Latest news with #Build-A-Bear
Observer
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
Qatar's Toy Festival welcomes families for a summer of fun
DOHA: Families in Qatar are in for a magical summer as the third edition of the Qatar Toy Festival (QTF), the nation's biggest toy-themed extravaganza, swings open its doors at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). Running until August 4, this year's festival promises an even bigger, bolder, and more immersive experience, transforming the capital into a wonderland for children and parents alike. Spanning over 17,000 square meters and divided into five creative zones, the festival is designed to dazzle. From giant inflatables in Hyper Land to whimsical island adventures in Fancy Island and high-energy challenges in Champions Land, each space offers a unique world to explore. The festival also introduces a first-of-its-kind QTF Summer Camp for kids aged 4 to 12, blending learning with play through art, science, and sports activities. Jassim Al Mahmoud, Director of Communications at Visit Qatar 'This year, we focused on creating new immersive and educational experiences to expand family entertainment in Qatar,' said Jassim Al Mahmoud, Director of Communications at Visit Qatar. 'We wanted to ensure that every family, no matter their interests or age, finds something memorable and engaging at the festival.' Highlighting the festival's growing impact, Jassim Al Mahmoud added: 'The Qatar Toy Festival has become a cornerstone of our summer calendar. Each edition builds on the last, introducing innovative attractions and partnerships that set a new benchmark for family entertainment in the region.' Toy Festival in Qatar (6) The lineup is as star-studded as it is action-packed. Popular content creator AboFlah makes his festival debut alongside the ALJ Sisters, while celebrated Egyptian educator Al Daheeh joins in the final week for a motivational talk and his animated premiere. Other crowd-pullers include live performances, dance shows, science experiments, and even an Ultimate Horror House inspired by Five Nights at Freddy's. Adding to the excitement, the festival features a real-life PUBG Mobile battleground, where visitors can compete to win a Jetour car, and a Sherlock Holmes escape room for puzzle lovers. Meanwhile, families can shop at themed retail outlets such as Build-A-Bear and Mumuso, enjoy culinary delights at a vibrant F&B court, and look forward to special back-to-school promotions. Last year's edition drew over 100,000 visitors - a 33 per cent increase from its debut - and this year's attendance is expected to surpass that milestone. 'We are seeing a strong appetite for large-scale family experiences that combine entertainment with learning,' Jassim Al Mahmoud emphasized. 'By offering diverse activities like science workshops, art sessions, and physical challenges, we not only entertain but also inspire children's curiosity and creativity.' 'Our mission is to reinforce Qatar's position as a leading family-friendly tourism destination, especially during the summer months,' he continued. 'Through world-class programming, global entertainment brands, and immersive environments, we are attracting both local and international visitors, contributing significantly to tourism growth.' With Ooredoo as the official telecom partner, QTF has solidified its place as a flagship event on Qatar's summer calendar. Tickets range from QAR 50 for general entry to QAR 1,500 for the exclusive VVIP experience. As summer winds down, a special 'Back to School' week will help families gear up for the academic year with themed entertainment and giveaways. Beyond the festival, visitors can explore other seasonal attractions such as Scoop by the Sea at West Bay North Beach, the new Meryal Waterpark, Doha Quest, and luxury beach resorts, all part of Visit Qatar's mission to create a dynamic year-round tourism calendar. 'The festival is more than just fun - it's about creating lasting memories for families and positioning Qatar as the region's ultimate summer destination,' Jassim Al Mahmoud concluded. 'We look forward to welcoming everyone and sharing this unique celebration of imagination, learning, and joy.'
