Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Specialty Retail / Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

bbw · NYSE Consumer Cyclical
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Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Specialty Retail
Employees 1000
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FY2012 Annual Report · Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
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Build‑A‑BeAr Workshop, inc. 
 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive 
St. Louis, MO 63114 
buildabear.com® 
bearville.com™

10 years of
huggable heroes®!

More than 100 kids have been named Huggable Heroes by Build-A-Bear Workshop! Many 

started their own nonprofit organizations and inspired others to join their causes. Collectively,  

the Huggable Heroes have raised more than $9.4 million, have collected over 316 million items  

to donate and recruited thousands of volunteers to help with their efforts. Our program has 

recognized future leaders, and we hope inspired other young people to make a positive difference 

in their communities and around the world. In 2013, the Huggable Heroes program is celebrating 

its tenth year of honoring youth who do their part with heart. They continue to make our  

world a better place through their generosity and kindness. 

Where  
are they  

now?

Jourdan Urbach, 2010

Jourdan is founder of Children Helping Children (CHC), an organization that
raises funds for cutting-edge research and the eradication of neurological 
diseases through benefits called, Concerts for a Cure. CHC continues
to fund the largest music therapy program in America. In 2012, the Yale 
graduate was named a recipient of the National Jefferson Award. Today,
he serves as National Director for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.

Talia Leman, 2007

Talia is the co-founder of RandomKid, a nonprofit
organization that works to support youth around the world to 
encourage their creativity and giving power for other great
causes. She was named a recipient of the 2011 National 
Jefferson Award. In 2012, Talia wrote her first book,
titled “A Random Book About the Power of ANYone.”

Building
Our
future

2012 A N N UA L REP O RT

Love is the  
stuff inside®

It is only fitting that a heart has become a symbol for our business. We offered 

hearts for our animals the day we opened our first store. But it was one dedicated 

associate who elevated the process and interaction that has helped make our 

concept truly unique. During the “heart ceremony,” Guests warm a heart in their 

hands, kiss both sides, then tuck it inside the stuffed animal with a special wish. 

Today, this ceremony remains one of our Guests’ favorite steps in our bear-making 

process. Our Guests and associates continue to contribute innovative ideas and feed 

the heart and passion that it takes to build a promising future for our company.

RRD6285.indd  6-2

3/18/13  1:28 PM

Hear  
Me

Name  

Me

Love  
Me

Choose  

Me

Stuff 
Me

Fluff  

Me

Dress  

Me

Take me 
home

The heart of our business
remains the same

Build-A-Bear Workshop is synonymous with fun, creativity and self-expression, and we are  

the leader in experiential retail. In 2012, we opened six newly imagined stores that feature  

a bold new design. The heightened experience in these stores merges our hands-on  

bear-making experience with modern technology — central to how today’s generation of kids 

play. We have seen strong Guest response, and sales have exceeded expectations in these 

stores. In 2013, we plan to open approximately 25 additional locations in this new format. 

iT TAkEs A ViLLAgE  Building on our tradition of 
listening to our Guests, we enlisted some very special
friends to help with our new store design — our  
Cub Advisors. This group of children and their parents
worked closely with our team, testing the new stations 
and providing suggestions to help perfect the working
model of the design and experience. 

CONNECTiNg wiTh OUR gUEsTs  We’ve brought  
the same qualities that parents value and kids love about a
Build-A-Bear Workshop store into the digital space to create 
a completely modern way to play. With over 2.4 million
fans on Facebook, nearly 40,000 followers on Twitter,  
over 1.2 million downloads of the Build-A-Bear® mobile
app and over 30,000 cards sent on Red Stamp, Build-A-Bear 
Workshop has a very strong social media presence.

1+1 = 10  Our partnerships demonstrate our belief  
that 1+1 = 10. That means that it has to be a win for
us, a win for our partners and the biggest WOW for  
our Guests. In 2012, we celebrated our fourth promotion
of McDonald’s HAPPY MEAL® toys. We also partnered 
with some of the most popular brands in fashion and
entertainment like Hello Kitty ®,  Twinkle Toes® and  
Hot Lights® by SKECHERS®,  The Avengers by Marvel
and pop singer, Cody Simpson, all relevant to our  
target tween-aged Guests.

A Hug is understood  

in any Language

At the end of fiscal 2012, we had 76 international company-owned stores and
our franchisees operated 91 stores in 14 additional countries. We expect to 
continue to grow globally, primarily through existing and new franchisees. In
December 2012, we surpassed our 5 millionth furry friend sold through an 
international franchise location.

internAtionAl FrAnchise locAtions  (As of December 29, 2012) 

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Bahrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Denmark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Germany  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Kuwait  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Singapore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
South Africa  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Sweden  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
United Arab Emirates . . . . . . . . .  4

internAtionAl compAny oWned locAtions (As of December 29, 2012)

Canada  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2

United Kingdom. . . . . . . . . . . . .  58

1 7  
i n t e r n at i o n a l   
c o u n t r i e s

171 
international  
stores

shAreholder inFormAtion

Build‑A‑Bear Workshop  
World Bearquarters 
1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive
St. Louis, MO  63114-5760
888.560.2327
314.423.8000
Fax: 314.423.8188
Web: buildabear.com®

transfer Agent and registrar
Shareholder correspondence should be mailed to:
Computershare
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3006

Overnight correspondence should be mailed to:
Computershare
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA  02021

Shareholder website: www.computershare.com/investor
Shareholder online inquiries:  
https://www-us.computershare.com/investor/Contact

Auditors
Ernst & Young, LLP
St. Louis, MO

counsel
Bryan Cave LLP
St. Louis, MO

Form 10‑k
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Form 10-K may be requested 
by a letter to the Investor Relations department at the 
World Bearquarters, by a phone call to the Investor 
Relations department at 314.423.8000, or by an e-mail 
to invest@buildabear.com. 

Comprehensive financial information for 
Build-A-Bear Workshop is also available at the company’s 
investor relations website: http://ir.buildabear.com.

Annual meeting
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at  
10:00 a.m. St. Louis time (CDT) on Thursday, May 9, 2013, 
at the company’s World Bearquarters, 1954 Innerbelt 
Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114. A formal 
notice of the meeting and a proxy statement will be sent 
to each shareholder as of March 26, 2013.

Build-A-Bear Workshop common stock is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  
Our symbol is BBW.

As of March 26, 2013, there were approximately  
10,500 shareholders. That number is based on the actual 
number of holders of record and an estimated number  
of beneficial holders of the company’s common stock.

certifications
The most recent certifications by our Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as exhibits to our 
Form 10-K. We have also filed with the New York Stock 
Exchange the most recent Annual CEO Certification, as 
required by the New York Stock Exchange.

RRD6285.indd  3-5

Released 03/15/13

Released 03/15/13

Released 03/15/13

3/18/13  1:28 PM

Hear  
Me

Name  

Me

Love  
Me

Choose  

Me

Stuff 
Me

Fluff  

Me

Dress  

Me

Take me 
home

The heart of our business
remains the same

Build-A-Bear Workshop is synonymous with fun, creativity and self-expression, and we are  

the leader in experiential retail. In 2012, we opened six newly imagined stores that feature  

a bold new design. The heightened experience in these stores merges our hands-on  

bear-making experience with modern technology — central to how today’s generation of kids 

play. We have seen strong Guest response, and sales have exceeded expectations in these 

stores. In 2013, we plan to open approximately 25 additional locations in this new format. 

iT TAkEs A ViLLAgE  Building on our tradition of 
listening to our Guests, we enlisted some very special
friends to help with our new store design — our  
Cub Advisors. This group of children and their parents
worked closely with our team, testing the new stations 
and providing suggestions to help perfect the working
model of the design and experience. 

CONNECTiNg wiTh OUR gUEsTs  We’ve brought  
the same qualities that parents value and kids love about a
Build-A-Bear Workshop store into the digital space to create 
a completely modern way to play. With over 2.4 million
fans on Facebook, nearly 40,000 followers on Twitter,  
over 1.2 million downloads of the Build-A-Bear® mobile
app and over 30,000 cards sent on Red Stamp, Build-A-Bear 
Workshop has a very strong social media presence.

1+1 = 10  Our partnerships demonstrate our belief  
that 1+1 = 10. That means that it has to be a win for
us, a win for our partners and the biggest WOW for  
our Guests. In 2012, we celebrated our fourth promotion
of McDonald’s HAPPY MEAL® toys. We also partnered 
with some of the most popular brands in fashion and
entertainment like Hello Kitty ®,  Twinkle Toes® and  
Hot Lights® by SKECHERS®,  The Avengers by Marvel
and pop singer, Cody Simpson, all relevant to our  
target tween-aged Guests.

A Hug is understood  

in any Language

At the end of fiscal 2012, we had 76 international company-owned stores and
our franchisees operated 91 stores in 14 additional countries. We expect to 
continue to grow globally, primarily through existing and new franchisees. In
December 2012, we surpassed our 5 millionth furry friend sold through an 
international franchise location.

internAtionAl FrAnchise locAtions  (As of December 29, 2012) 

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Bahrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Denmark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Germany  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Kuwait  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Singapore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
South Africa  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Sweden  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
United Arab Emirates . . . . . . . . .  4

internAtionAl compAny oWned locAtions (As of December 29, 2012)

Canada  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2

United Kingdom. . . . . . . . . . . . .  58

1 7  
i n t e r n at i o n a l   
c o u n t r i e s

171 
international  
stores

shAreholder inFormAtion

Build‑A‑Bear Workshop  
World Bearquarters 
1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive
St. Louis, MO  63114-5760
888.560.2327
314.423.8000
Fax: 314.423.8188
Web: buildabear.com®

transfer Agent and registrar
Shareholder correspondence should be mailed to:
Computershare
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3006

Overnight correspondence should be mailed to:
Computershare
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA  02021

Shareholder website: www.computershare.com/investor
Shareholder online inquiries:  
https://www-us.computershare.com/investor/Contact

Auditors
Ernst & Young, LLP
St. Louis, MO

counsel
Bryan Cave LLP
St. Louis, MO

Form 10‑k
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Form 10-K may be requested 
by a letter to the Investor Relations department at the 
World Bearquarters, by a phone call to the Investor 
Relations department at 314.423.8000, or by an e-mail 
to invest@buildabear.com. 

Comprehensive financial information for 
Build-A-Bear Workshop is also available at the company’s 
investor relations website: http://ir.buildabear.com.

Annual meeting
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at  
10:00 a.m. St. Louis time (CDT) on Thursday, May 9, 2013, 
at the company’s World Bearquarters, 1954 Innerbelt 
Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114. A formal 
notice of the meeting and a proxy statement will be sent 
to each shareholder as of March 26, 2013.

Build-A-Bear Workshop common stock is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  
Our symbol is BBW.

As of March 26, 2013, there were approximately  
10,500 shareholders. That number is based on the actual 
number of holders of record and an estimated number  
of beneficial holders of the company’s common stock.

certifications
The most recent certifications by our Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as exhibits to our 
Form 10-K. We have also filed with the New York Stock 
Exchange the most recent Annual CEO Certification, as 
required by the New York Stock Exchange.

RRD6285.indd  3-5

Released 03/15/13

Released 03/15/13

Released 03/15/13

3/18/13  1:28 PM

Build‑A‑BeAr Workshop, inc. 
 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive 
St. Louis, MO 63114 
buildabear.com® 
bearville.com™

10 years of
huggable heroes®!

More than 100 kids have been named Huggable Heroes by Build-A-Bear Workshop! Many 

started their own nonprofit organizations and inspired others to join their causes. Collectively,  

the Huggable Heroes have raised more than $9.4 million, have collected over 316 million items  

to donate and recruited thousands of volunteers to help with their efforts. Our program has 

recognized future leaders, and we hope inspired other young people to make a positive difference 

in their communities and around the world. In 2013, the Huggable Heroes program is celebrating 

its tenth year of honoring youth who do their part with heart. They continue to make our  

world a better place through their generosity and kindness. 

Where  
are they  

now?

Jourdan Urbach, 2010

Jourdan is founder of Children Helping Children (CHC), an organization that
raises funds for cutting-edge research and the eradication of neurological 
diseases through benefits called, Concerts for a Cure. CHC continues
to fund the largest music therapy program in America. In 2012, the Yale 
graduate was named a recipient of the National Jefferson Award. Today,
he serves as National Director for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.

Talia Leman, 2007

Talia is the co-founder of RandomKid, a nonprofit
organization that works to support youth around the world to 
encourage their creativity and giving power for other great
causes. She was named a recipient of the 2011 National 
Jefferson Award. In 2012, Talia wrote her first book,
titled “A Random Book About the Power of ANYone.”

Building
Our
future

2012 A N N UA L REP O RT

Love is the  
stuff inside®

It is only fitting that a heart has become a symbol for our business. We offered 

hearts for our animals the day we opened our first store. But it was one dedicated 

associate who elevated the process and interaction that has helped make our 

concept truly unique. During the “heart ceremony,” Guests warm a heart in their 

hands, kiss both sides, then tuck it inside the stuffed animal with a special wish. 

Today, this ceremony remains one of our Guests’ favorite steps in our bear-making 

process. Our Guests and associates continue to contribute innovative ideas and feed 

the heart and passion that it takes to build a promising future for our company.

RRD6285.indd  6-2

3/18/13  1:28 PM

Letter to shareholders

Dear Shareholders,

 In our 2012 fiscal year, we made significant progress on 

the strategic priorities which were developed by our senior 

management team and are supported by our Board of Directors.

Although our final financial results fell short of our expectations, 

I believe that we will look back on 2012 as a pivotal point towards 

creating sustainable increased value for our shareholders as we 

see our strategic initiatives take hold and start to gain traction. 

It is clear to me that our associates worldwide are highly engaged 

in our business, take great pride in working for our Company and 

above all, have the skill and talent to return Build-A-Bear Workshop® 

to the high productivity and profit levels that are vital to our 

long-term success.

Let me review our results and accomplishments 

of the past year and most importantly, what 

we are planning for our future.

The company was named to the 

FORTUNE 100 Best Companies 
to Work For® list for the fifth 

year in a row in 2013. 

1

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Financial Highlights

(dollars in thousands, except per share, per store, and per gross square foot data)

Fiscal Year 

2012 

2011 

2010

Revenues
  Net retail sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
  Commercial revenue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Franchise fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Total revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Net income (loss)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

$ 374,553 
$  2,790 
$  3,598 
$ 380,941 
$  (49,295) 

$ 387,041 
$ 
 3,943 
$  3,391 
$ 394,375 
$  (17,062) 

$ 387,163
$  11,246
$  3,043
$ 401,452
104
$ 

eaRnings (loss) peR common shaRe
  Basic   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
  Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

$ 
$ 

 (3.02) 
 (3.02) 

$ 
$ 

 (0.98) 
(0.98)  

$ 
$ 

0.01
0.01

otheR financial and stoRe data(1)

Retail gross margin (dollars)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Retail gross margin (percent)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
  Number of company-owned stores at end of period  . . . . . . . . . .  
  Average net retail sales per store  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
  Net retail sales per gross square foot  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

$ 145,687 
38.9% 
351 
$  1,003 
350 
$ 

$ 154,468 
39.9% 
356 
 1,021 
354 

$ 
$ 

$ 155,128
40.1%
359
$  1,030
356
$ 

(1)   For descriptions of this financial and store data, please see the fiscal 2012 annual report on Form 10-K.

