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Charity Event Stuffed with Hugs marks the opening of Build-A-Bear Workshop Dubai Marina Mall store

December 6, 2009 12:00 by Aarti Nagraj

            Charity Event Stuffed with Hugs marks the opening of

Build-A-Bear Workshop Dubai Marina Mall store

 

Dubai, UAE: Grand opening celebrations and “Stuffed with Hugs”, a charity event, marks the opening of the 2^nd Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the region at Dubai Marina Mall. The store was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Ms. Eman Harib, Director at Ministry of Social Affairs, UAE and Mr. Zeyad Al Jaidah, CEO& Managing Director, Build-A-Bear Workshop Gulf States in the presence of Emirates International School kids, Dubai Marina Mall Management and other Guests. Stuffed with Hugs was the theme that celebrated the joy of giving. The students of Emirates International School made teddy bears for a beary worthy cause of supporting the children from Dubai Centre for Special Needs.  Stuffed with Hugs is a global charity initiative of Build-A-Bear Workshop^® and is now in its eighth year of helping kids around the world by providing teddy bears to children in need of a hug. Since Stuffed with Hugs began in 2001, more than 325,000 donations have been made and donated to communities in need of a teddy bear hug around the world. Build-A-bear Workshop, a leader in interactive retail, has always believed in giving back to the community and the Dubai Marina Mall store opening adds to the special Build-A-Bear Workshop experience by reinforcing the commitment.

 

Beary excited at the launch, General Manager, Mr. Anders Carlsson, commented, “Our organisation has always believed in making a difference by supporting children and those in need. After much deliberation we partnered with Dubai Center for Special Needs in Dubai. We will also be partnering with other charitable institutions when we open stores in other GCC countries such as Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait in 2010. In addition to special events that we arrange to support our charity partners, we also provide ongoing support to our chosen Charity through the sale of our Champ Bear, A Champion Fur Kids. Champ Bear stands for good causes and when our Guests purchase this bear, part of the proceeds from the sale, are donated to the Charity.

 

 

 

Speaking about the Dubai Festival City Store, Anders Carlsson, General Manager, Build-A-Bear Workshop Gulf States added “Our first store at Dubai Festival City opened strongly in September and it continues to meet our expectations. In accordance with our corporate strategy, we are pleased to open our

second store in the Gulf region at Dubai Marina Mall. We aim to bring the Build-A-Bear Workshop experience to more of our Guests as we continue to establish ourselves as a favourite family destination across the GCC.

“The 2^nd Store located at Ground floor, Marina Mall, with a now familiar and friendly teddy bear themed environment and bright colours, invites all our existing Guests and of course new guests to experience the fun and interaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop”, added Mr. Carlsson.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is based on the premise that nearly everyone, regardless of age, has a special fondness for stuffed animals. When Guests visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop store, they enter a light-hearted teddy-bear-themed environment consisting of eight bear-making stations. Guests choose from a wide variety of furry friends to make. They stuff their new friend, give it a heart filled with wishes – a Build-A-Bear Workshop trademark – and make a personalised birth certificate.  Guests can further personalise their new friend by recording their own message to place inside their furry friend and by choosing from a wide selection of unique fashions and accessories.