Web Release
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Make a Splash This Summer at Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, Where Kids' Hour is the New Happy Hour
Summer is well under way, meaning it's time to swap routines for endless beachfront fun with an unforgettable staycation at Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai. Presenting the perfect opportunity to share laughs and create precious memories, the 'Kids' Hour is the New Happy Hour' offer allows you to enjoy up to 25% off your stay, daily breakfast for two adults and two kids, and complimentary stays for little ones under six. What's more, families who upgrade to the new Build-A-Bear themed suites will unlock lounge access and additional surprises. Beautifully situated along the golden sands of the Dubai Islands waterfront, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai is a themed destination inspired by vibrant Thai and Arabian adventures. Home to a wide variety of exciting activities, designed for the young and young at heart, guests can explore the resort's spectacular water park, featuring lagoon pools, a lazy river, cliff jumping points, a kids' splash play area, and thrilling waterslides. Little ones can also take a break from the sun with engaging activities like crafting and scavenger hunts at Camp Safari, the fully supervised kids' club. Alternatively, head to the E-Zone featuring arcade games, air hockey, a PlayStation, and movie corner to keep kids well entertained or check out the Virtual Sports Zone for some friendly competition with football, golf, basketball, and more. Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai caters to the whole family, ensuring there is something for everyone. Adults can relish some well-earned 'me time' with a trip to the award-winning Spa Cenvaree while kids play to their hearts' content or enjoy their own playful pampering session at the Candy Spa, a dedicated spa just for little ones. Finally, after a day of exploring together, relax and unwind at one of the many dining venues offering a delectable selection of international culinary delights. Families seeking to add an extra dash of excitement to the experience can opt for a stay in one of five Build-A-Bear themed suites, allowing children to bring home their very own cuddly friend. These playful suites also include access to the Mirage Family Lounge, serving all day snacks and featuring a fun-packed indoor playground complete with a kid-friendly wall climb, slides, and interactive games. The irresistible 'Kids' Hour is the New Happy Hour' offer invites families to soak up the sunshine at this fun-filled beachfront resort, complete with a variety of family-friendly experiences designed for the summer break. With daily breakfast for two adults and two kids under six included, plus complimentary stays for children under six, it's the ideal chance to make the most of the school holidays and create cherished memories. Your Summer starts here. Get ready for sun-soaked days and splash-filled fun at Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, where adventure, relaxation, and togetherness come together for the ultimate family escape. When: Available on all bookings for stays between now and December 20th, 2025 Offer: 25% off room rates when you book your stay at least 30 days in advance, inclusive of breakfast, for 2 adults and 2 kids up to 6 years old; Choose to stay in the Build-A-Bear Suite Edition to unlock Mirage Family Lounge access with all-day snacks and an indoor playground *For booking and more information, click here Terms & Conditions: Offer applicable to new bookings only. Room rate is subject to room availability.? Breakfast is included free of charge.? Offer cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions.? All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card that is valid throughout the entire stay.? The full deposit is required 30 days prior to arrival. Free cancellation up to 30 days before arrival. For more information or further assistance with your booking, you may contact the reservation centre by email:[email protected] *For more information and reservations, please call +971 4 522 9999 or visit IG: @centaramiragedubai | @spacenvaree
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Build-A-Bear Celebrates International Day of Play by Playing It Forward
Donates One Teddy Bear for Each Make-Your-Own Plush Animal Sold to Children in Need ST. LOUIS, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Build-A-Bear, the iconic experiential retail brand, announces its "Play It Forward" initiative, a national giveback effort taking place today in recognition of the International Day of Play. For every make-your-own plush sold, one furry friend will be donated to a child in need, up to 10,000 bears. Donations made through the Build-A-Bear Foundation will focus on kids and classrooms in Title I schools, helping spread the joy of play on this meaningful day. International Day of Play, backed by The Toy Association and other global organizations including Build-A-Bear, is recognized around the world as a day that champions every child's right to play, which supports overall learning, life skills, and psychosocial well-being. This annual, unifying moment includes events at the global, national and local levels. "Play It Forward" is part of Build-A-Bear's broader mission to add a little more heart to life including sharing comfort, connection and play with children, especially those who need it most. "As a brand rooted in play and a proud member of The Toy Association, we believe in both the purpose and the power of this day," said Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop and Chair of the Toy Association Board of Directors. "'Play It Forward' is our way of turning awareness into action, giving guests a simple, yet fun way to make a heartfelt impact on the life of a child." In addition to the "Play It Forward" initiative, Build-A-Bear Foundation is also partnering with First Book, a nonprofit that provides books and educational resources to children in need, committing more than $80,000 in funding to help educators access books focused on health and wellness, paired with playful activity ideas. As part of this effort, teachers who use the funding will also be randomly selected to receive a surprise plush animal "reading buddies" for their classrooms, reinforcing the connection between play and learning. This opportunity is available first-come, first-served while funding lasts or until July 31, 2025. Local Build-A-Bear Workshops will also feature special offers, Bearemy costumed character appearances, Build-A-Bear Mini Beans Toss games, and free activity sheets to inspire more ways to play. For more information or to participate, visit About Build-A-Bear Since its beginning in 1997, Build-A-Bear has evolved to become a beloved multi-generational brand focused on its mission to "add a little more heart to life," where guests of all ages make their own "furry friends" in celebration and commemoration of life moments. Guests create their own stuffed animals by participating in the stuffing, dressing, accessorizing, and naming of their own teddy bears and other plush toys based on the Company's own intellectual property and in conjunction with a variety of best-in-class licenses. The hands-on and interactive nature of our more than 600 company-owned, partner-operated and franchise experience locations around the world, combined with Build-A-Bear's pop-culture appeal, often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection with consumers and has enabled the Company to expand beyond its retail stores to include e-commerce sales on and non-plush branded consumer categories via out-bound licensing agreements with leading manufacturers, as well as the creation of engaging content via Build-A-Bear Entertainment (a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.). The brand's newest communications campaign, "The Stuff You Love," commemorates more than a quarter-century of creating cherished memories worldwide. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted consolidated total revenues of $496.0 million for fiscal 2024. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of About Build-A-Bear Foundation Build-A-Bear Foundation adds a little more heart to life by sharing hugs, inspiring creativity, and supporting children and families in need. A 501(c)3 organization, Build-A-Bear Foundation's core focus is to support children's literacy programs as a path to social and educational equity. Build-A-Bear Foundation also provides financial and furry friend donations to organizations that support children's health and wellness, disaster relief, and families in need of essential supplies. Since 1997, Build-A-Bear has donated more than $25 million and 2 million furry friends to charitable causes around the world. For more information, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Build-A-Bear Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (BBW) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue and ...