(2)   Retail gross margin represents net retail sales less cost of retail merchandise sold. Retail gross margin percentage represents retail gross margin divided by net retail sales.

2012 Financial 
Results

•	 Total revenues were $380.9 million 
compared to $394.4 million in 
fiscal 2011.

•	 Consolidated net retail sales  
were $374.6 million. In the  
fourth quarter, net retail sales  
were flat despite closing ten stores 
in the fiscal year and excluding  
the benefits from adjustments  
to deferred revenue related to  
our loyalty program.

•	 Consolidated e-commerce sales 
rose 7.7 percent which comes on 
top of an increase of 8.5 percent  
in fiscal 2011. 

•	 Net loss for 2012 was $3.02 per 

share and included a $33.7 million, 
or $2.06 per share non-cash charge 

to impair the goodwill associated 
with our United Kingdom business. 
Adjusted net loss was $10.1 million, 
or $0.62 per share compared to 
adjusted net loss of $0.4 million 
or $0.03 per share in the 2011 
fiscal year.

Our balance sheet remains strong 
with consolidated cash of $45 million 
at year end. During the year, we 
invested $1.3 million to repurchase 
367,000 shares of our common 
stock. We had no borrowings  
under our revolving credit facility 
which was renewed with U.S. Bank 
National Association at the end of 
the year. We are in a strong financial 
position to continue to execute our 
strategic plans.

Strategic Priorities

We are in the midst of a multi-year 
turnaround plan that builds on a strong 
base of profitable stores that we are 
working to make stronger. To put  
that in perspective, today our top 
200 company-owned stores have  
an average 20 percent store level 
contribution, and we believe our store 
base will be more profitable by the  
end of 2014 as we benefit from our key 
initiatives. Importantly, Build-A-Bear 
Workshop remains a powerful global 
brand, one that kids love and Moms 
trust. To increase long term shareholder 
value, we continue to execute our 
strategic initiatives which include:

1. Introduce a new store design 

— We opened the first six newly 
imagined stores starting in September 
2012 to great Guest response. As a  

2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

total Revenue

(dollars in millions)

numbeR of company-owned stoRes

(at end of period)

468.3

395.9

401.5

394.4

380.9

351

350

359

356

351

08

09

10

11

12

08

09

10

11

12

company pRofile

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. There 

are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the 

United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. Founded in St. Louis  
in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in interactive entertainment retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball® mascot in our 
stadium location, and Build-A-Dino® stores. Build-A-Bear Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award winning virtual  
world website at bearville.com™.  The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the fifth year in a row in 2013. 
Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $380.9 million in fiscal 2012. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit  
the company’s award-winning website at buildabear.com®.

group, overall sales have exceeded 
expectations, increasing an average 
of 30 percent. We remain on track 
to remodel 40 to 50 locations in this 
new store format by the end of 2014. 

2. Improve store productivity and 
profitability — During the year, we 
closed ten stores, transferring an 
average of 20 percent of those sales 
to other stores in the same markets. 
We also reduced the square footage 
of 11 other stores by remodeling  
and moving them to smaller locations 
within the same malls. In 2013 and 
2014, we expect to close 50 to  
60 additional stores and transfer  
a portion of their sales to remaining 
stores. By the end of 2014, we will 
operate fewer stores, but expect those 
stores to have higher sales and profits 
which will improve our sales per 
square foot by at least 25 percent.

3. Increase shopping frequency 
— We reintroduced brand-building 
TV advertising in our United States 
markets beginning in mid-October to 
drive traffic, further engage existing  
Guests and attract new Guests to  
our stores. This contributed to a 
significant improvement in trend with 
comparable store sales increasing 
2.4 percent in the United States in  
the fourth quarter as well as showing 
an ongoing benefit into the start of  
2013. We will continue to rebalance 
our marketing efforts to emphasize 
our brand experience as we  
move forward.

Operationally, we are committed to 
delivering a WOW Guest experience 
whenever someone shops in one of 
our stores, so that they will return 
again and again. In 2012, our Guest 
satisfaction scores again exceeded 

80 percent of all those surveyed 
giving us the highest rating, a 
significant accomplishment by  
all standards.

4. Reinforce Build-A-Bear Workshop 
as a top destination for gifts — We 
moved our gifting program forward, 
particularly in the fourth quarter when 
our gift card sales increased by over 
30 percent on a consolidated basis. 
Our brand advertising contributed  
to this growth by prompting parents  
and other relatives to give the gift of 
our interactive experience. This has 
contributed to higher redemption 
levels in 2013.

5. Increase our global presence 
— Our franchisees finished the  
2012 fiscal year with 91 stores  
in 14 countries in addition to our 
company-owned operations in 

3

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Canada, the United Kingdom and 
Ireland. In the year, we impaired  
the goodwill associated with our 
United Kingdom business in its 
entirety, but this does not change  
our long-term outlook for this 
strategically important business 
segment. And while we do not 
expect to open more stores in  
the United Kingdom until we see 
improvements in the economy, we  
do expect to continue to expand 
globally through new and existing 
franchisees as we move forward.

6. Improve cost efficiencies —  
During the year, we achieved cost 
savings of approximately $7.5 million. 
These savings were used to support 
sales-driving marketing initiatives and 
were partially offset by product cost 
increases. We continue to adjust  
our expense structure to reflect the 
smaller store base that we will have 
in the future.

Looking Ahead

Looking forward, we remain  
cautious on the overall environment, 
particularly in Europe. However, there 
are encouraging signs that overall  
the economy is beginning to stabilize 
and that Build-A-Bear Workshop is 
well positioned to capitalize on the 
business opportunities that lie ahead. 
With the benefit of hindsight, it is 
clear that our concept was over 
expanded, particularly in light of  
the downturn in the global economy. 
However, despite several difficult 
comparable store sales years, the 
vast majority of our stores still have  
strong unit level economics. We are 

110 million furry friends  
giving hugs and making smiles 
around the world.

strategic objectives and leverage  
our enormous brand equity to reach 
new heights in sales and profitability 
in the long term.

I would like to thank our associates 
who once again were recognized 
when Fortune Magazine named 
our Company as one of the 100 Best 
Companies to Work For® in the 
United States for the fifth year in a 
row. I want to thank our Guests for 
sharing your smiles, your stories and 
your love of our great brand and am 
especially grateful for the personal 
friendships I have formed along the 
way. I want to thank our Board of 
Directors for your support during this 
repositioning stage. And I want to 
thank you, our shareholders, for 
believing in the heart that is at the 
center of everything we do and 
continuing to invest in the future  
of our Company.

Beary Best Regards,

Maxine Clark 
Founder and Chief Executive Bear 

March 22, 2013

intently focused on right-sizing  
our store base, refreshing stores in  
our updated design and adjusting  
our expense structure to match the 
reduced store count. I expect that 
Build-A-Bear Workshop will emerge 
a smaller, but much healthier and 
once again profitable company by  
the end of 2014. 

Earlier this year, I announced my  
plan to retire as Chief Executive Bear 
of Build-A-Bear Workshop. When  
I founded Build-A-Bear Workshop,  
my vision was to redefine retail. I  
am proud that 16 years later our 
Company has become a favorite 
brand of families worldwide and is 
THE leading and only international 
company providing a “make your 
own stuffed animal” interactive retail 
experience. I am also very proud  
of the more than 110 million furry 
friends that have been made in our 
stores since our inception that are 
touching hearts around the globe.

I regard my role as Founder and 
Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear 
Workshop as an honor and highlight 
of my career. I look forward to 
continuing to work as a member  
of our Board once my successor is 
named. I am confident that the current 
management team has the experience 
and qualifications to deliver our 

4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

(Mark One)
È Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012

OR

‘ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from

to

Commission file number: 001-32320

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

43-1883836
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

63114
(Zip Code)

(314) 423-8000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if
Act. ‘ Yes È No

Indicate by check mark if
Act. ‘ Yes È No

the registrant

is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of

the Securities

the registrant

is not required to file reports pursuant

to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of

the

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. È Yes ‘ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every
Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter)
the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that

È Yes ‘ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated
by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. È

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a
smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company”
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ‘ Accelerated filer È Non-accelerated filer ‘ Smaller reporting company ‘

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ‘ Yes È No

There is no non-voting common equity. The aggregate market value of the common stock held by nonaffiliates (based upon the
closing price of $4.78 for the shares on the New York Stock Exchange on June 29, 2012) was $58,084,108 as of
June 30, 2012.

As of March 8, 2013, there were 17,150,840 issued and outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for its May 9, 2013 Annual Meeting are incorporated herein by reference.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.
INDEX TO FORM 10-K

Forward-Looking Statements

Part I

Item 1.

Business

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 2.

Item 3.

Item 4.

Part II

Item 5.

Item 6.

Item 7.

Properties

Legal Proceedings

Mine Safety Disclosure

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Selected Financial Data

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8.

Item 9.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.

Other Information

Part III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Part IV

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Exhibit Index

Signatures

Page

3

4

11

19

19

20

20

21

22

24

37

37

37

37

40

40

41

41

41

41

42

61

67

2

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain statements
that are, or may be considered to be, “forward-looking
statements” for the purpose of federal securities laws,
including, but not limited to, statements that reflect our current
views with respect to future events and financial performance.
We generally identify these statements by words or phrases
such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,”
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,”
“future,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative or any
derivative of these terms and other comparable terminology.
These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include, among
other things, projections or statements regarding:

(cid:129) our future financial performance;

(cid:129) our anticipated operating and growth strategies;

(cid:129) our future capital expenditures;

(cid:129) our anticipated rate of store closures, relocations and

openings;

(cid:129) our anticipated costs related to store closures, relocations

and openings, and

(cid:129) our franchisees’ anticipated rate of international store

openings.

These statements are only predictions based on our
current expectations and projections about future events.
Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and

uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements
to differ materially from the results, level of activity,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed
under the caption entitled “Risk Factors” as well as other
places in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We operate in a competitive and rapidly changing
environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and
it is not possible for management to predict all the risk factors,
nor can it assess the impact of all the risk factors on our
business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of
factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks
and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as a prediction of actual
results.

You should read this Annual Report on

Form 10-K completely and with the understanding
that our actual results may be materially different
from what we expect. Except as required by law,
we undertake no duty to update these
forward-looking statements, even though our
situation may change in the future. We qualify all
of our forward-looking statements by these
cautionary statements.

3

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was
formed in 1997 and is the leading, and only international
company providing a “make your own stuffed animal”
interactive retail-entertainment experience. As of
December 29, 2012, we operated 351 company-owned
retail stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom
and Ireland, including 283 traditional and eight
non-traditional Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores in the
United States and Canada and 60 traditional Build-A-Bear
Workshop stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In
addition, franchisees operated 91 Build-A-Bear Workshop
stores in other international locations. Our core concept is
based on our guests making, personalizing and customizing
their own stuffed animals, and capitalizes on what we believe
is the relatively untapped demand for experience-based
shopping as well as the widespread appeal of stuffed
animals.

We offer an extensive and coordinated selection of
merchandise, including over 30 different styles of animals to
be stuffed, sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed
animals and a wide variety of clothing, shoes and
accessories, as well as other brand appropriate toy and
novelty items. Our concept appeals to a broad range of age
groups and demographics, including children, teens, parents
and grandparents. We believe that our stores, which are
primarily located in malls, are destination locations and draw
guests from a large geographic reach. Our stores average
approximately 2,600 square feet in size and have a highly
visual and colorful appearance, including custom-designed
fixtures featuring teddy bears and other themes relating to the
Build-A-Bear Workshop experience. In 2012 we opened the
first six stores in our new highly interactive design, which
features a bold new look and enhanced experience.

We also market our products and build our brand
awareness and equity in our countries of operation through
national multi-media marketing programs that target our core
demographic guests, principally children and their parents.
The programs incorporate consistent messaging across a
variety of media, and are designed to increase our brand
awareness and store traffic and attract more first-time and
repeat guests. In addition to supporting our e-commerce, our
Web sites, buildabear.com® and bearville.com™, promote
brand connection and in-store products and events.

Since opening our first store in St. Louis, Missouri in

October 1997, we have sold over 110 million stuffed
animals.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS

Guests who visit Build-A-Bear Workshop stores enter a teddy
bear themed environment consisting of eight stuffed animal
making stations: Choose Me, Hear Me, Stuff Me, Stitch Me,
Fluff Me, Dress Me, Name Me, and Take Me Home®. In our
new store design, we have added an additional Love Me
station to our signature process. To attract our target guests,
we have designed stores that are open and inviting, with an
entryway that spans the majority of our storefront, and highly
visual with colorful teddy bear themes and displays that create
a “theme park” destination in the mall. The duration of a
guest’s experience can vary greatly depending on his or her
preferences. While most guests choose to participate in the
full animal-making process and all eight stations, a process
which we believe averages 45 minutes, guests can also visit a
Build-A-Bear Workshop store and purchase items such as
clothing, accessories, our Bear Buck$® and Cub Cash® gift
cards, Bearville Outfitters® game cards or pre-made animals
in only a few minutes. We also offer a wide variety of
animals and accessories on our e-commerce Web site,
buildabear.com®.

We offer an extensive and coordinated selection of
merchandise including over 30 varieties of animals to be
stuffed, as well as a wide variety of other clothing and
accessory items for the animals. Our clothing is inspired by
human fashion and includes authentic details such as
functional buttons, working pockets, belt loops and zippers
and has child-friendly, easy-to-dress details such as an
opening for the stuffed animal’s tail and adjustable closures to
help fit any size animal. We enhance the authentic nature of
a number of our products with strategic product licensing
relationships with brands that are in demand with our guests
such as officially sanctioned NFL®, NBA®, MLB® and the
NHL™ team apparel, Skechers® shoes and Justice® clothing.
We also tap into pop culture that is relevant to our guests by
featuring merchandise such as a Victoria Justice bear and
accessories and Alvin and the Chipmunks® and Smurf™
stuffed characters.

While our concept is a unique combination of experience

and product, we selectively promote seasonal products with
special offers and discounts intended to maximize sales at
peak traffic periods in the year. We also offer frequent
shopper discounts associated with our Stuff Fur Stuff® club
loyalty program and strategically use coupons and
gift-with-purchase promotions to drive traffic to our stores.

As a retailer whose signature product is a stuffed animal

that is typically purchased as a toy or gift, our sales are
highest in our fourth quarter which ends on the Saturday
nearest December 31 each year, followed by the first quarter.
The timing of holidays and school vacations can impact our
quarterly results. Our European-based stores have historically
been more heavily weighted in the fourth quarter as
compared to our North American stores. We cannot ensure
that this will continue to be the case.

4

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

STRATEGY

We are in the midst of a multi-year turnaround plan that
builds on a strong base of profitable stores. In 2012, our
top 200 company-owned stores had an average 20 percent
store level contribution. We believe that our store base will
be more profitable by the end of 2014 as we benefit from
our initiatives.

To improve the productivity of our company-owned
stores, we have three key strategic initiatives to improve our
store sales and profitability: first, in North America, we are
closing stores, primarily in multi-store markets where we can
transfer a portion of sales to other stores in the same markets;
second, also in North America, we are updating our brand
experience by remodeling additional stores in our newly
imagined design; and third, in both North America and in
Europe, we plan to grow our base store business with
improved merchandise selection and availability as well as
rebalancing our marketing messaging to speak to our brand
experience and product vs. product and promotion.

