Build-A-Bear Workshop Signs Evergreen Concepts To Develop And License Products And Services Of Beloved Brand

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) October 22, 2003 ---Build-A-Bear Workshop , Where Best Friends Are Made announced that it has signed Evergreen Concepts as its exclusive licensing agency.

On behalf of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Evergreen will be developing and licensing a full array of consumer products based on the beloved brand of personalized teddy bears and other animals, including toys, books, social expressions, crafts, home furnishings and apparel.

In fall 2004, Hasbro Toys-home to such renowned brands as Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley, and such iconic toys as Easy Bake Oven, Mr. Potato Head, Play Doh and Tinker Toy-will introduce a new, complimentary line of uniquely stuffed animals in the mass marketplace.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, headquartered in St. Louis, MO, is a rapidly growing retail-tainment" concept where guests from 3 to 1003 create stuffed animals through an engaging process that involves choosing, stuffing, stitching, fluffing, dressing, naming and finally taking home their personalized friend (complete with birth certificate or personalized storybook.) Launched in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop will have over 150 stores by the end of the year, primarily based in shopping malls, with representation in 95% of the top metro markets.

Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark, has witnessed time and again the thrill and excitement children and families have in her stores, but realizes not everyone has access to a Build-A-Bear Workshop. We see the benefit children gain through building these furry friends and want to provide additional products and services that allow children to express their individuality and creativity in new and innovative ways, says Ms. Clark.

In addition, Ms. Clark, who was formerly President of Payless Stores has always been a big advocate of licensed driven products, because she saw the value it brought time and again to her business. The past few years, many licensees have approached Maxine about licensing Build-A-Bear Workshop, but it was not until now that she was ready to embark on this new stage of the business.

Evergreen Concepts is a newly established consumer products agency founded by former Disney licensing executives Melissa Segal and Jeffrey Fradin. Evergreen Concepts management team has extensive experience in developing, licensing and merchandising a broad array of consumer products. The agencys strategy is to represent a select group of premier brands and properties with long-term appeal. Says Segal,

We couldnt ask for a better brand to be associated with than Build-A-Bear Workshop and are ecstatic about the opportunity to help develop this brand for a beary long time."

In addition to licensing, Build-A-Bear Workshop is in development on several entertainment initiatives scheduled to debut in 2005 and beyond.

For more information on becoming a Build-A-Bear Workshop licensee or marketing partner, contact Evergreen Concepts at 323-655-4283 or admin@evergreenconcepts.com.

####
Press Information:
Andrea Blain
Andrea Blain Public Relations
9750 Crawford Avenue
Skokie, IL 60076
847-933-9884 telephone
847-673-5836 fax
ablain@aol.com

Note To Editors: Melissa Segal, Jeff Fradin and Maxine Clark are available for interviews.