Revenue: Increased 11.9% to over $128 million. Pretax Income: Grew 30.6% to nearly $20 million. Earnings Per Share (EPS): Increased 42.7% to $1.17. Gross Margin: Improved to 56.8%, a 260 basis point increase. Store Locations: Ended the quarter with over 600 locations, with 15 net new experience locations opened in Q1. International Presence: Expanded into 30 countries. Net Retail Sales: Increased 10.9% to $119.6 million. Commercial Revenue: Rose 28.3%, including international franchise revenue. SG&A Expenses: $53.7 million, representing 41.7% of total revenues. Cash Balance: $44.3 million, a 16% increase year-over-year. Inventory: $72.3 million, an increase of $8.3 million. Capital Returned to Shareholders: Over $7 million in Q1. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with BBW. Release Date: May 29, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (NYSE:BBW) reported the best first-quarter results in its history, with double-digit topline growth driving record revenue and margin expansion. The company achieved impressive earnings per share growth of nearly 43%, reflecting strong performance across all segments. Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (NYSE:BBW) expanded its international presence to 30 countries, opening 15 net new experience locations in the first quarter. The Mini Beans Collectibles Plush line continued its success, expanding 30% year over year and contributing significantly to sales. The company returned over $7 million in capital to shareholders, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder value. Higher store-level wage rates, healthcare costs, and general inflationary pressures contributed to a 20 basis point increase in SG&A expenses. The company faces potential impacts from tariffs, with an expected cost impact of less than $10 million on the fiscal 2025 P&L. Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (NYSE:BBW) is updating its pretax income guidance due to current tariff rates and additional medical and labor costs. The company is still working through mitigations related to tariffs and associated costs, which could affect future profitability. Despite strong performance, the company acknowledges the challenges of operating in a volatile economic environment with geopolitical headwinds. Q: How does Build-A-Bear plan to capitalize on movie-related events, such as the recent success with Stitch, given the changing landscape of film releases? A: Sharon John, CEO, explained that Build-A-Bear maintains strong relationships with major film creators like Disney. While the company is not as reliant on film releases as before, they are prepared to leverage such events as additional opportunities rather than core business drivers. The focus is on creating cultural moments and not solely depending on film releases for business success. Q: How will the new inventory management system improve Build-A-Bear's ability to respond to trends, such as those on TikTok? A: Sharon John, CEO, stated that the new system will enhance real-time inventory visibility and decision-making, allowing for better management of popular trends. This system will enable more fluid movement of inventory between e-commerce and stores, improving responsiveness to demand spikes driven by social media trends. Q: Can you provide insights into the performance of company-operated stores versus expectations? A: Voin Todorovic, CFO, reported that company-operated stores performed exceptionally well, with all four performance leverstraffic, conversion, average unit retail, and units per transactionshowing positive growth. Traffic increased by 3%, significantly outperforming the national average, and the stores benefited from effective product and service strategies. Q: What is the strategy behind the expansion of partner-operated stores, and who are these partners? A: Sharon John, CEO, and James Hurt, COO, explained that partners are well-established firms in their respective markets, such as Giochi Preziosi in Italy. The company is selective in choosing partners who can deliver the Build-A-Bear experience. They are in negotiations for further expansion, maintaining high standards for partnership quality. Q: How is Build-A-Bear expanding the Mini Beans line, and where are they being introduced outside of workshops? A: Sharon John, CEO, and James Hurt, COO, noted that Mini Beans are being introduced in various retail locations, including Hudson airport stores and Apple Green travel retail stores. Internationally, they are available through partners in Italy and the Nordics, reflecting a strategic expansion beyond traditional workshops. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Musician and Entrepreneur Kelly Kidd is Revolutionizing the Immersive Family Entertainment Space
