| Kippreport.com

Global Leader in Interactive Retail Build-A-Bear Workshop® To launch in the Gulf region

April 8, 2009 12:00 by Aarti Nagraj

April 7, 09: Dubai, UAE: Build-A-Bear Workshop^®, an interactive entertainment retailer of customized stuffed animals, today announced plans to open its first location in the Gulf region. The company, founded in the U.S. in 1997, currently operates more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Al Jaidah Brothers, a Qatar-based conglomerate, has entered into an exclusive franchisee agreement with the company to market and operate Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the Gulf region. The first store will open in the United Arab Emirates in the second Quarter of 2009. Current plans include opening additional stores in other GCC countries including Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.

“We are thrilled to bring this unique and innovative retail-entertainment experience to the Gulf region,” said Zeyad Al-Jaidah, CEO and Managing Director of Build-A-Bear Workshop Gulf. “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 over 30 stuffed animals to make. They stuff their new friend, give it a heart filled with wishes – a Build-A-Bear Workshop trademark – and make a personalized birth certificate. Guests can further personalize their new friend by recording their own message to place inside their friend and choosing from a wide selection of unique fashions and accessories.”

“We are beary excited to open this new location and continue to spread teddy bear hugs in the Gulf region,” said Build-A-Bear Workshop Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark. “Our concept appeals to a broad range of age groups and demographics, including children, teens, parents and grandparents. We’ve created a unique retail experience by putting the heart back into retailing and putting our Guests at the center of every aspect of our business.”

About Build-A-Bear Workshop^®

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. The company currently operates more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop^® is the leader in interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball^® mascot in-stadium locations, Build-A-Dino^® stores and friends 2B made^® doll locations. In December 2007, Build-A-Bear Workshop^® extended its in-store interactive experience online with the launch of its virtual world at www.buildabearville.com. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $474 million in fiscal 2007. For more information, visit the company’s award-winning Web sites at www.buildabear.com and www.friends2Bmade.com.

About Al Jaidah Brothers

The seed for the Qatar based conglomerate was sown in 2004 by the five Al Jaidah brothers who recognized the prospect of creating and marketing franchises and retail opportunities that were lacking in the market. The Group’s focus is to create a single, strong entity that will benefit all the companies under their brand.In lockstep with this objective are the traditional values that have sustained and nourished the Jaidah brand. Since the 1880’s, the Jaidah family has epitomized a way of life and a culture of business that has contributed to the lives of many people. Ibrahim Yousef Jaidah, a merchant who owned vessels, founded the company in 1883 with his sons and imported commodities from India and Persia to market to Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. His sons maintained the business, and as the market evolved in the 1920’s and 1930’s, diversified into perfumes, electrical appliances and many other businesses. For more information, visit company’s website at www.aljaidah-brothers.com

TRADEMARKS

We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business. As you write your story, we would ask that you use our full Name: Build-A-Bear Workshop^® and that when referencing the process of making stuffed animals you use the word “make” not “build”.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop^® should only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and services and should not be used as a verb.