This creative bookshop is hiding in a Des Moines design studio
Tucked away off Keo Way, there's a little bookshop inviting people to browse its creative and colorful curations.
State of play: Now Now Bookshop is smaller than a traditional store, but owners John and Lucy Solarz say they want to create a shopping experience that's more than just browsing, but community building.
How it started: The shop is inside Now Now, a design studio that works with local businesses like Tasty Tacos, Eden and Art Terrarium.
John, who collects vinyl records and books, wanted to create a more accessible way for people to meet them in the design studio. Lucy, who has a background in fashion and retail, always wanted a shop component to the business.
"Opening the bookshop was a really great way for us to connect with the everyday creative community that we knew exists," John says. "We just needed a space to allow that spark to happen.
What you'll find: Lucy says she picked coffee table books that other creatives could find inspiration from, like " The Vignelli Canon" and " Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier."
What they're saying: Young artists and college students have come into the studio both to browse books and get opinions on their designs and projects.
" I think people are really nervous to talk to designers — sometimes they feel like, 'What's it gonna cost me to ask you questions about a brand that I want to do or a website I want to create?' And having those doors open has really allowed people to comfortably come in and access us," Lucy says.
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For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that are, or may be considered to be, "forward-looking statements" for the purpose of federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. We generally identify these statements by words or phrases such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "predict," "future," "potential" or "continue," the negative or any derivative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All the information concerning our future liquidity, future revenues, margins and other future financial performance and results, achievement of operating of financial plans or forecasts for future periods, sources and availability of credit and liquidity, future cash flows and cash needs, success and results of strategic initiatives and other future financial performance or financial position, as well as our assumptions underlying such information, constitute forward-looking information. These statements are based only on our current expectations and projections about future events. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under the caption entitled "Risks Related to Our Business" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 18, 2025, and other periodic reports filed with the SEC which are incorporated herein. All our forward-looking statements are as of the date of this Press Release only. In each case, actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking information. We can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An occurrence of or any material adverse change in one or more of the risk factors or other risks and uncertainties referred to in this Press Release or included in our other public disclosures or our other periodic reports or other documents or filings filed with or furnished to the SEC could materially and adversely affect our continuing operations and our future financial results, cash flows, available credit, prospects, and liquidity. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) 13 Weeks 13 Weeks Ended Ended May 3, % of Total May 4, % of Total 2025 Revenues (1) 2024 Revenues (1) Revenues: Net retail sales $ 119,589 93.1 $ 107,868 94.0 Commercial revenue 7,623 5.9 5,985 5.2 International franchising 1,183 1.0 877 0.7 Total revenues 128,395 100.0 114,730 99.9 Cost of merchandise sold: Cost of merchandise sold - retail (1) 51,571 43.1 49,415 45.8 Cost of merchandise sold - commercial (1) 3,014 39.5 2,533 42.3 Cost of merchandise sold - international franchising (1) 824 69.7 617 70.4 Total cost of merchandise sold 55,409 43.2 52,565 45.8 Consolidated gross profit 72,986 56.8 62,165 54.2 Selling, general and administrative expense 53,555 41.7 47,562 41.5 Interest (income) expense, net (200 ) (0.2) (426 ) (0.4) Income before income taxes 19,631 15.3 15,029 13.1 Income tax expense 4,312 3.4 3,570 3.1 Net income $ 15,319 11.9 $ 11,459 10.0 Income per common share: Basic $ 1.17 $ 0.82 Diluted $ 1.17 $ 0.82 Shares used in computing common per share amounts: Basic 13,080,301 13,925,957 Diluted 13,144,243 14,006,400 (1) Selected statement of operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except cost of merchandise sold - retail, cost of merchandise sold - commercial and cost of merchandise sold - international franchising that are expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue and international franchising, respectively. Percentages will not total due to cost of merchandise sold being expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue or international franchising and immaterial rounding. BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (dollars in thousands, except per share data) May 3, February 1, May 4, 2025 2025 2024 ASSETS Current assets: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 44,342 $ 27,758 $ 38,233 Inventories, net 72,299 69,775 64,024 Receivables, net 13,800 16,096 9,547 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 12,156 12,669 12,046 Total current assets 142,597 126,298 123,850 Operating lease right-of-use asset 92,699 90,200 72,783 Property and equipment, net 59,260 59,761 53,897 Deferred tax assets 7,667 7,596 8,672 Other assets, net 6,080 6,101 6,074 Total Assets $ 308,303 $ 289,956 $ 265,276 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 15,890 $ 16,538 $ 14,793 Accrued expenses 24,273 16,209 19,552 Operating lease liability short term 26,507 26,841 24,276 Gift cards and customer deposits 14,851 15,791 16,620 Deferred revenue and other 3,830 4,015 3,432 Total current liabilities 85,351 79,394 78,673 Operating lease liability long term 72,957 70,155 56,906 Other long-term liabilities 1,313 1,325 1,356 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, par value $0.01 per share 132 133 139 Additional paid-in capital 61,602 61,987 64,065 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (11,295 ) (12,554 ) (12,153 ) Retained earnings 98,243 89,516 76,290 Total stockholders' equity 148,682 139,082 128,341 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 308,303 $ 289,956 $ 265,276 BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Unaudited Selected Financial and Store Data (dollars in thousands) 13 Weeks 13 Weeks Ended Ended May 3, May 4, 2025 2024 Other financial data: Retail gross margin ($) (1) $ 68,018 $ 58,453 Retail gross margin (%) (1) 56.9 % 54.2 % Capital expenditures (2) $ 2,907 $ 2,430 Depreciation and amortization $ 3,700 $ 3,658 Store data (3): Number of corporately-managed retail locations at end of period North America 328 317 Europe 41 40 Total corporately-managed retail locations 369 357 Number of franchised stores at end of period 87 77 Number of third-party retail locations at end of period 148 97 Corporately-managed store square footage at end of period (4) North America 733,675 729,336 Europe 57,015 55,535 Total square footage 790,690 784,871 (1) Retail gross margin represents net retail sales less cost of merchandise sold - retail. Retail gross margin percentage represents retail gross margin divided by net retail sales. Store impairment is excluded from retail gross margin. (2) Capital expenditures represents cash paid for property, equipment, and other assets. (3) Excludes e-commerce. North American stores are located in the United States and Canada. In Europe, stores are located in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Seasonal locations not included in store count. (4) Square footage for stores located in North America is leased square footage. Square footage for stores located in Europe is estimated selling square footage. Seasonal locations not included in the store count. * Non-GAAP Financial Measures BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP figures (dollars in thousands) 13 Weeks 13 Weeks Ended Ended May 3, May 4, 2025 2024 Income before income taxes (pre-tax) $ 19,631 $ 15,029 Interest (income) expense, net (200 ) (426 ) Depreciation and amortization expense 3,700 3,658 Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) $ 23,131 $ 18,261 View source version on Contacts Investor Relations Contact Gary Schnierow, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Financegarys@ Media Relations Contact pr@ Sign in to access your portfolio