Musician and Entrepreneur Kelly Kidd is Revolutionizing the Immersive Family Entertainment Space originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Six years ago, when my daughter Ayla turned 10 years-old, we held a birthday party for her at Kidd's Jewelry Heist in South Pasadena. Back then, the immersive jewelry-making experience was housed in the rear of beloved children's toy store Dinosaur Farm on Mission Street. It was a dimly-lit space, moody and romantic, and exploding with a bounty of glimmering gems, bright-colored beads and golden baubles. My daughter and her friends spend two hours stringing together bracelets and necklaces adorned with unicorn and heart charms, decorating each keepsake with unfettered girlish glee. (Even the boys had fun; my son made himself a silver-chain necklace with a dangling skull charm). At the end of the birthday party, after a round of singing 'Happy Birthday' and eating slices of pink, buttercream-frosted cake, Aylas's friends presented to her a necklace they had custom-made for her, each charm representing one of Ayla's qualities they cherished: friendship, loyalty, her sense of humor. It was one of the most beautiful birthday parties I can ever remember attending. Not just because it was my kid–but because it was at Kidd's Jewelry Heist. Kidd's Jewelry Heist is the brainchild of Texas-born musician-cum-entrepreneur, Kelly Kidd. Kidd–a vocalist who, years ago, inked a deal with record producer Glen Ballard and will be touring with Katy Perry this summer as the face of her VIP concert experience–got his start in the business sector at 19 years old working as a district trainer at Discovery Zone, a popular but since-shuttered American chain of 'fun center." Think: ball pits, climbing walls, trampolines. Kidd's experience at Discovery Zone informed what he calls, 'the bigger picture.' 'No one had revolutionized the family entertainment business outside of theme parks in over 40 years,' he says. 'We've got Chuck E. Cheese, Build-A-Bear, American Girl, David & Buster's. Why can't we have immersive experiences for kids and adults outside of theme parks?' In 2012, Kidd's Jewelry Heist was born. In 2023, Kidd expanded, relocating to a new, bigger and brighter space on Huntington Drive in San Marino. Stepping inside the updated digs is like wandering into a real-life simulation of the pirate ship scene in "The Goonies". Comprising several rooms, each one centered on a different theme, Kidd's Jewelry Heist is an eclectic fusion of antique relics and fantastical artifacts, with lush, velvet-upholstered sofas, gold-trimmed ottomans, ornate lamps and gilded lighting fixtures recalling Louis XIV and the Palace of Versaille. A long wooden dining table is lined with glass trays and porcelain tea cups filled with beads and trinkets of every imaginable color. The day I visit, several birthday parties are booked (Kidd's Jewelry Heist is available via reservation only). Soon, the place will be crawling with kids–and parents–stacking beads for bracelets and dashing from room to room on a themed scavenger hunt searching for treasure and trinkets hidden amongst the furniture and decor. There's a stage, a grand piano, a library. It is a fairytale sprung to life. 'I tried to imagine what it would be like to have a little hideout in San Marino,' says Kidd of the space's design elements. 'We have a mural of Hercules on the ceiling. We've hand-selected all the beads. They're in tea cups and saucers on the grand dining room table. We have mummies in our library. We have a Medusa head. I got most of this stuff from San Marino and Pasadena estate sales. I definitely benefited from the idea that everyone is doing mid-century and modern right now in the community. They just wanted to get rid of stuff. I got these cool trunks and tables. I have a $20,000 hand-carved oak buffet to put your cake on that I paid $500 for. I was able to find these monstrously cool pieces. The feel is very Night at the Museum.' Kidd's current mission is to expand his business even further. In particular, he is eyeing potential locations on the westside of Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley. Kidd's Jewelry Heist is also available to come to you–they've created custom parties and events poolside at hotels and at people's private homes. 'We have such a unique space and concept,' says Kidd. 'Moms, kids, grandparents–they all go absolutely crazy for it.' This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
