Business & Tech
Stuffing Hits Fan Over Lines At Chicago Build-A-Bear Workshops
The stores saw hours-long lines as any 3-year-old could buy a bear — which normally cost $35 or so — for just $3.
The owners of Build-A-Bear Workshops, where people around the world build their own stuffed versions of the animal, thought it would be a good idea to run a promotion deeply discounting prices at all its locations. As it turns out, the idea wasn't merely good — it was great. So great in attracting business, in fact, that the results were really, really bad.
There are long lines, such as those you might find at Walmart, that are irritating. Then there are Disney World-size lines that make you question your own reality.
On Thursday, Build-A-Bear Workshops — including locations in Chicago — saw comically long, Disney World-size lines. The toy company ended up turning away hordes of customers Thursday after so many people arrived at its locations that the company feared for "crowd and safety concerns."
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The toy company was offering quite the deal: Any "Make-Your-Own" furry friend available in the store could be bought for the price of a kid's age, as long as the child was in the store. Any 3-year-old could walk away with a bear — which normally costs $35 or so — for just $3.
No wonder the stuffing hit the fan.
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The promotion was part of a nationwide celebration of the company's launch of the Build-A-Bear "Count Your Candles" birthday experience.
But the promotion seemingly worked too well.
Photos posted on social media showed lines stretching out the door at stores across the country. Some said they had been waiting in lines for hours, prompting Build-A-Bear to take action.
"We have closed lines in our U.S. stores. We understand some of our Guests are disappointed and we will reach out directly as soon as possible," the store said in a release.
“PAY YOUR AGE” DAY: This is the line for @buildabear at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. Witness says there’s a 2 hour wait once inside the store just to stuff bears. Build-A-Bear had to cut lines off nationwide less than an hour after they opened. #buildabear #allthebears pic.twitter.com/UMWrIH6jEb
— Marissa Bailey (@MarissaBaileyTV) July 12, 2018
this photo was taken @WoodfieldMall in schaumburg. the line of ppl is insane bcuz of build-a-bear promotion 'pay your age.' now store officials are canceling the promotion bcuz of chaotic situations across the country. pic.twitter.com/2VveIoX7Em
— Vicky Baftiri (@VickyBaftiri) July 12, 2018
madness continues for build-a-bear: this is at water tower place in chicago. pic.twitter.com/G7Utu0KTIH
— Vicky Baftiri (@VickyBaftiri) July 12, 2018
Build-A-Bear Workshop has more than 400 stores worldwide. Locations include stores at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., and Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
Social media users complained that the so-called "Pay your age" promotion was poorly executed. Some said that if it's held again in the future, changes would have to be made, including possibly implementing a lottery system, designating pickup times or passing out numbers.
Patch editors Daniel Hampton, Feroze Dhanoa and Todd Richissin contributed to this report.
Photo by Jeannine Reilly of Brick (published with permission)
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