PGAV Destinations Creates New Online Experience with Build-A-Bear
PGAV Destinations, a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations, is pleased to announce the launch of Build-A-Bear’s Bear Builder 3D WorkshopTM, a first of its kind online shopping experience. PGAV Destinations’ role was to imagine and innovate an online retail experience for the guest that retained the in-store excitement and emotion that is a key part of the iconic brand.
PGAV Destinations’ is known for world-renowned destinations – places that people put on their bucket lists – theme parks, museums, zoos, aquariums, historic, and natural attractions. Transitioning this same creative thinking from a physical place into the digital space utilized similar exercises regarding what guests want to do when they visit. Above all, the desire is to exceed their expectations while making memories that would last.
Said Mike Early, SVP and Chief Information Officer at Build-A-Bear, “We connected with PGAV because of their reputation for creating great stories and experiences in the physical world for other best in class brands. We were confident they could help us translate the feeling and emotion of our stores into the digital world. They brought a fresh perspective and helped bring the fun of building and customizing a furry friend to life as a unique online experience.”
“At the heart of the Build-A-Bear experience is the connection to a new friend,” said Carol Breeze, PGAV Experience Designer. “Always keeping this in mind, we worked closely with the Build-A-Bear team to create and amplify the emotional connections in the digital space with the understanding that they would be fundamentally different.”
PGAV and Build-A-Bear teams discussed how to best capture the heart of the in-person, create-your-own furry friend experience, into a digital space that would deliver a new way to engage with the brand. Foremost it was believed that the digital experience would be fun, inspired by the workshop but not limited by a physical space, and would enhance the emotional connection to the brand.
“Adding a heart to a new furry friend is a big moment both in-store and at-home. We focused on making this a key emotional moment―there is a change in the music, the environment, and in the way the new friend moves and looks back at us. It is fun, exciting, and a new experience that feels rooted in the Build-A-Bear brand story,” concluded Breeze.
Build-A-Bear continues its mission to “add a little more heart to life,” and provide multiple ways to safely shop at any time throughout the year whether in-store or online. The Bear Builder 3D Workshop is available exclusively at buildabear.com.
About PGAV Destinations
PGAV Destinations is a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations. Now entering its sixth decade, the practice has evolved to become the ideal destination-consulting partner, skilled at developing growth-oriented master plans and translating those plans into successful projects. No other firm offers such an integrated approach to destination planning.
PGAV Destinations’ key clients include industry leaders such as Delaware North Companies, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, the Biltmore Companies, Bass Pro Shops, Ameristar Casinos, Universal Studios, The Gettysburg Foundation, the Saint Louis Zoo, and many others. Recent assignments include planning and design at many of the world’s “must see” destinations, including the Grand Canyon, Biltmore Estate, Space Shuttle Atlantis, The Alamo, National Air & Space Museum, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the Georgia Aquarium, the Hoover Dam, and SeaWorld Adventure Parks. www.PGAVDestinations.com
About Build-A-Bear®:
Build-A-Bear is a multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to “add a little more heart to life” appealing to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own “furry friends” to celebrate and commemorate life moments. Nearly 500 interactive brick-and-mortar retail locations operated through a variety of formats provide guests of all ages a hands-on entertaining experience, which often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection. The company also offers an engaging e-commerce/digital purchasing experiences on www.buildabear.com including its online “Bear-Builder” as well as the new “Bear Builder 3D Workshop”. In addition, extending its brand power beyond retail, Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is dedicated to creating engaging content for kids and adults that fulfills the company’s mission, while the company also offers products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories via licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $255.3 million in fiscal 2020.
