A Master Bear Builder speaks out! It's a Beary cool place!
Written: Aug 11 '00 (Updated Aug 11 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: fun, hands-on, affordable, friendly staff
Cons: may take a long time if the lines are long
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| muffyfufu's Full Review: Build-A-Bear Stuffed Bear |
I had the pleasure of being a Master Bear Builder at the Build-A-Bear workshop in Indianapolis, Indiana. Yes, I did it all. I stuffed, I stitched, and I dressed bear after bear after bear. But, what can I say? It is all worth it seeing the smiles on the children's (and adults') faces!
CHOOSE ME
The Workshop provides a hands-on opportunity for children to be involved in the creation of their new best friend. The children begin by picking the type of animal they would like to build. There are 25 different animals to choose from ranging from $10-$25. And there's more than bears! You can find a cat, dog, pig, cow, frog, horse, and even a turtle.
STUFF ME
After choosing the animal, the next step is to take it to the stuffing machines where a Master Bear Builder will help you stuff it. The customer gets to step up and down on the pedal that releases stuffing into the animal. After the animal is stuffed to your liking, you pick out a heart to place inside your animal. (So, your animal will have a heart just like you do!) You kiss the heart, make a wish, and place it inside your new friend.
STITCH ME
Next, the animal is all ready to be sewed up. One of the friendly Bear Builders will stitch the back of your animal to make sure none of the stuffing falls out. While doing this, the Bear Builder rips off part of the animal's bar code. This part of the bar code will be placed inside the animal's tummy just in case the animal should ever end up someplace without its owner. If somebody finds the animal and returns it to any Workshop, the Bear Builders can open it up and scan the bar code to find out who the furry friend belongs to. And, trust me, Build-A-Bear has witnessed a few happy reunions!
FLUFF ME
Now, the animal is all ready for an air bath. The new owner can fluff and brush the animal at the magical bathtub.
NAME ME
And what would an animal be without a name? Children can give their new friend any name they choose. The Workshop even has a list of names just in case someone has a hard time choosing. The child then has a choice of creating a birth certificate or story for their new pal at the computers. The computers are very easy to understand, but small children may need the help of an adult.
DRESS ME
Last, but not least, your new friend can't go home naked! Build-A-Bear has a wide variety of outfits suitable for anyone's style. And the friendly Bear Builders are always ready with suggestions. Clothing and accessories are extra, but you can find something little for under $10. But don't worry if you don't want to spend any money on clothing, the Bear Builders at the register will give your animal a bow just to make sure no animals go home bare!
TIPS FROM AN EXPERT
If you are thinking about building an animal, here are some things you might want to consider. Build-A-Bear is usually very busy around holidays or when children are home such as weekends. Try and plan to go on a day when it won't be very busy. Around Christmas time, you might end up waiting in line for an hour or even longer. Gift certificates are also a great idea to give children. That way, they can build the animal themselves. No matter when you go, you should plan about 25 minutes to make your way throughout the workshop.
PRICES
It usually costs around $25 to make an animal fully clothed. But, if you want to keep the price down, I suggest buying a $10 bear and asking for bows at the register. Sometimes, the bears with just bows look the cutest.
If you are planning on visiting a Workshop anytime soon, you might want to check out the website at www.buildabear.com. It's a cute site and has some fun things for children to do! Plus, it has a list of all the Build-A-Bear Workshop locations!
Don't miss out on the chance to create your own furry friend. There is no age limit in the Workshop. In fact, many of the adults that come in end up building one for themselves!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
muffyfufu
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Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 11 members
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