We expect to build the appeal of our stores and improve
our store productivity and profitability by closing select stores,
relocating and downsizing other stores and remodeling and
opening select stores in a new design. We believe that we
can optimize stores in multi-store markets with fewer locations
that have higher sales volumes. In fiscal 2012, we closed
ten stores in accordance with natural lease events such as
expirations and lease termination options, primarily in
multi-store markets, transferring a percentage of sales to other
stores in the same markets. We also relocated and downsized
11 stores within existing malls which we anticipate will lead
to higher productivity metrics in these locations. We opened
five new stores across geographies, compared to 2011 when
we opened nine new stores across geographies. We currently
expect to close an additional 50 to 60 stores in in fiscal
2013 and 2014 to reach an optimal store count of 225 to
250 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in North America. We
believe our potential in the United Kingdom and Ireland is 60
to 70 stores. In 2012, we also introduced a new store design
which we believe enhances our interactive experience and
better showcases our products. In 2012, we successfully
opened six locations in the new design and expect to have
40 to 50 additional locations by the end of 2014, primarily
through remodels and relocations.

promoting our interactive experience and seasonal product
launches and to increase shopping frequency with guests
who are members in our loyalty program. We believe our
signature store experience is a competitive advantage and
the full integration of product, marketing and operations
enhances our guests’ brand interaction. We will continue to
grow online engagement at bearville.com, as well as grow
our e-commerce business. We also plan to drive sales
increases related to gift-giving occasions, such as birthdays
and Christmas, by promoting our products and gift cards.
In response to an emerging trend of kids’ interaction
and play in the online space, we maintain our virtual world,
bearville.com. The website is designed to complement and
continue our in-store experience and enhance our core brand
values. By the end of 2012, there have been nearly
24 million accounts created. This site drives interaction with
core demographic segments and creates loyalty with these
guests while also encouraging and promoting future store
visits. As kid’s play patterns have evolved into mobile
technology, we launched the Build-A-Bear® App for mobile
devices where users gain access to mobile-exclusive content
and bearville.com games. To date, there have been over
1.2 million downloads. In 2013, we plan to continue to
update and enhance our mobile App presence.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Through our in-house design and product development team,
we have developed a coordinated, creative and broad
merchandise assortment, including a variety of animals,
clothing, shoes and accessories. We believe our merchandise
is an integral part of our concept and that the proprietary
design of many of the products we offer is a critical element of
our success, while the authentic and fashionable nature of our
products greatly enhances our brand’s appeal to our guests.
Our product development team regularly monitors current
fashion and cultural trends in order to create products that are
most appealing to our guests, often reflecting similar styling to
the clothes our guests wear themselves. We test our products
on an ongoing basis to ensure guest demand supports order
quantities. Through our focused vendor relationships, we are
able to source our merchandise in a manner that is cost-
effective, maximizes our speed to market and facilitates rapid
reorder of our best-selling items.

Our concept is a unique combination of experience and

Our stuffed animal skins and clothing are produced from

product, both of which are keys to our growth. In terms of
product innovation, we believe that the focus on larger,
limited edition animal introductions that launch approximately
once a month creates a sense of urgency to shop and drives
traffic to our stores, increases conversion and improves sales.
We plan to further increase conversion and average
transaction value by offering additional toy products and
other branded products that are in demand with our core
demographics yet consistent with our brand attributes of
creativity and imaginative play. We will use our national
multi-media marketing programs to increase store traffic by

high quality man-made materials or natural fibers such as
cotton, and the stuffing is made of a high-grade polyester
fiber. We believe all of our products in our stores and online
at buildabear.com meet Consumer Product Safety Commission
requirements including the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act (CPSIA) for Children’s Products. We also
comply with American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM), EN71 (European standards) and Canadian
specifications for toy safety in all material respects. Our
products are tested through independent third-party testing
labs for compliance with toy safety standards. We believe

5

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

we comply with governmental toy safety requirements specific
to each country where we have stores. Packaging and labels
for each product indicate to our guests the age grading
for the product and any special warnings in accordance
with guidelines established by the Consumer Product
Safety Commission.

Our products have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal

of Approval. The Good Housekeeping Seal, introduced in
1909, is earned by products that pass Good Housekeeping
Institute review and is one of America’s most trusted consumer
icons assuring consumers of a quality product. Seal-backed
products are covered by Good Housekeeping’s two-year
money-back warranty.

In order to increase store visits and give guests additional
reasons for purchasing at our stores, we expect to expand our
product assortment and our leadership in the toy industry by
offering additional products other than our core plush animals
and related items that are consistent with our interactive and
hands-on experience, some of which are proprietarily
developed and some that come from other toy and accessory
companies. We believe the addition of complementary toy
and accessory products will allow us to increase our sales
and overall profitability.

MARKETING

We believe there is value in promoting and advertising the
Build-A-Bear Workshop store and brand as a family-friendly
destination that provides fun, affordable experiences
appealing to a broad range of age groups and
demographics. This gives us a competitive advantage and is
critical to our business strategy. Our advertising expenditures
were $23.0 million (6.1% of net retail sales) in fiscal 2012,
$19.3 million (5.0% of net retail sales) in fiscal 2011 and
$18.5 million (4.8% of net retail sales) in fiscal 2010,
reflecting the continuation and further refinement of marketing
initiatives. We believe our adjusted marketing strategies
contributed to a significant improvement in sales trend in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 in the United States with
comparable store sales increasing 2.4%, a significant
improvement from the third quarter sales decline of
11.6%. We will continue to adjust our marketing programs
and expenditures as we move forward.

In 2013, our goal is to continue to build top of mind

brand awareness through fully integrated marketing
programs. Television advertising is a key strategy to reach
and acquire new guests and gives existing guests new reason
to visit. Since February 2004, we have aired nationally
televised advertisements in the United States. In the fourth
quarter of 2010, we expanded our television advertising to
the United Kingdom. In 2012, we rebalanced our advertising
strategy in the United States to showcase the unique
Build-A-Bear Workshop brand and experience in addition to
featuring new products and selected seasonal promotions.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has a community of highly

engaged advocates, both adults, primarily moms, and kids. In
2012, we continued to expand our use of social media to
reach and market to these brand advocates. As of March 8,
2013, nearly 2.5 million Facebook users have “liked” the
Build-A-Bear Workshop brand, we had nearly 40,000 Twitter
followers, 8 million views on YouTube and over 1.2 million
downloads of our Build-A-Bear App. Digital media and social
media have allowed us to measure success of products,
events, and other initiatives and to gather their feedback so
we can focus on the programs that our guests value most
highly. In 2013, the digital space will continue to be an
important component in our marketing efforts because it is an
important part of where our guests spend time and engage
with brands they support. Since the digital space is constantly
changing; we continue to evolve our online strategies to
maximize our relevance. Our child-centric Web site,
bearville.com, is targeted at kids, primarily ages six to
fourteen and continues to be a tool to increase brand
engagement, promote our brand and raise awareness of
in-store products and events. Our mobile app is also an
important brand touch point for both moms and kids and
we continue to increase our capabilities and presence in
mobile technology.

We also leverage our database of nearly 4.5 million
active members of our Stuff Fur Stuff club loyalty program. The
program offers shoppers the opportunity to earn awards
based on purchases as well as receive other member-only
benefits. In 2008, we launched a version of the program in
the United Kingdom that did not include reward certificates,
but served to gather guest data and maintain contact with our
guests. In 2012, we refreshed our Stuff Fur Stuff program to
increase guest retention metrics. Members earn awards for
every 50 points, including, for the first time our guests in the
United Kingdom. The guest and transactional data that is
collected provides insight into the overall purchasing history of
members including visit frequency, items purchased and
amounts spent on each visit and cumulatively over time. We
continue to leverage this information and our database to
market products, promotions and store events.

LICENSING AND STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS

We have developed licensing and strategic relationships with
some of the leading retail and cultural organizations in
North America and Europe. We believe that our guest base
and brand strength make us an attractive partner and our
customer research and insight allow us to focus on strategic
relationships with other companies. We plan to continue to
add partnerships with companies that have strong,
family-oriented brands and provide us with attractive
marketing and merchandising opportunities. These
relationships for specific products are generally reflected in
contractual arrangements for limited terms that are terminable
by either party upon specified notice.

6

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Product and Merchandise Licensing. We have key
strategic relationships with select companies, including
Disney®, Sanrio®, Skechers, Justice, Star Wars, MLB, NBA,
NFL, the NHL®, and World Wildlife Fund US and Canada, in
which we feature their brands on products sold in our stores.
These strategic relationships allow both parties to generate
awareness of their brands. We have also offered selected
character and media-oriented products including Sanrio’s
Hello Kitty, Disney’s Muppets, Minnie Mouse and Shake It Up
themed bears, Fremantle’s Rebecca Bonbon, Fox Studio’s Ice
Age, and holiday classics Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
and the Grinch.

Promotional Arrangements. We have also developed
promotional arrangements with select organizations. Our
arrangements with Major League Baseball teams, including
the Chicago Cubs®, St. Louis Cardinals™ and Pittsburg
Pirates® have featured stuffed animal giveaways at each
club’s ballpark on a day in which our brand is highly
promoted within the stadium. In 2012, we partnered with
McDonald’s® for the fourth time to feature limited edition,
collectible mini Build-A-Bear Workshop animals in
Happy Meals®. We also have had arrangements featuring
product sampling, cross promotions and shared media with
companies such as Dairy Queen in North America and
Betty Crocker’s Fruit Roll-ups. We continued to partner
with teen celebrity, Victoria Justice, who was our brand
ambassador through July 2012. The arrangement also
featured Victoria Justice 4 BABW branded merchandise
available in our stores. In October 2012, we announced
our next brand ambassador, pop star, Cody Simpson.
Third Party Licensing. We have continued a series of
licensing arrangements with leading manufacturers to develop a
collection of lifestyle Build-A-Bear Workshop branded products
including children’s furniture, fruit snacks, girls play sets and
novelty toys. We believe that each of these initiatives has the
potential to enhance our brand, raise brand awareness, and
drive increased revenues and profitability. We select companies
for licensing relationships that we believe are leaders in their
respective sectors and that understand and share our strategic
vision for offering guests exciting and interactive merchandise.
We have policies and practices in place intended to ensure that
the products manufactured under the Build-A-Bear Workshop
brand adhere to our quality, value and usability standards.
We have entered into or maintained licensing arrangements
for our branded products with leading manufacturers including
Playmates Toys, Pulaski Furniture, ConAgra Foods and Enterplay.

INDUSTRY AND GUEST DEMOGRAPHICS

While Build-A-Bear Workshop offers consumers an interactive
and personalized experience, our tangible products are
stuffed animals, including our flagship product, the teddy
bear, a widely adored icon for over 100 years. According to
data published by the Toy Industry Association and The
NPD Group, sales of the traditional toy market were

$21.2 billion in the United States (excluding video games) in
2010 with plush and doll sales having a combined 18.7%
share of the traditional toy market. According to further
estimates provided by The NPD Group, worldwide toy sales
topped $83.3 billion dollars in 2010.

Our guests are diverse, spanning broad age ranges and

socio-economic categories. Major guest segments include
families with children, primarily ages three to twelve,
grandparents, aunts and uncles, teen girls who occasionally
bring along their boyfriends, and child-centric organizations
looking for interactive entertainment options such as scouting
organizations and schools. Based on information compiled
from our guest database for 2012, the average age of the
recipient of our stuffed animals at the time of purchase is nine
years old and children aged one to fourteen are the recipients
of approximately 80% of our stuffed animals.

According to the estimates by the United States Census
Bureau, in 2009 there were over 62 million children age 14
and under in the United States. The size of this population
group is projected to remain relatively stable over the next
decade. Industry sources estimate direct spending by children
in the United States at over $50 billion annually and that
parents and family members spend an additional $170 billion
annually on children. In addition, children influence billions of
dollars in other family spending.

EMPLOYEES AND TRAINING

In January 2013, we were recognized by FORTUNE
Magazine for the fifth consecutive year as one of the 100 Best
Companies to Work For in the United States. We believe that
this honor is the result of our commitment to providing a great
experience for our diverse team of associates as well as our
guests. We have a distinctive culture that we believe
encourages contribution and collaboration. We take great
pride in our culture and feel it is critical in encouraging
creativity, communication, and strong store performance. All
store managers receive comprehensive training through our
Bear University program, which is designed to promote a
friendly and personable environment in our stores and a
consistent experience across our stores.

We extensively train our associates on the bear-building

process and the guest experience. In fiscal 2012, we hired
approximately 3.5% of applicants for store manager
positions. We focus on employing and retaining people who
are friendly and committed to guest service. Our high
employee retention rates contribute to the consistency and
quality of the guest experience. Our store teams are evaluated
and compensated not only on sales results but also the results
from our regular guest satisfaction surveys. Each store has a
recognition fund so that exceptional guest service can be
immediately recognized and rewarded. We are committed to
providing compensation structures that recognize individual
accomplishments as well as overall team success.

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BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

As of December 29, 2012, we employed approximately

1,000 full-time and 3,400 part-time employees. We divide
our store base into three geographic regions, with the
United Kingdom and Ireland representing one of those
regions. The regions are led by our Chief Operations and
Financial Bear; our North American operations are led by our
Chief Workshop Bear – North America and there are three
Regional Workshop Managing Directors. Bearitory Leaders
are responsible for each of our 31 store districts, or
bearitories, consisting of on average, 11 stores. Historically,
our stores generally have had a full-time Chief Workshop
Manager, and three additional managers who are full-time or
part-time, depending upon the volume at the specific location,
in addition to part-time hourly Bear Builder® associates. In
2011 and 2012, as part of our cost savings initiatives, we
adjusted our store staffing model to reduce fixed costs and
provide flexibility to better match staffing levels to peak sales
times. This resulted in significant savings in store payroll,
while still maintaining our high levels of overall guest
satisfaction. In addition to the approximately 4,000
employees at our store locations, we employ approximately
230 associates in general administrative functions at our
World Bearquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, approximately
70 associates at our Bearhouse distribution center in
Groveport, Ohio, and approximately 20 associates in our
European Bearquarters in Windsor, England. The number of
part-time employees at all locations fluctuates depending on
our seasonal needs. We are committed to innovation and
invention and generally have confidentiality agreements with
our employees and consultants. Store managers and
Bearquarters associates pass specific profile assessments.
None of our employees are represented by a labor union,
and we believe our relationship with our employees is good.

INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISES

In 2003, we began to expand Build-A-Bear Workshop
stores outside of the United States, opening company-owned
stores in Canada and our first franchised location in the
United Kingdom. As of December 29, 2012, there were
91 Build-A-Bear Workshop franchised stores located in
14 countries. All stores outside of the U.S., Canada, the
United Kingdom and Ireland are currently operated by third
party franchisees under separate master franchise agreements
covering each territory. Master franchise rights are typically
granted to a franchisee for an entire country or group of
countries for a specified term. The terms of these master
franchise agreements vary by country but typically provide
that we receive an initial, one-time development fee and
continuing royalties based on a percentage of the franchisees’
stores sales. The terms of these agreements range up to
25 years with a franchisee option to renew for an additional
term if certain conditions are met. All franchised stores have
similar signage, store layout and merchandise characteristics
to our company-owned stores.

