased to report a year of solid revenue expansion, driven by growth across each of our three operating segments. This momentum, even amid external distractions, was further supported by the successful opening of more than 60 net new units across multiple geographies for the second year in a row," commented CEO Sharon Price John. "Looking ahead, with a strong plan and key infrastructure in place, given we have now surpassed the half-billion-dollar milestone revenue mark this fiscal year, we are focused on further leveraging our success and the power of our brand to drive more incremental business". CFO Voin Todorovic added, "The company achieved its fifth consecutive year of record revenue and pre-tax income. These results reflect approximately $11M in tariffs and related costs that we partially offset through continued operational excellence, strong store contribution margins, and actions to further diversify our business model. This consistent performance, together with solid cash flow generation, has enabled us to return more than $170M to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends over the past five years."