Our goal is to have well-capitalized franchisees with
expertise in retail operations or franchising and real estate in
their respective country. We collaborate with our franchisees
in the development of their business, marketing and store
growth plans. We review all franchisees’ orders for
merchandise which are made in the same factories that
produce products for our company-owned stores and advise
our franchisees concerning their operational and business
practices in an effort to ensure they are in compliance with
our standards. We expect our current franchisees to open
approximately eight to twelve new stores in fiscal 2013.

SOURCING AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities. Our
animal skins, stuffing, clothing and accessories are produced
by factories located primarily in China. We purchased
approximately 80% of our inventory in fiscal 2012,
approximately 81% in fiscal 2011 and approximately 73% in
fiscal 2010 from three long standing vendors. After specifying
the details and requirements for our products, our vendors
contract orders with multiple manufacturing facilities in China
that are approved by us in accordance with our quality
control and labor standards. We believe that our supplier
factories are compliant with the International Council of Toy
Industries (ICTI) CARE certification.

The CARE (Caring, Awareness, Responsible, Ethical)
Process is the ICTI program to promote ethical manufacturing,
in the form of fair labor treatment, as well as employee health
and safety, in the toy industry supply chain worldwide. The
program’s initial focus is in China, where 70 percent of the
world’s toy volume is manufactured. In order to obtain this
certification, each factory completed a rigorous evaluation
performed by an accredited ICTI agent. Our vendors can
be used interchangeably as each has a sourcing network
for multiple product categories and can expand its factory
network as needed. Our relationships with our vendors
generally are on a purchase order basis and do not provide
a contractual obligation to provide adequate supply or
acceptable pricing on a long-term basis.

The average time from the beginning of production to

arrival of the products into our stores is approximately 90 to
120 days. Our weekly tracking and reporting tools give us
the capability to adjust to shifts in demand. Through an
ongoing analysis of selling trends, we regularly update our
product assortment by increasing quantities of productive
styles and eliminating less productive items. Our distribution
centers provide further logistical efficiencies for delivering
merchandise to our stores.

DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTICS

We own our 350,000 square-foot distribution center near
Columbus, Ohio which serves the majority of our stores in
the United States and Canada. We also engage a third-party
warehouse in southern California to service our West Coast
stores. The contract has a one year term and is renewable.

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In Europe, we contract with a third-party distribution center in
Selby, England under an agreement that ends in December
2014. This agreement contains clauses that allow for
termination if certain performance criteria are not met.
Transportation from the warehouses to the stores is

managed by several third-party logistics providers. In the
United States, Canada and Europe, merchandise is shipped
by a variety of distribution methods, depending on the store
and seasonal inventory demand. Key delivery methods are
direct trucks through third-party pool points, ‘LTL’ (less-than
truck load) deliveries, and direct parcel deliveries. Shipments
from our third-party distribution centers are scheduled
throughout the week in order to smooth workflow and stores
that are part of the same shipping route are grouped together
to reduce freight costs. All items in our assortment are eligible
for distribution, depending on allocation and fulfillment
requirements, and we typically distribute merchandise and
supplies to each store once a week on a regular schedule,
which allows us to consolidate shipments in order to reduce
distribution and shipping costs. Back-up supplies, such as
Cub Condo® carrying cases and stuffing for the animals,
are often stored in limited amounts at local pool points.

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY

Optimizing technology is a key business strategy. We are
committed to utilizing and leveraging digital advancements to
gain a competitive edge and improve guest experiences. We
regularly evaluate strategic information technology initiatives
focused on competitive differentiation, support of corporate
strategy and reinforcement of our internal support systems.
In 2012, we launched our new store design that combines
our signature in-store experience with innovative digital
technology that enhances our guests’ experiences and adds
interactive and customization features to our stuffed animal
making process.

We have developed award-winning, proprietary

software including our new Digital Sound Station, party
scheduling system and domestic and international versions
of our Name Me kiosk, which populates our Find-A-Bear®
identification system. Data from these systems are used to
support key decisions in all areas of our business, including
merchandising, allocation and operations. Our innovation
continues in our new store design which begins with an
interactive storefront where guests can engage and play with
the digital signage. The new Love Me station gives our guests
the ability to customize the inside of their animal with special
personality attributes displayed as emoticons on an interactive
table. The redesigned Fluff Me station, includes a digital bath
tub that recognizes items as they are placed on it and reacts
with sensory effects such as virtual bubbles that appear when
play soap is placed on the surface. Finally, at our updated
Name Me station guests use a viewfinder that reveals the
customized attributes that have been added to the animal
throughout the process.

We believe our information and operational systems to

be best in class that incorporate a broad range of purchased
and internally developed technologies; each is built on a
foundation of sound business processes and supports guest
relationship management, marketing, financial, retail
operations, real estate, merchandising, e-commerce and
inventory management processes, with a goal to deliver solid
business results. Our employees can securely access these
systems over a company-wide network. Sales, daily deposit
and guest information are automatically collected from the
stores’ point-of-sale terminals and kiosks on a near real time
basis. All data captured is secured, Payment Card Industry
compliant and protected by a solid disaster recovery plan.
Our critical systems are reviewed on a regular basis to
evaluate security and disaster recovery.

COMPETITION

We view the Build-A-Bear Workshop experience as a
distinctive combination of entertainment and retail with limited
direct competition. Because our signature product is a stuffed
animal, we compete with toy retailers, such as Wal-Mart,
Toys “R” Us, Target, Kmart and other discount chains.
Build-A-Bear Workshop was ranked by Playthings Magazine
as the ninth largest toy retailer for retailers with continuing
operations, based on 2008 revenues. Since we develop
proprietary products, we also compete indirectly with a
number of companies that sell stuffed animals in the
United States, including, but not limited to, Ty, Fisher Price,
Mattel, Ganz, Russ Berrie, Applause, Boyd’s, Hasbro,
Commonwealth, Gund and Vermont Teddy Bear. Since we
sell a product that integrates merchandise and experience,
we also view our competition as any company that competes
for family time and entertainment dollars, such as movie
theaters, amusement parks and arcades, other mall-based
entertainment venues and online entertainment. Being a
mall-based retailer, we also compete with other mall-based
retailers for prime mall locations, including various apparel,
footwear and specialty retailers.

We are aware of several small companies that operate

“make your own” teddy bear and stuffed animal stores or
kiosks in retail locations, but we believe none of those
companies offer the breadth and depth of the Build-A-Bear
Workshop experience or operate as a national or
international retail company.

We also believe that there is an emerging trend within
children’s play patterns towards mobile internet and online
play. According to Emarketer.com, kids aged 8 to 11
reported that they spend between one and two hours online
each day. We believe our bearville.com Web site competes
with other companies and internet sites that vie for children’s
attention in the online space including webkinz.com,
clubpenguin.com and neopets.com.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TRADEMARKS

As of December 29, 2012, we had obtained over 206 U.S.
trademark registrations, including Build-A-Bear Workshop for
stuffed animals and accessories for the animals, retail store
services and other goods and services, 36 issued U.S. patents
with expirations ranging from 2013 through 2020 and
over 381 copyright registrations. In addition, we have five
U.S. trademark applications pending. We have exclusive
patent rights from a third party in association with our
BUILD-A-SOUND message device and system. We were
granted exclusive licenses to use the device and system
covered by the patents in retail stores similar to ours. While
we have the right to sublicense the patent, the licensor has
agreed not to grant competing license rights to any of our
competitors. In the event that we or the licensor has reason
to believe that a third party is infringing upon the patents, the
licensor is generally required to bear the expenses required
to maintain and defend the patents. Our exclusive rights will
last until the expiration of the latest patent covered by the
agreement, calculated to be 2017, unless the agreement
is terminated.

We believe our copyrights, service marks, trademarks,

trade secrets, patents and similar intellectual property are
critical to our success, and we intend, directly or indirectly,
to maintain and protect these marks and, where applicable,
license the intellectual property and the registrations for the
intellectual property. We rely on trademark, copyright and
other intellectual property law to protect our proprietary rights
to the extent available in any relevant jurisdiction. We also
depend on trade secret protection through confidentiality and
license agreements with our employees, subsidiaries,
licensees, licensors and others. We may not have agreements
containing adequate protective provisions in every case, and
the contractual provisions that are in place may not provide
us with adequate protection in all circumstances. Any
infringement or misappropriation of our intellectual property
rights or breach of our confidentiality or license agreements
could result in significant litigation costs, and any failure to
adequately protect our proprietary rights could result in our
competitors offering similar products, potentially resulting in
loss of one or more competitive advantages and decreased
revenues. In addition, intellectual property litigation or claims
could force us to do one or more of the following: cease
selling or using any of our products that incorporate the
challenged intellectual property, which would adversely
affect our revenue; obtain a license from the holder of the
intellectual property right alleged to have been infringed,
which license may not be available on reasonable terms,
if at all; and redesign or, in the case of trademark claims,
rename our products to avoid infringing the intellectual
property rights of third parties, which may not be possible
and time-consuming if it is possible to do so.

Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property

rights, intellectual property laws afford us only limited
protection. A third party could copy or otherwise obtain

information from us without authorization. Accordingly,
we may not be able to prevent misappropriation of our
intellectual property or to deter others from developing similar
products or services. Further, monitoring the unauthorized use
of our intellectual property is difficult. Litigation has been and
may continue to be necessary to enforce our intellectual
property rights or to determine the validity and scope of the
proprietary rights of others. Litigation of this type could result
in substantial costs and diversion of resources, may result in
counterclaims or other claims against us and could
significantly harm our results of operations. In addition, the
laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary
rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
We also conduct business in foreign countries to the

extent our merchandise is manufactured or sold outside the
United States and we have opened stores outside the
United States either directly or indirectly through franchisees.
We filed, obtained or plan to file for registration of marks in
foreign countries to the degree necessary to protect these
marks, although our efforts may not be successful and
there may be restrictions on the use of these marks in
some jurisdictions.

SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

We conduct our operations through three reportable segments
consisting of retail, international franchising, and commercial.
The retail segment includes the operating activities of
company-owned stores in the United States, Canada, the
United Kingdom and Ireland, and other retail operations,
including our web-store and non-traditional store locations
such as tourist venues, temporary locations and ballpark
stores. The commercial segment includes our transactions with
other business partners, mainly comprised of licensing our
intellectual property, including entertainment properties, for
third-party use and wholesale product sales. The international
franchising segment includes the activities under our franchise
agreements with locations in Asia, Australia, Africa, the
Middle East, Europe, Mexico and South America.

Our reportable segments are primarily determined by the

types of customers they serve and the types of products and
services that they offer. Each reportable segment may operate
in many geographic areas. See the financial statements
included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for
further discussion and financial information related to our
segments and the geographic areas in which we operate.

AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION

We make certain filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”), including our Annual Report on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports
on Form 8-K, and all amendments and exhibits to those
reports, available free of charge in the Investor Relations
section of our corporate website, http://ir.buildabear.com,
as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the
SEC. The filings are also available through the SEC at the

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SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 or by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
Also, these filings are available on the internet at
http://www.sec.gov. Our Annual Reports to shareholders,
press releases and investor updates are also available on
our website, free of charge, in the Investor Relations section
or by writing to the Investor Relations department at World
Bearquarters, 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Dr., St. Louis,
MO 63114.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

We operate in a changing environment that involves
numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties that
could materially affect our operations. The risks, uncertainties
and other factors set forth below may cause our actual results,
performances or achievements to be materially different from
those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements.
If any of these risks or events occur, our business, financial
condition or results of operations may be adversely affected.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

A decline in general global economic conditions could lead
to disproportionately reduced consumer demand for our
products, which represent relatively discretionary spending,
and have an adverse effect on our liquidity and profitability.

Since purchases of our merchandise are dependent upon
discretionary spending by our guests, our financial
performance is sensitive to changes in overall economic
conditions that affect consumer spending. Consumer spending
habits are affected by, among other things, prevailing
economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and
wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception
of economic conditions. A continued slowdown in the
United States, Canadian or European economies or
uncertainty as to the economic outlook could reduce
discretionary spending or cause a shift in consumer
discretionary spending to other products. Any of these factors
would likely result in lower net sales and could also result in
excess inventories, which could, in turn, lead to increased
merchandise markdowns and related costs associated with
higher levels of inventory and adversely affect our liquidity
and profitability. For example, the slower economy in the
United States and Europe has caused our sales to decline
and led us to slow our growth plans.

prominent locations within high traffic shopping malls. We
rely on the ability of the malls’ anchor tenants, generally large
department stores, and on the continuing popularity of malls
as shopping destinations. We cannot control the development
of new shopping malls, the addition or loss of anchors and
co-tenants, the availability or cost of appropriate locations
within existing or new shopping malls or the desirability,
safety or success of shopping malls. In addition, customer mall
traffic may be reduced due to a loss of consumer confidence
because of the economy, terrorism or war. If we are unable
to generate sufficient guest traffic, our sales and results of
operations will be harmed. A significant decrease in shopping
mall traffic could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition and profitability. For example, we have
experienced a decline in transactions at comparable locations
over the past several years.

If we are unable to generate interest in and demand for our
interactive retail experience, including being able to identify
and respond to consumer preferences in a timely manner,
our financial condition and profitability could be adversely
affected.

We believe that our success depends in large part upon our
ability to continue to attract guests with our interactive
shopping experience and our ability to anticipate, gauge
and respond in a timely manner to changing consumer
preferences and fashion trends. We cannot assure you that
our past success will be sustained or there will continue to be
a demand for our “make-your-own stuffed animal” interactive
experience, or for our stuffed animals, animal apparel and
accessories. A decline in demand for our interactive shopping
experience, our animals, animal apparel or accessories, or a
misjudgment of consumer preferences or fashion trends, could
have a negative impact on our business, financial condition
and results of operations. For example, in 2008 we
announced plans to close the Friends 2B Made concept. The
closure was completed by the end of the fiscal 2009 third
quarter with pre-tax charges totaling $3.9 million. In addition,
if we miscalculate the market for our merchandise or the
purchasing preferences of our guests, we may be required to
sell a significant amount of our inventory at discounted prices
or even below costs, thereby adversely affecting our financial
condition and profitability. For example, in 2007, we
wrote-off $1.6 million, net of tax, of inventory, including
excess Shrek® merchandise.

A decrease in the customer traffic generated by the shopping
malls in which we are located, which we depend upon to
attract guests to our stores, could adversely affect our
financial condition and profitability.

While we invest heavily in integrated marketing efforts and
believe we are more of a destination location than traditional
retailers, we rely to a great extent on customer traffic in the
malls in which our stores are located. In order to generate
guest traffic, we generally attempt to locate our stores in

Our future growth and profitability could be adversely
affected if our marketing and online initiatives are not
effective in generating sufficient levels of brand awareness
and guest traffic or if consumer preferences change
significantly.

We continue to update and evaluate our marketing initiatives,
focusing on brand awareness, new product news, timely
promotions and rapidly changing consumer preferences. We
may not be able to successfully engage children in our virtual

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world website, bearville.com, achieve high enough traffic
levels nor be able to leverage the site to drive traffic to our
stores and choose to discontinue operating the site. Our future
growth and profitability will depend in large part upon the
effectiveness and efficiency of our marketing and advertising
programs and future marketing and advertising efforts that we
undertake, including our ability to:

(cid:129) create greater awareness of our brand, interactive

shopping experience and products;

(cid:129) identify the most effective and efficient level of spending

in each market;

(cid:129) determine the appropriate creative message and media

mix for marketing expenditures;

(cid:129) effectively manage marketing costs (including creative
and media) in order to maintain acceptable operating
margins and return on marketing investment;

(cid:129) select the right geographic areas in which to market;

(cid:129) convert consumer awareness into actual store visits and

product purchases; and

(cid:129) reach a level of engagement on the virtual world Web
site with large numbers of unique visitors with frequent
visitation that drives visits to our retail stores resulting
in purchases.

Our planned marketing expenditures may not result in

increased total or comparable store sales or generate
sufficient levels of product and brand awareness. We may
not be able to manage our marketing expenditures on a
cost-effective basis.

If we are unable to increase our comparable store sales
trends, our results of operations and financial condition could
be adversely affected.

Our comparable store sales for 2012 declined 3.3%
following a 2.1% decline in 2011, following a 2.0% decline
in 2010, a 13.4% decline in fiscal 2009 and a 14.0%
decline in fiscal 2008. We believe that the decrease in 2012
was primarily attributable to a decline in transactions
compared to 2011, specifically in the third quarter and the
negative economic conditions in the UK that we believe
contributed to a decline in consumer spending. We believe
that the decrease in 2011 was primarily attributable to the
underperformance of certain licensed movie products in the
fourth quarter. We believe that global economic conditions
continued to impact our comparable store sales in 2010.
We believe that the decrease in fiscal 2009 was primarily
attributable to the continued economic recession and dramatic
decrease in consumer sentiment and the decline in
North American shopping mall traffic. We believe that the
decrease in 2008 was primarily attributable to the economic
recession and decrease in consumer disposable income,
a continued decline in shopping mall customer traffic and
changes in media strategies, online entertainment, children’s

media consumption and play patterns. We believe the
principal factors that will affect comparable store results
include the following:

(cid:129) the continuing appeal of our concept;

(cid:129) the effectiveness of our marketing efforts to attract new

and repeat guests;

(cid:129) consumer confidence and general economic conditions;

(cid:129) the impact of changes in governmental policies on

consumer sentiment and discretionary spending levels as
happened in the UK

(cid:129) the impact of store closures, relocations and openings

in existing markets;

(cid:129) the impact of our new store design;

(cid:129) our ability to anticipate and to respond, in a timely

manner, to consumer trends;

(cid:129) the continued introduction and expansion of our

merchandise offerings;

(cid:129) mall traffic;

(cid:129) competition for product offerings including in the online

space;

(cid:129) the timing and frequency of national media appearances

and other public relations events; and

(cid:129) weather conditions.

As a result of these and other factors, we may not be
able to generate or achieve comparable stores sales growth
in the future. If we are unable to do so, our results of
operations could be significantly harmed and we may be
required to record significant impairment charges.

Our strategy requires us to operate a significant number of
stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and
Ireland, as well as close, relocate and open store locations in
these countries. If we are not able to operate these stores or to
effectively manage the overall portfolio of our stores, it could
adversely affect our ability to grow and could significantly
harm our profitability.

Our future results will largely depend on our ability to operate
our stores successfully in the United States, Canada, the
United Kingdom and Ireland and optimizing store productivity
and profitability by closing select stores, relocating and
downsizing other stores and remodeling and opening select
stores in a new design. Through 2008 we had opened over
300 stores and acquired 40 in the UK. Since then we slowed
net store growth considerably with one net closure in both
2009 and 2010 and three net closures in 2011, exclusive of
temporary locations. In 2012, we announced a plan to
reduce our store count in North America to 225 to 250
stores. We plan to achieve this with 50 to 60 additional
closures by the end of 2014. This is in addition to the 10
locations closed in 2012 and 12 locations closed in 2011.
Our ability to manage our portfolio of stores in future years in

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desirable locations and operate stores profitably, particularly
in multi-store markets, is a key factor in our ability to grow
successfully. We cannot assure you as to when or whether
desirable locations will become available, the number of
Build-A-Bear Workshop stores that we can or will ultimately
open, or whether any such new or relocated stores can be
profitably operated. We have not always succeeded in
identifying desirable locations or in operating our stores
successfully in those locations. For example, in 2012, 2011
and 2010, we closed two, five and four locations,
respectively, prior to the expiration of their respective leases.
Prior to 2010, we had closed four stores since our inception
(excluding four stores that we closed in connection with our
2006 acquisition of Amsbra and The Bear Factory in the UK).
We may decide to close other stores in the future. Our ability
to successfully manage our portfolio of stores also depends on
our ability to:

(cid:129) negotiate acceptable lease terms, including desired

tenant improvement allowances;

(cid:129) finance the costs of closing, relocating and opening

stores, including, severance and termination fees for store
closures and capital expenditures and working capital
requirements of the new and relocated stores;

(cid:129) manage inventory to meet the needs of new and existing

stores on a timely basis;

(cid:129) hire, train and retain qualified store personnel;

(cid:129) develop cooperative relationships with our landlords; and

(cid:129) successfully integrate new stores into our existing

operations.

In July 2005, we opened our flagship store in

New York City. This store is much larger than our typical mall-
based stores and as such, we may be unable to generate
revenues from this store at a level that justifies keeping the
store open. Closing this store could not only have an adverse
impact on our sales if we are unable to establish other retail
locations within the market, but, as our flagship store, it could
also have an adverse impact on the Build-A-Bear Workshop
brand and consumer perception of our brand.

Increased demands on our operational, managerial and
administrative resources as a result of our store strategy could
cause us to operate our business less effectively, which in turn
could cause deterioration in our profitability. Additionally,
closing multiple stores could have an adverse impact on the
Build-A-Bear Workshop brand and consumer perception of
our brand.

We may not be able to operate our foreign company-owned
stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland profitably.

In April 2006, we acquired The Bear Factory Limited, a
stuffed animal retailer in the United Kingdom owned by The
Hamleys Group Limited, and Amsbra Limited, our former
United Kingdom franchisee (the UK Acquisition). Both The
Bear Factory and Amsbra had losses prior to our acquisition.

Although we have realized some benefits from these
operations as part of our larger company, we may be unable
to continue to do so on a consistent basis. In particular, we
face business, regulatory and cultural differences from our
domestic business, such as economic conditions, changes in
foreign government policies and regulations and potential
restrictions and costs to convert and repatriate currency, as
well as other risks that we may not anticipate. We also face
difficulties realizing benefits because we have less brand
awareness than in the U.S., face higher labor and rent costs,
and have different holiday schedules. In 2007, we terminated
our French franchise agreement and opened three
company-owned stores in France. We were unable to operate
the stores in France profitably and in 2010, we closed all
three of our company-owned stores in France. Additionally
in 2012, we recognized an impairment charge on all of the
goodwill associated with our UK acquisition along with the
store assets at certain store locations with poor operating
results.

Our leases in the United Kingdom and Ireland also
typically contain provisions requiring rent reviews every five
years in which the base rent that we pay is adjusted to current
market rates. These rent reviews require that base rents cannot
be reduced if market conditions have deteriorated but can be
changed “upwards only”. We may be required to pay base
rents that are significantly higher than we have forecast. For
example, past rent reviews have resulted in increases as high
as 40% in select locations within the United Kingdom. As a
result of these and other factors, we may not be able to
operate our European store locations profitably. If we are
unable to do so, our results of operations and financial
condition could be harmed and we may be required to record
significant additional impairment charges.

If we are unable to renew, renegotiate or replace our store
leases or enter into leases for new stores on favorable terms,
or if we violate any of the terms of our current leases, our
growth and profitability could be harmed.

We lease all of our store locations. The majority of our store
leases contain provisions for base rent plus percentage rent
based on sales in excess of an agreed upon minimum annual
sales level. A number of our leases include a termination
provision which applies if we do not meet certain sales levels
during a specified period, typically in the third to fourth year
and the sixth to seventh year of the lease, which may be at
either the landlord’s options or ours. Furthermore, some of our
leases contain various restrictions relating to change of control
of our company. Our leases also subject us to risks relating
to compliance with changing mall rules and the exercise of
discretion by our landlords on various matters within the
malls. In addition, the lease for our store in the
Downtown Disney® District at the Disneyland® Resort in
Anaheim, California currently expires in 2013 and we have
not reached agreement on renewal terms. This lease provides
that the landlord may terminate the lease at any time, subject

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BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

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to the payment of an early termination fee. As a result, we
cannot assure you that the landlord will not exercise its right
to terminate this lease.

In addition, most of our other leases will expire within
the next ten years and many of our initial leases are near
completion and do not contain options to renew. We may not
be offered a lease renewal by our landlord, may not be able
to renew leases under favorable economic terms or maintain
our existing store location thereby requiring additional capital
expenditure to move the store location within the mall. Those
locations may be in parts of the mall that have less traffic or
be positioned further from our desired co-tenants and our
ongoing sales and profitability results may be negatively
affected. The terms of new leases may not be as favorable,
increasing store expenses and impacting overall profitability.
If we execute termination rights, we may have expenses and
charges associated with those closures which could negatively
impact our profitability.

Our merchandise is manufactured by foreign manufacturers
and we transact business in various foreign countries;
therefore the availability and costs of our products, as well as
our product pricing, may be negatively affected by risks
associated with international manufacturing and trade and
foreign currency fluctuations.

We purchase our merchandise from domestic vendors who
contract with manufacturers in foreign countries, primarily in
China. Any event causing a disruption of imports, including the
imposition of import restrictions or labor strikes or lock-outs,
could adversely affect our business. The flow of merchandise
from our vendors could also be adversely affected by financial
or political instability in any of the countries in which the
goods we purchase are manufactured, especially China, if the
instability affects the production or export of merchandise from
those countries. We are subject to trade restrictions in the form
of tariffs or quotas, or both, applicable to the products we sell
as well as to raw material imported to manufacture those
products. Such tariffs or quotas are subject to change. Our
compliance with the regulations is subject to interpretation and
review by applicable authorities. Change in regulations or
interpretation could negatively impact our operations by
increasing the cost of and reducing the supply of products
available to us. In addition, decreases in the value of the U.S.
dollar against foreign currencies, particularly the Chinese
renminbi, could increase the cost of products we purchase
from overseas vendors. The pricing of our products in our
stores may also be affected by changes in foreign currency
rates and require us to make adjustments which would impact
our revenue and profit in various markets.

We may suffer negative publicity or be sued if the
manufacturers of our merchandise ship any products that do
not meet current safety standards or production requirements
or if our products are recalled or cause injuries.

Although we require our manufacturers to meet our product
specifications and safety standards and submit our products
for testing, we cannot control the materials used by our
manufacturers. If one of these manufacturers ships
merchandise that does not meet our required standards,
we could in turn experience negative publicity or be sued.
Many of our products are used by small children and
infants who may be injured from usage if age grading or
warnings are not followed. We may decide or be required
to recall products or be subject to claims or lawsuits resulting
from injuries. For example, we have voluntarily recalled four
products in the past four years due to possible safety issues.
While the vendors have historically reimbursed us for certain,
related expenses, negative publicity in the event of any recall
or if any children are injured from our products could have a
material adverse effect on sales of our products and our
business, and related recalls or lawsuits with respect to such
injuries could have a material adverse effect on our financial
position. Additionally, we could incur fines related to
consumer product safety issues from the regulatory authorities
in the countries in which we operate. Although we currently
have liability insurance, we cannot assure you that it would
cover product recalls or related fines, and we face the risk
that claims or liabilities will exceed our insurance coverage.
Furthermore, we may not be able to maintain adequate
liability insurance in the future.

We may not be able to operate successfully if we lose key
personnel, are unable to hire qualified additional personnel,
or experience turnover of our management team.

The success of our business depends upon our senior
management closely supervising all aspects of our business,
in particular the operation of our stores and the design,
procurement and allocation of our merchandise. Also,
because guest service is a defining feature of the Build-A-Bear
Workshop experience, we must be able to hire and train
qualified managers and Bear Builder associates to succeed.
The loss of certain key employees, our inability to attract and
retain other qualified key employees or a labor shortage that
reduces the pool of qualified store associates could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations. We generally do not maintain key
person insurance with respect to our executives.

For example, in January 2013, we announced that

Ms. Maxine Clark, our Founder and Chief Executive Bear
(CEB) would be retiring from her position as CEB of
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and that a search would be
conducted to identify her replacement. Ms. Clark currently
intends to remain with the company until a replacement is
hired and intends to remain on our Board of Directors. The
success of our business depends on our ability to attract a

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successor that can continue to drive the execution of the
company’s strategic initiatives as well as contribute additional
strategic thought leadership to our company. We may not be
able to retain all senior management or associates during the
transition period and integration period of the new CEB.

We have also announced our plans to close 50 to 60
additional stores by the end of 2014. To the extent available,
managers and associates will be offered opportunities at
nearby stores. This may lead to higher company turnover. In
addition, having fewer stores will limit promotion opportunities
in the future for current associates, which may have a negative
impact on our ability to retain quality employees, which may in
turn have a negative impact on our results of operations.

We rely on a few vendors to supply substantially all of our
merchandise, and significant price increases or any disruption
in their ability to deliver merchandise could harm our ability
to source products and supply inventory to our stores.

We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities. We
purchased approximately 80% of our merchandise in fiscal
2012, approximately 81% in fiscal 2011 and approximately
73% in fiscal 2010 from three vendors. Our 2010 purchases
included a significant purchase of non-proprietary toy products
that were incremental to our traditional purchasing. Excluding
these purchases, we purchased approximately 80% of our
merchandise from three vendors. These vendors in turn contract
for our orders with multiple manufacturing facilities located
primarily in China for the production of merchandise. Our
relationships with our vendors generally are on a purchase
order basis and do not provide a contractual obligation to
provide adequate supply or acceptable pricing on a long-term
basis. Our vendors could discontinue sourcing merchandise for
us at any time. If any of our significant vendors were to
discontinue their relationship with us, or if the factories with
which they contract were to suffer a disruption in their
production, we may be unable to replace the vendors in a
timely manner, which could result in short-term disruption to our
inventory flow or quality of the inventory as we transition our
orders to new vendors or factories which could, in turn, disrupt
our store operations and have an adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations. For
example in 2011, one factory used by one of our vendors
closed unexpectedly, causing us to quickly switch factories for
one product, affecting the quality and flow of the product.
Additionally, in the event of a significant price increase from
these suppliers, we may not be able to find alternative sources
of supply in a timely manner or raise prices to offset the
increases, which could have an adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.

Our profitability could be adversely affected by high
petroleum products prices.

The profitability of our business depends to a certain degree
upon the price of petroleum products, both as a component
of the transportation costs for delivery of inventory from our
vendors to our stores and as a raw material used in the
production of our animal skins and stuffing. For example, our
results in fiscal 2012, 2011, 2008 and 2007 were impacted
by significant increases in fuel surcharges due to higher
petroleum products prices. We are unable to predict what the
price of crude oil and the resulting petroleum products will be
in the future. We may be unable to pass along to our
customers the increased costs that would result from higher
petroleum prices. Therefore, any such increase could have
an adverse impact on our business and profitability.

If we are not able to franchise new stores outside of the
United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, if we
are unable to effectively manage our international franchises
or if the laws relating to our international franchises change,
our growth and profitability could be adversely affected and
we could be exposed to additional liability.

In 2003, we began to expand the Build-A-Bear Workshop
brand outside of the United States, opening company-owned
stores in Canada and our first franchised location in the
United Kingdom. We have continued to expand outside of
our company-owned regions through franchising in a number
of countries. As of December 29, 2012, there were 91
Build-A-Bear Workshop franchised stores located outside of
the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
We cannot assure you that our franchisees will be successful
in identifying and securing desirable locations or in operating
their stores. International markets frequently have different
demographic characteristics, competitive conditions,
consumer tastes and discretionary spending patterns than
our existing North American and European markets, which
may cause these stores to be less successful than those in
our existing markets. Additionally, our franchisees may
experience financing, merchandising and distribution
expenses and challenges that are different from those we
currently encounter in our existing markets. The operations
and results of our franchisees could be negatively impacted
by the economic or political factors in the countries in
which they operate or foreign currency fluctuations. These
challenges, as well as others, could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.

The success of our franchising strategy will depend upon

our ability to attract and maintain qualified franchisees with
sufficient financial resources to develop and grow the
franchise operation and upon the ability of those franchisees
to successfully develop and operate their franchised stores.
Franchisees may not operate stores in a manner consistent
with our standards and requirements, may not hire and train
qualified managers and other store personnel and may not

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operate their stores profitably. As a result, our franchising
strategy may not be profitable to us. Moreover, our brand
image and reputation may suffer. When franchisees perform
below expectations we may transfer those agreements to other
parties or discontinue the franchise agreement. Furthermore,
even if our international franchising strategy is successful, the
interests of franchisees might sometimes conflict with our
interests. For example, whereas franchisees are concerned
with their individual business strategies and objectives, we
are responsible for ensuring the success of the Build-A-Bear
Workshop brand and all of our stores.

The laws of the various foreign countries in which our

franchisees operate govern our relationships with our
franchisees. These laws, and any new laws that may be
enacted, may detrimentally affect the rights and obligations
between us and our franchisees and could expose us to
additional liability.

Portions of our business are subject to privacy and security
risks. If we improperly obtain, or are unable to protect,
information from our guests, in violation of privacy or security
laws or expectations, we could be subject to liability and
damage to our reputation.

Our Web site, bearville.com, features children’s games and in
world e-mail and chat system. In addition, our e-commerce
site, buildabear.com, features e-cards and printable party
invitations and thank-you notes and provides an opportunity
for children under the age of 13 to sign up, with the consent
of their parent or guardian, to receive our online newsletter.
We currently obtain and retain personal information about
our Web site users, store shoppers and Stuff Fur Stuff loyalty
program members. In addition, we obtain personal
information about our guests as part of their registration in our
Find-A-Bear identification system. Federal, state and foreign
governments have enacted or may enact laws or regulations
regarding the collection and use of personal information, with
particular emphasis on the collection of information regarding
minors. Such regulations include or may include requirements
that companies establish procedures to:

(cid:129) give adequate notice regarding information collection

and disclosure practices;

(cid:129) allow consumers to have personal information deleted

from a company’s database;

(cid:129) provide consumers with access to their personal
information and the ability to rectify inaccurate
information;

(cid:129) obtain express parental consent prior to collecting and

using personal information from children; and

(cid:129) comply with the Federal Children’s Online Privacy

Protection Act.

Such regulation may also include enforcement and
redress provisions. While we have implemented programs
and procedures designed to protect the privacy of people,
including children, from whom we collect information, and our

websites are designed to be fully compliant with the Federal
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, there can be no
assurance that such programs will conform to all applicable
laws or regulations. If we fail to fully comply, we may be
subjected to liability and damage to our reputation.

We have a stringent, comprehensive privacy policy
covering the information we collect from our guests and have
established security features to protect our guest database
and website. However, our security measures may not
prevent security breaches. We may need to expend
significant resources to protect against security breaches or to
address problems caused by breaches. If unauthorized third
parties were able to penetrate our network security and gain
access to, or otherwise misappropriate, our guests’ personal
information, it could harm our reputation and, therefore, our
business and we could be subject to liability. Such liability
could include claims for misuse of personal information or
unauthorized use of credit cards. These claims could result
in litigation, our involvement in which, regardless of the
outcome, could require us to expend significant financial
resources. In addition, because our guest database primarily
includes personal information of young children and young
children frequently interact with our website, we are
potentially vulnerable to charges from parents, children’s
organizations, governmental entities, and the media of
engaging in inappropriate collection, distribution or other use
of data collected from children. Such charges could adversely
impact guest relationships and ultimately cause a decrease
in net sales and also expose us to litigation and possible
liability.

Our virtual world Web site, primarily for children,
bearville.com, allows social interaction between users. While
we have security features and chat monitoring, our security
measures may not protect users’ identities and our online
safety measures may be questioned which may result in
negative publicity or a decrease in visitors to our site. If site
users act inappropriately or seek unauthorized contact with
other users of the site, it could harm our reputation and,
therefore, our business and we could be subject to liability.
Internet privacy is a rapidly changing area and we may be
subject to future requirements and legislation that are costly
to implement and negatively impact our results.

We may suffer negative publicity or be sued if the
manufacturers of our merchandise violate labor laws or
engage in practices that our guests believe are unethical.

We rely on our sourcing personnel to select manufacturers
with legal and ethical labor practices, but we cannot control
the business and labor practices of our manufacturers. If one
of these manufacturers violates labor laws or other applicable
regulations or is accused of violating these laws and
regulations, or if such a manufacturer engages in labor or
other practices that diverge from those typically acceptable
in the United States, we could in turn experience negative
publicity or be sued.

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We may suffer negative publicity or a decrease in sales or
profitability if the non-proprietary toy products we sell in our
stores do not meet our quality standards or fail to achieve our
sales expectations.

We expect to expand our product assortment to include
interactive toy products manufactured by other toy companies.
If sales of such products do not meet our expectations or are
impacted by competitors’ pricing, we may have to take
markdowns or employ other strategies to liquidate the
product. If other toy companies do not meet quality standards
or violate any manufacturing or labor laws, we suffer negative
publicity and not realize our sales plans.

We rely on a company-owned distribution center to service
the majority of our stores in North America, and our
third-party distribution center providers used in the western
United States and Europe may perform poorly.

The efficient operation of our stores is dependent on our
ability to distribute merchandise to locations throughout
the United States, Canada and Europe in a timely manner.
We have a 350,000-square-foot distribution center in
Groveport, Ohio. We rely on this company-owned distribution
center to receive, store and distribute merchandise for the
majority of our North America stores. We rely on third parties
to manage all of the warehousing and distribution aspects of
our business on the West Coast of the United States and in
Europe. Any significant interruption in the operation of the
distribution centers due to natural disasters and severe
weather, as well as events such as fire, accidents, power
outages, system failures or other unforeseen causes could
damage a significant portion of our inventory. These factors
may also impair our ability to adequately stock our stores and
could decrease our sales and increase our costs associated
with our supply chain.

Our market share may be adversely impacted at any time by
a significant number of competitors.

We operate in a highly competitive environment
characterized by low barriers to entry. We compete against a
diverse group of competitors. Because we are mall-based, we
see our competition as those mall-based retailers that compete
for prime mall locations, including various apparel, footwear
and specialty retailers. As a retailer whose signature product
is a stuffed animal that is typically purchased as a toy or gift,
we also compete with toy retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Toys
“R” Us, Target, Kmart and other discount chains, as well as
with a number of manufacturers that sell plush toys in the
United States and Canada, including, but not limited to, Ty,
Fisher Price, Mattel, Ganz, Russ Berrie, Applause, Boyds,
Hasbro, Commonwealth, Gund and Vermont Teddy Bear.
Since we offer our guests an experience as well as
merchandise, we also view our competition as any company
that competes for our guests’ time and entertainment dollars,
such as movie theaters, restaurants, amusement parks

and arcades. In addition, there are several small companies
that operate “make your own” teddy bear and stuffed animal
experiences in retail stores and kiosks. Although we believe
that currently none of these companies offers the breadth and
depth of the Build-A-Bear Workshop products and experience,
we cannot assure you that they will not compete directly with
us in the future.

Many of our competitors have longer operating histories,
significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources,
and greater name recognition. We cannot assure you that we
will be able to compete successfully with them in the future,
particularly in geographic locations that represent new
markets for us. If we fail to compete successfully, our market
share and results of operations could be materially and
adversely affected.

We also believe that there is an emerging trend within
children’s play patterns towards electronic toys, internet and
online play. According to Emarketer.com, kids aged eight to
eleven reported that they spend between one and two hours
online each day. We believe our Web site, bearville.com,
competes with other companies and internet sites that vie for
children’s attention in the online space including
webkinz.com, clubpenguin.com and neopets.com. A growing
number of traditional children’s toy and entertainment
companies have also developed their own virtual world online
play sites including Barbie.com® and McWorld. We cannot
assure you that children’s preferences for our products will
remain strong or that our on line Web site for children,
bearville.com, will be successful in attracting children to our
brand. If children decide to engage with other products or
Web sites, our sales will be negatively impacted and our
results will be materially impacted.

We may fail to renew, register or otherwise protect our
trademarks or other intellectual property and may be sued by
third parties for infringement or, misappropriation of their
proprietary rights, which could be costly, distract our
management and personnel and which could result in the
diminution in value of our trademarks and other important
intellectual property.

Other parties have asserted in the past, and may assert in
the future, trademark, patent, copyright or other intellectual
property rights that are important to our business. We cannot
assure you that others will not seek to block the use of or seek
monetary damages or other remedies for the prior use of our
brand names or other intellectual property or the sale of our
products or services as a violation of their trademark, patent
or other proprietary rights. Defending any claims, even claims
without merit, could be time-consuming, result in costly
settlements, litigation or restrictions on our business and
damage our reputation.

In addition, there may be prior registrations or use of
intellectual property in the U.S. or foreign countries for similar
or competing marks or other proprietary rights of which we
are not aware. In all such countries it may be possible for any

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third party owner of a national trademark registration or other
proprietary right to enjoin or limit our expansion into those
countries or to seek damages for our use of such intellectual
property in such countries. In the event a claim against us
were successful and we could not obtain a license to the
relevant intellectual property or redesign or rename our
products or operations to avoid infringement, our business,
financial condition or results of operations could be harmed.
Securing registrations does not fully insulate us against
intellectual property claims, as another party may have rights
superior to our registration or our registration may be
vulnerable to attack on various grounds.

Poor global economic conditions could have a material
adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources.

In 2008 and 2009, the general economic and capital market
conditions in the United States and other parts of the world
deteriorated significantly. These conditions adversely affected
borrowers’ access to capital and increased the cost of capital.
Although we believe that our capital structure and credit
facilities will provide sufficient liquidity, there can be no
assurance that our liquidity will not be affected by changes in
the capital markets or that our capital resources will at all
times be sufficient to satisfy our liquidity needs. Capital market
conditions may affect the renewal or replacement of our credit
agreement, which was originally entered into in 2000 and
has been extended annually since then and currently expires
December 31, 2014.

RISKS RELATED TO OWNING OUR COMMON STOCK

Fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations could cause
the price of our common stock to substantially decline.

Retailers generally are subject to fluctuations in quarterly
results. Our operating results for one period may not be
indicative of results for other periods, and may fluctuate
significantly due to a variety of factors, including:

(cid:129) the profitability of our stores;

(cid:129) increases or decreases in comparable store sales;

(cid:129) changes in general economic conditions and consumer

spending patterns;

(cid:129) seasonal shopping patterns, including whether the Easter
holiday occurs in the first or second quarter and other
school holiday schedules;

(cid:129) the effectiveness of our inventory management;

(cid:129) the timing and frequency of our marketing initiatives;

(cid:129) changes in consumer preferences;

(cid:129) the continued introduction and expansion of merchandise

offerings;

(cid:129) actions of competitors or mall anchors and co-tenants;

(cid:129) weather conditions;

(cid:129) the timing of store closures, relocations and openings and

related expenses; and

(cid:129) the timing and frequency of national media appearances

and other public relations events.

If our future quarterly results fluctuate significantly or fail

to meet the expectations of the investment community, then the
market price of our common stock could decline substantially.

Fluctuations in our operating results could reduce our cash
flow and we may be unable to repurchase shares at all or at
the times or in the amounts we desire or the results of the
share repurchase program may not be as beneficial as we
would like.

Our Board of Directors has implemented a $50 million share
repurchase program. The program does not require the
Company to repurchase any specific number of shares of our
common stock, and may be modified, suspended or
terminated at any time without prior notice. Shares
repurchased under the program will be subsequently retired. If
our cash flow decreases as a result of decreased sales,
increased expenses or capital expenditures or other uses of
cash, we may not be able to repurchase shares of our
common stock at all or at times or in the amounts we desire.
As a result, the results of the share repurchase program may
not be as beneficial as we would like.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law
contain provisions that may prevent or frustrate attempts to
replace or remove our current management by our
stockholders, even if such replacement or removal may be in
our stockholders’ best interests.

Our basic corporate documents and Delaware law contain
provisions that might enable our management to resist a
takeover. These provisions:

(cid:129) restrict various types of business combinations with

significant stockholders;

(cid:129) provide for a classified board of directors;

(cid:129) limit the right of stockholders to remove directors or

change the size of the board of directors;

(cid:129) limit the right of stockholders to fill vacancies on the

board of directors;

(cid:129) limit the right of stockholders to act by written consent

and to call a special meeting of stockholders or propose
other actions;

(cid:129) require a higher percentage of stockholders than would
otherwise be required to amend, alter, change or repeal
our bylaws and certain provisions of our certificate of
incorporation; and

(cid:129) authorize the issuance of preferred stock with any voting
rights, dividend rights, conversion privileges, redemption
rights and liquidation rights and other rights, preferences,
privileges, powers, qualifications, limitations or
restrictions as may be specified by our board of
directors.

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2012 FORM 10-K

These provisions may:

(cid:129) discourage, delay or prevent a change in the control of
our company or a change in our management, even if
such change may be in the best interests of our
stockholders;

(cid:129) adversely affect the voting power of holders of common

stock; and

(cid:129) limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the

future for shares of our common stock.

We lease all of our store locations. Due to our attraction

as a family-oriented entertainment destination concept, we
continue to have high interest from mall owners and
developers to locate a Build-A-Bear Workshop store in their
malls. We believe that we generally have negotiated favorable
lease terms including provisions providing for exclusivity of
operation of our concept in the mall. Our stores are located in
a variety of shopping center types. As of December 29, 2012,
the distribution of our stores is as follows:

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

STORES

As of December 29, 2012, we operated 291 retail stores
located primarily in major malls throughout the United States,
Canada and Puerto Rico, 58 stores located in the
United Kingdom and two stores in Ireland in our Retail
segment. Our North American stores generally range in size
from approximately 2,000 to 4,000 gross square feet and
average approximately 2,800 square feet, while our tourist
location stores currently range up to 7,000 square feet and
our flagship store in New York City is approximately 20,000
square feet. Our UK stores range in size from approximately
800 to 2,300 selling square feet and average approximately
1,400 selling square feet. Our stores are highly visual and
colorful featuring a teddy bear theme and larger than life
details including a “sentry bear” at the front entry,
custom-designed fixtures as well as a customized Build-A-Bear
Workshop tile logo in our entryway. Our stores are designed
to be open and inviting so that guests can fully immerse in the
shopping experience and actively participate in the creation
and customization of their purchase. Our typical store features
one or two stuffing machines, three to five Name Me
computer stations and numerous displays of fully-dressed
stuffed animals throughout the store. We select malls and
make site selections within the mall based upon demographic
analysis, market research, site visits and mall dynamics as
well as actual past history and mall performance metrics. We
have identified additional target sites that meet our criteria for
new stores in new and existing markets. We seek to locate
our mall-based stores in areas with maximum customer traffic,
often near to or in the center of the mall, as well as offering
adjacencies to other children, teen and family retailers.

Super regional center
Regional center
Open air lifestyle center
Outlet center(1)
Other (theme, NYC, concession)

Total traditional stores

Temporary locations
Other (ballparks, zoo)

Total company-owned retail locations

210
89
17
11
16

343
4
4

351

(1) Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in outlet centers are not merchandised with

outlet merchandise.

Most of our leases have an initial term of ten years and

do not have renewal options or clauses although our leases in
the United Kingdom are typically covered by laws and
regulations that give us priority rights of renewal. A number of
our leases, primarily in North America, provide a lease
termination or “kick out” option, which may be mutual,
allowing either party to exercise the option in a
pre-determined year or years, typically the third or fourth year
and sixth or seventh year of the lease, if we do not meet
certain agreed upon minimum sales levels. In addition, our
leases typically require us to pay personal property taxes, our
pro rata share of real property taxes of the shopping mall, our
own utilities, repairs and maintenance in our store, a pro rata
share of the malls’ common area maintenance and, in some
instances, merchant association fees and media fund
contributions. Most of our leases in North America also
require the payment of a fixed minimum rent as well as
percentage rent based on sales in excess of agreed upon
minimum annual sales levels. Our leases in the United
Kingdom and Ireland typically have rent reviews every five
years in which the base rental rate is adjusted to current
market rates if they are higher than the original rent agreed.

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NON-STORE PROPERTIES

In addition to leasing all of our store locations, we lease
approximately 59,000 square feet for our corporate
headquarters, or World Bearquarters, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Our World Bearquarters houses our corporate staff, our
call center and our on-site training facilities. The lease was
amended, effective January 1, 2008 with a six-year term, and
may be extended for two additional five-year terms. In
September 2006, we completed construction of a company-
owned warehouse and distribution center, or Bearhouse, in
Groveport, Ohio, which is utilized primarily by our Retail
segment. The facility is approximately 350,000 square feet.
In 2007, our web fulfillment site moved to the Bearhouse.

In the United Kingdom, we lease approximately 2,000

square feet for our regional headquarters in
Windsor, England. The lease commenced in August 2003.
The lease can be terminated at any time by either party giving
notice of termination six months prior to cancellation.

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time we are involved in ordinary routine
litigation typical for companies engaged in our line of
business. We are involved in several court actions seeking to
enforce our intellectual property rights or to determine the
validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. As of the
date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are not involved
in any pending legal proceedings that we believe would be
likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition or results of
operations.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable

Following is a list of our 351 company-owned stores in
the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland
as of December 29, 2012:

Number of

Stores State

Number of
Stores

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . .
Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . .
Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . .
California . . . . . . . . . .
Colorado . . . . . . . . . .
Connecticut . . . . . . . . .
Delaware . . . . . . . . . .
District of Columbia . . .
Florida . . . . . . . . . . . .
Georgia . . . . . . . . . . .
Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . .
Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . .
Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . .
Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maryland . . . . . . . . . .
Massachusetts . . . . . . .
Michigan . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
Mississippi

5 Missouri
. . . . . . . . . .
1 Montana . . . . . . . . . .
5 Nebraska . . . . . . . . .
3 Nevada . . . . . . . . . .
27 New Hampshire . . . .
6 New Jersey . . . . . . . .
5 New Mexico . . . . . . .
1 New York . . . . . . . . .
1 North Carolina . . . . .
20 Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 Oklahoma . . . . . . . . .
1 Oregon . . . . . . . . . . .
9 Pennsylvania . . . . . . .
7 Puerto Rico . . . . . . . .
3 Rhode Island . . . . . . .
2 South Carolina . . . . .
3 Tennessee . . . . . . . . .
5 Texas . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . .
9 Washington . . . . . . .
4 West Virginia . . . . . .
2 Wisconsin . . . . . . . . .
2

Canadian Province

United Kingdom

Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . .
British Columbia . . . . .
Manitoba . . . . . . . . . .
Nova Scotia . . . . . . . .
Ontario . . . . . . . . . . . .
Quebec . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saskatchewan . . . . . . .

3 England . . . . . . . . . .
2 Scotland . . . . . . . . . .
1 Wales . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 Northern Ireland . . . .
9 Republic of Ireland . .
3
1

9
1
1
3
2
11
1
12
9
10
2
3
11
1
1
3
6
25
3
9
5
1
5

50
6
1
1
2

20

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON

EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) under the symbol “BBW.” Our common stock
commenced trading on the NYSE on October 28, 2004.
The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of
our common stock for the periods indicated.

First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

Fiscal 2012

Fiscal 2011

High

$8.73
$5.41
$5.24
$4.31

Low

High

Low

$5.01
$4.03
$3.82
$3.10

$8.66
$7.00
$6.63
$8.80

$6.00
$5.53
$4.60
$4.37

As of March 8, 2013, the number of holders of record of

the Company’s common stock totaled approximately 2,541.

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The following performance graph compares the 60-month
cumulative total stockholder return of our common stock, with
the cumulative total return on the Russell 2000® Index and an
SEC-defined peer group of companies identified as SIC Code
5600-5699 (the “Peer Group”). The Peer Group consists of
companies whose primary business is the operation of
apparel and accessory retail stores. Build-A-Bear Workshop
is not strictly a merchandise retailer and there is a strong
interactive, entertainment component to our business which
differentiates us from retailers in the Peer Group. However,
in the absence of any other readily identifiable peer group,
we believe the use of the Peer Group is appropriate.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The performance graph starts on December 29, 2007

and ends on December 28, 2012, the last trading day prior
to December 29, 2012, the end of our fiscal 2012. The
graph assumes that $100 was invested on December 29,
2007 in each of our common stock, the Russell 2000 Index
and the Peer Group, and that all dividends were reinvested.

These indices are included only for comparative purposes

as required by SEC rules and do not necessarily reflect
management’s opinion that such indices are an appropriate
measure of the relative performance of our common
stock. They are not intended to forecast the possible future
performance of our common stock.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Russell 2000
SIC Codes 5600-5699

$200
$175
$150
$125
$100
$75
$50
$25
$0

Dec.
2007

Jan.
2009

Jan.
2010

Jan.
2011

Dec.
2011

Dec.
2012

Dec.
2007

100.00

100.00

100.00

Jan.
2009

32.09

66.56

61.78

Jan.
2010

33.68

83.58

Jan.
2011

Dec.
2011

Dec.
2012

52.62

58.26

26.93

106.02

101.60

115.80

108.38

139.40

157.62

186.23

* $100 invested on 12/29/07 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.

(a)
Total Number of
Shares
(or Units)
Purchased(1)

(b)
Average
Price Paid
Per Share
(or Unit)

215
366,741
—

366,956

$4.03
$3.67
$ —

$3.67

(c)
Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs(2)

—
366,700
—

366,700

(d)
Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares (or Units)
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs(2)

$8,711,999
$7,364,562
$7,364,562

Period

Sep. 30, 2012 — Oct. 27, 2012
Oct. 28, 2012 — Nov. 24, 2012
Nov. 25, 2012 — Dec. 29, 2012

Total

(1) Includes shares of our common stock delivered to us in satisfaction of the tax withholding obligation of holders of restricted shares which vested during the

quarter. Our equity incentive plans provide that the value of shares delivered to us to pay the withholding tax obligations is calculated at the closing trading price
of our common stock on the date the relevant transaction occurs.

(2) On February 28, 2013, we announced the further extension of our $50 million share repurchase program of our outstanding common stock until March 31,

2014. The program was authorized by our board of directors. Purchases may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, with the level
and timing of activity depending on market conditions, applicable regulatory requirements, and other factors. Purchase activity may be increased, decreased or
discontinued at any time without notice. Shares purchased under the program are subsequently retired. As of March 8, 2013, we had approximately $7.4 million
of availability under the program.

21

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

There were no sales of unregistered securities during the past
three years.

DIVIDEND POLICY

No dividends were paid in 2012 or 2011. We anticipate
that we will retain any future earnings to support operations,
to finance the growth and development of our business and to
repurchase shares of our common stock from time to time and
we do not expect, at this time, to pay cash dividends in the
future. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy
will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and
will depend on a number of factors, including future earnings,
capital requirements, financial conditions, future prospects
and other factors that the board of directors may deem
relevant. Additionally, under our credit agreement, we are
prohibited from declaring dividends without the prior consent
of our lender, subject to certain exceptions, as described
in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and
Capital Resources”.

Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we refer to our
fiscal years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011,
January 1, 2011, January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009,
as fiscal years 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008,
respectively. Our fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks, and
ends on the Saturday nearest December 31 in each year.
Fiscal years 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 included
52 weeks and fiscal year 2008 included 53 weeks. All of our
fiscal quarters presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
included 13 weeks. When we refer to our fiscal quarters, or
any three month period ending as of a specified date, we are
referring to the 13-week period prior to that date.

The following table sets forth, for the periods and dates
indicated, our selected consolidated financial and operating
data. The balance sheet data as of December 29, 2012 and
December 31, 2011 and the statement of operations and
other financial data for our fiscal years ended December 29,
2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011 are derived
from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The balance sheet data as
of January 1, 2011, January 2, 2010, and January 3, 2009,
and the statement of operations and other financial data for
our fiscal years ended January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009
are derived from our audited consolidated financial
statements that are not included in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K. You should read our selected consolidated
financial and operating data in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements and related notes and
with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere
in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

22

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

(Dollars in thousands, except share, per share, per store

and per gross square foot data)

2012

2011

Fiscal Year

2010

2009

2008

Statement of income data:

Total revenues
Costs and expenses:

Cost of merchandise sold
Selling, general and administrative
Goodwill impairment
Store closing(1)
Losses from investment in affiliate(2)
Interest expense (income), net

Total costs and expenses

Income (loss) before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)

Net income (loss)

Earnings (loss) per common share:

Basic
Diluted

Shares used in computing common per share amounts:

Basic
Diluted

Other financial data:

Retail gross margin ($)(3)
Retail gross margin (%)(3)
Capital expenditures, net(4)
Depreciation and amortization

Cash flow data:

Cash flows provided by operating activities
Cash flows used in investing activities
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

Store data(5):

Number of stores at end of period
North America — Traditional
North America — Non-traditional

Total North America

Europe

Total stores

Square footage at end of period
North America — Traditional
North America —Non-traditional

Total North America

Europe(6)

Total square footage

Average net retail sales per store — North America(7)(8)
Net retail sales per gross square foot — North

America(8)(9)

Consolidated comparable store sales change (%)(10)

Balance sheet data:

Cash and cash equivalents
Working capital
Total assets
Total stockholders’ equity

$

$

$
$
$

$

$

$

$

380,941

$

394,375

$

401,452

$

395,906

$

468,316

230,181
165,516
33,670
—
—
3

429,370

(48,429)
866

234,227
162,881
—
—
—
(81)

397,027

(2,652)
14,410

(49,295) $

(17,062) $

239,556
164,618
—
—
—
(250)

403,924

(2,472)
(2,576)

104

(3.02) $
(3.02) $

(0.98) $
(0.98) $

0.01
0.01

$

$
$

16,331,672
16,331,672

17,371,315
17,371,315

18,601,465
18,653,012

145,687

38.9%

17,268
21,422

$

$

154,468

39.9%

12,248
24,232

$

$

155,128

40.1%

14,649
26,976

247,511
161,782
—
981
9,615
(143)

419,746

(23,840)
(11,367)

(12,473) $

(0.66) $
(0.66) $

270,918
188,018
—
2,952
—
(799)

461,089

7,227
2,663

4,564

0.24
0.24

18,874,352
18,874,352

19,153,123
19,224,273

142,572

36.7%

8,148
28,487

$

$

190,500

41.3%

23,215
28,883

$

$
$

$

$

14,864
$
(15,096) $
(1,224) $

$
16,010
(13,318) $
(14,587) $

$
22,021
(13,766) $
(7,216) $

$
23,990
(8,898) $
— $

23,615
(26,629)
(14,024)

283
8

291
60

351

287
11

298
58

356

290
15

305
54

359

291
5

296
54

350

292
5

297
54

351

805,770
12,610

818,380
86,331

904,711
1,003

350
(3.3)%

45,171
30,503
192,102
83,137

$

$

$

829,449
18,956

848,405
83,911

932,316
1,021

354
(2.1)%

46,367
37,610
241,571
129,243

$

$

$

841,600
32,950

874,550
77,520

952,070
1,030

356
(2.0)%

58,755
51,671
275,794
157,713

$

$

$

846,373
4,533

850,906
77,520

928,426
1,044

358
(13.4)%

60,399
53,865
284,273
164,780

$

$

$

856,504
4,533

861,037
77,520

938,557
1,329

445
(14.0)%

47,000
38,880
300,152
167,725

(1) Store closing represents expenses related to the closure of the friends 2B made concept.

(2)

(3)

In 2012, $475 of losses from investment in affiliate was included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Retail gross margin represents net retail sales less cost of retail merchandise sold, which excludes cost of wholesale merchandise sold. Retail gross margin
percentage represents retail gross margin divided by net retail sales.

(4) Capital expenditures, net consist of leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures, land, buildings, computer equipment and software purchases, as well as

trademarks, intellectual property, key money deposits and deferred leasing fees.

(5)

Excludes our web store and temporary, seasonal and event-based locations.

(6) Square footage for stores located in Europe is estimated selling square footage and includes stores in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France.

(7) Average net retail sales per store represents net retail sales from traditional stores open throughout the entire period in North America divided by the total

number of such stores.

(8) When we refer to average net retail sales per store and net retail sales per gross square foot for any period, we include in those calculations only those

traditional stores that have been open for that entire period in North America. European stores are not included.

(9) Net retail sales per gross square foot represents net retail sales from stores open throughout the entire period in North America divided by the total gross square

footage of such stores. European stores are not included.

(10) Comparable store sales percentage changes are based on net retail sales. Stores are considered comparable beginning in their thirteenth full month of operation.

23

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND

Selected financial data attributable to each segment for

ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Our actual results may differ materially from the results
discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might
cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those
discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K. The following section is qualified in its
entirety by the more detailed information, including our
financial statements and the notes thereto, which appears
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

OVERVIEW

We are the leading, and only international, company
providing a “make your own stuffed animal” interactive
entertainment experience under the Build-A-Bear Workshop
brand, in which our guests stuff, fluff, dress, accessorize and
name their own teddy bears and other stuffed animals. Our
concept, which we developed primarily for mall-based
retailing, capitalizes on what we believe is the relatively
untapped demand for experience-based shopping as well as
the widespread appeal of stuffed animals. The Build-A-Bear
Workshop experience appeals to a broad range of age
groups and demographics, including children, teens, their
parents and grandparents. As of December 29, 2012, we
operated 283 traditional stores in the United States, Canada
and Puerto Rico, 58 stores in the United Kingdom and two
stores in Ireland, and had 91 franchised stores operating in
international locations under the Build-A-Bear Workshop
brand. In addition to our stores, we sell our products on our
e-commerce Web site, buildabear.com and market our
products and build our brand through our “virtual world”
Web site, bearville.com, which complements our interactive
shopping experience and positively enhances our core brand
value. We also operate non-traditional store locations in a
Major League Baseball ballpark, a zoo, a science center, an
airport and other temporary locations.

We operate in three segments that share the same

infrastructure, including management, systems, merchandising
and marketing, and generate revenues as follows:

(cid:129) Company-owned retail stores located in the United

States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and
Ireland, a web store and seasonal, event-based locations;

(cid:129) Transactions with other business partners, mainly

comprised of licensing our intellectual property, including
entertainment properties, for third-party use and
wholesale product sales; and

(cid:129) International stores operated under franchise agreements.

fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, are set forth in Note 17 to our
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

For a discussion of the key trends and uncertainties that

have affected our revenues, income and liquidity, see the
“— Revenues,” “— Costs and Expenses” and “— Expansion
and Growth Potential” subsections of this Overview.

We believe that we have developed an appealing retail

store concept that, for North American stores open for the
entire year, averaged $1.0 million in fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011
and fiscal 2010 in net retail sales per store. For a discussion
of the changes in comparable store sales in fiscal years
2012, 2011 and 2010, see “— Revenues” below. Store
contribution, which consists of income (loss) before income tax
expense (benefit); interest; store depreciation, amortization
and impairment; goodwill impairment; losses from investment
in affiliate, preopening and general and administrative
expense, excluding franchise fees, income from commercial
activities and contribution from our web store, temporary and
seasonal event-based locations, as a percentage of net retail
sales, excluding revenue from our web store, temporary and
seasonal and event-based locations, was 13.2% for fiscal
2012, 15.2% for fiscal 2011 and 15.3% for fiscal 2010.
Total company net loss as a percentage of total revenues was
12.9% for fiscal 2012 and 4.3% for fiscal 2011. Total
company net income as a percentage of total revenues was
0.0% for fiscal 2010. See “— Non-GAAP Financial
Measures” for a reconciliation of store contribution to net
(loss) income. The net loss in 2012 was primarily attributable
to the decrease in comparable store sales and the impairment
of the Company’s goodwill related to its UK operations. The
net loss in 2011 was primarily attributable to the decrease in
comparable store sales and the recording of a valuation
allowance on the Company’s US deferred tax assets.

In 2012, our results were negatively impacted by the
declining sales in the UK. In North America, the results reflect
the early results of turnaround efforts, increased costs for
marketing, newly imagined store design remodels and
openings and store closings. In 2011, our results reflect
stabilizing economic trends and modest mall traffic increases
but continuing low levels of consumer confidence. In 2011,
our store contribution percentage was essentially flat with
2010, as declining sales were offset by lower store expenses,
specifically payroll and supplies. In 2010, our results reflect
the challenging retail environment — economic recession,
declining mall traffic, and slowing consumer spending —
factors impacting many retailers and particularly our company
given the discretionary nature of our products and our
experience.

Our 2013 plan builds on steps taken in 2012 to balance
our long term business goals while recognizing the continuing
challenges of the retail environment. We plan to improve store
productivity and profitability by strategically closing 50 to 60
stores during the next two years and reducing the square

24

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

footage of an additional 10 to 15 stores by relocating them
within the same malls. This initiative will allow us to focus on
our business and align all operations around our goals of
improving our comparable stores sales performance and store
productivity, while also building our long term brand value.
We currently expect to transfer, on average, approximately
20% of the sales from the closed stores to other stores in the
same markets. In 2013, through March 8, we have closed
15 stores. Our current plans also include the relocation or
remodel of approximately 25 locations in 2013 with the
complete new design that feature a bold new look and
enhanced experience as we continue to lead in the interactive
experiential retail space.

While Build-A-Bear Workshop in North America will
operate fewer stores that we expect will have higher sales
volumes and profitability, we will continue to grow
internationally, primarily through our franchisees. We also
intend to increase shopping frequency by increasing new
guest traffic to its stores, specifically focusing on families with
children and intensifying digital engagement to increase visits
from our existing guests and by reinforcing our store as a top
destination for gifts. In 2009, we implemented cost reduction
initiatives that resulted in approximately $25 million in pre-tax
savings. We were able to maintain these savings in 2010
and 2011 and saved an additional $3 million in 2011. We
achieved an additional $7.5 million in savings in 2012 that
were used to support sales-driving marketing initiatives and
were partially offset by product cost increases. We ended
fiscal 2012 with no borrowings under our bank loan
agreement and with $45 million in cash and cash equivalents
after investing $17 million in capital projects and $1 million
in share repurchases.

Following is a description and discussion of the major

components of our statement of operations:

REVENUES

Net retail sales: Net retail sales are revenues from retail sales
(including our web store and other non-store locations), are
net of discounts, exclude sales tax, include shipping and
handling costs billed to customers, and are recognized at the
time of sale. Revenues from gift cards are recognized at the
time of redemption. Our guests use cash, checks, gift cards
and third party credit cards to make purchases. We classify
stores as new, non-comparable and comparable stores. Stores
enter the comparable store calculation in their thirteenth full
month of operation. Our web store and temporary, seasonal
and event-based locations are not included in our store count
or in our comparable store calculations. Non-comparable
stores also result from a store relocation or remodel that results
in a significant change in square footage. The net retail sales
for that location are excluded from comparable store sales
calculations until the thirteenth full month of operation after the
date of the change.

We have a loyalty program with a frequent shopper

reward feature, the Stuff Fur Stuff club. Members of the

program receive one point for every dollar spent and receive
awards after reaching certain point thresholds. On a quarterly
basis, an estimate of the obligation related to the program,
based on actual points and awards outstanding and historical
point conversion and award redemption patterns, is recorded
as an adjustment to deferred revenue and net retail sales. At
the time of redemption of the award, the deferred revenue
obligation is reduced, and a corresponding amount is
recognized in net retail sales. As the awards can be earned
or redeemed at any of our store locations, we account for
changes in the deferred revenue account at the total company
level only. Therefore, when we refer to net retail sales by
location, such as comparable stores or new stores, these
amounts do not include any changes in the deferred revenue
amount. See “— Critical Accounting Estimates” for additional
details on the accounting for the deferred revenue under our
customer loyalty program.

We use net retail sales per gross square foot and
comparable store sales as performance measures for our
business. The following table details net retail sales per gross
square foot by age of store for the periods presented:

Fiscal
2012

Fiscal
2011

Fiscal
2010

Net retail sales per gross square foot —

North America(1)(2)
Store Age > 5 years (247 stores in

2012, 220 stores in 2011)

$353

$362

$370

Store Age 3-5 years (19 stores in 2012,

56 stores in 2011)

$301

$315

$321

Store Age <3 years (3 stores in 2012,

4 stores in 2011)
All comparable stores

$464
$350

$369
$354

$317
$356

(1) Net retail sales per gross square foot represents net retail sales from

North American stores open throughout the entire period divided by the total
gross square footage of such stores. Calculated on an annual basis only.

(2) Excludes our web store, temporary and seasonal and event-based locations.

The percentage increase (or decrease) in comparable

store sales for the periods presented below is as follows:

Fiscal
2012

Fiscal
2011

Fiscal
2010

Comparable store sales change —

North America (%)(1)(2)
Store Age > 5 years (247 stores in 2012,

220 stores in 2011)

(2.0)% (2.1)% (0.4)%

Store Age 3-5 years (19 stores in 2012,

56 stores in 2011)

(3.2)% (5.1)% (3.3)%

Store Age <3 years (3 stores in 2012,

4 stores in 2011)

Total comparable store sales change

Comparable store sales change —

Europe (%)(1)(2)

Comparable store sales change —

Consolidated (%)(1)(2)

2.6% 1.0% (3.8)%
(2.0)% (2.5)% (1.2)%

(8.4)% (0.2)% (5.5)%

(3.3)% (2.1)% (2.0)%

(1) Comparable store sales percentage changes are based on net retail sales
and stores are considered comparable beginning in their thirteenth full
month of operation.

(2) Excludes our web store, temporary and seasonal and event-based locations.

25

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Fiscal 2012 consolidated comparable store sales
decreased by 3.3%, including an 8.4% decrease in Europe
and a 2.0% decrease in North America (full year comparable
store sales are compared to the 52 week period ended
Dec. 31, 2011). We believe the primary drivers of the overall
decline in consolidated comparable store sales for the full
year were as follows:

(cid:129) In the first half of 2012, we had benefit from higher

redemption rates and transaction value of our holiday gift
cards and from a promotion in the United States with
McDonald’s Happy Meals® that drove awareness of our
brand and brought traffic to our stores resulting in slightly
positive comparable store sales in North American
through the first twenty-six weeks.

(cid:129) In the fiscal 2012 third quarter, we experienced a

decline in the number of transactions compared to the
2011 third quarter which benefitted from a strong
product offering that was tied to a major theatrical
release supported by studio marketing and advertising.

(cid:129) In the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, we believe our new

brand building marketing campaign in the United States
along with a return to traditional holiday product
offerings resulted in an increase in North American
comparable store sales.

(cid:129) In the United Kingdom, we believe the negative economic
conditions contributed to a continued decline in consumer
sentiment and a corresponding decline in spending that
negatively impacted our comparable store sales
throughout the year.

Fiscal 2011 consolidated comparable store sales
decreased by 2.1%, including a 0.2% decrease in Europe
and a 2.5% decrease in North America (full year comparable
store sales are compared to the 52 week period ended
Jan. 1, 2011). We believe the overall decline in consolidated
comparable store sales for the full year was attributed
primarily to the following factors:

(cid:129) Through the third quarter, we had experienced a 0.9%

decrease in consolidated comparable store sale. Growth
in third quarter sales, which resulted from improved
merchandise assortments and successful promotional
events, only partially offset comparable stores sales
declines in the first half of the year, which were primarily
driven by a decline in transactions and negative
consumer sentiment and spending in the UK.

(cid:129) Further sales declines in the fourth quarter, attributable to
underperforming licensed movie product, resulted in a
decline for the full year.

Commercial revenue: Commercial revenue includes the

company’s transactions with other businesses, mainly through
wholesale and licensing transactions. Revenue from licensing
activities is generally based on a percentage of sales made
by licensees to third parties and is recognized at the time the
product is shipped by the licensee or at the point of sale. We
have entered into a number of licensing arrangements
whereby third parties manufacture and sell to other retailers
merchandise carrying the Build-A-Bear Workshop trademark.
Revenue from wholesale product sales includes revenue from
merchandise sold at stores operated by third parties under
licensing agreements like Landry’s restaurants. In 2010, it
also includes two transactions totaling $6.4 million with no
associated gross margin.

Franchise fees: We receive an initial, one-time franchise

fee for each master franchise agreement which is amortized to
revenue over the life of the respective franchise agreements,
which extend for periods up to 25 years. Master franchise
rights are typically granted to a franchisee for an entire
country or countries. Continuing franchise fees are based on a
percentage of sales made by the franchisees’ stores and are
recognized as revenue at the time of those sales.

As of December 29, 2012, we had 91 stores, including

17 opened and five closed in fiscal 2012, operating under
franchise arrangements in the following countries:

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gulf States(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21
14
10
8
8
6
6
6
4
3
3
2

91

(1) Gulf States agreement includes Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the

United Arab Emirates

COSTS AND EXPENSES

Cost of merchandise sold and retail gross margin: Cost of
merchandise sold includes the cost of the merchandise,
including royalties paid to licensors of third party branded
merchandise; store occupancy cost, including store
depreciation and store asset impairment charges; cost of
warehousing and distribution; packaging; stuffing; damages
and shortages; and shipping and handling costs incurred in
shipment to customers. Retail gross margin is defined as net
retail sales less the cost of retail merchandise sold, which
excludes cost of wholesale merchandise sold.

26

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Selling, general and administrative expense: These

STORES

expenses include store payroll and benefits, advertising, credit
card fees, store supplies and preopening expenses as well as
central office general and administrative expenses, including
costs for virtual world maintenance, management payroll,
benefits, stock-based compensation, travel, information
systems, accounting, insurance, normal store closings, legal
and public relations. These expenses also include
depreciation and amortization of central office leasehold
improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment as well as the
amortization of intellectual property costs.

In 2009, we achieved $22 million in savings in selling,

general and administrative expenses including marketing,
central office payroll and outside services. We were able to
maintain these savings in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, we
saved an additional $4 million in selling general and
administrative expenses that were used to support sales
driving marketing initiatives. Other store expenses such as
credit card fees and supplies historically have increased or
decreased proportionately with net retail sales.

We have share-based compensation plans covering the

majority of our management groups and our Board of
Directors. We account for share-based payments utilizing the
fair value recognition provisions of Accounting Standards
Codification (ASC) Section 718 — Stock Compensation. We
recognize compensation cost for equity awards over the
requisite service period for the entire award. In 2012, 2011
and 2010, we recorded stock based compensation of
approximately $3.6 million, $4.6 million and $4.8 million,
respectively.

Company-owned stores: The number of Build-A-Bear
Workshop stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico,
the United Kingdom, Ireland and France for the last three
fiscal years along with the projections for fiscal 2013 can be
summarized as follows:

Fifty-two Weeks Ended December 28,
2013 — Projected

December 29,
2012

Opened

Closed

December 28,
2013

283
8

291

60

351

2
—

2

—

2

(34)
(2)

(36)

(1)

(37)

251
6

257

59

316

Fifty-two Weeks Ended December 29, 2012

December 31,
2011

Opened

Closed

December 29,
2012

287
11

298

58

356

2
1

3

2

5

(6)
(4)

(10)

—

(10)

283
8

291

60

351

Fifty-two Weeks Ended December 31, 2011

January 1,
2011

Opened

Closed

December 31,
2011

290
15

305

54

359

2
2

4

5

9

(5)
(6)

(11)

(1)

(12)

287
11

298

58

356

North America
Traditional
Non-traditional

Europe

Total

North America
Traditional
Non-traditional

Europe

Total

North America
Traditional
Non-traditional

Europe

Total

Our long term store real estate goal is to improve our

stores’ sales productivity and profitability. Today we believe
that the optimal number of Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in
North America is between 225 and 250 and approximately
60 to 70 in the United Kingdom and Ireland for a total of 285
to 320 stores. We currently expect to reach the optimal level
in North America with the closure of 50 to 60 stores in fiscal
2013 and 2014. Locations to close and the timing of closures
are subject to ongoing negotiations and overall economic
considerations as we continually reevaluate our market
repositioning and optimization plans.

Integral to the success of our real estate optimization
strategies is the opening of our new store design which gives
certain stores destination appeal and increases productivity in
the market. The new design merges Build-A-Bear Workshop’s
iconic hands-on bear-making process with the power of
technology to provide an updated, highly interactive

27

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

experience for our guests. As of March 8, 2013, we have
opened six of these stores, one new store and five remodels
or relocations. We expect to open 25 additional remodeled
locations by the end of 2013. In 2012, we also opened
one traditional store and one non-traditional store in
North America and two traditional stores in the UK. The
traditional store in North America is a reopening in a mall
that had been closed since 2010 due to flooding.

We have been aggressively renegotiating rents and
executing short term extensions to line up lease dates within
markets as part of an overall strategic plan to optimize our
store locations and market positioning. As part of this
strategy, we will continue to close underperforming stores in
conjunction with natural lease expirations and kick out
clauses, primarily in multi-store markets. In these markets, we
currently expect to maintain approximately 20% of the sales
from closing stores by transferring customers to other locations
in the same market. We closed 10 and 12 stores in fiscal
2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively. We currently anticipate
closing approximately 35 to 40 stores, including certain
non-traditional store locations, in 2013 and approximately
20 additional stores in 2014. As a result, at the end of fiscal
2013, we anticipate that we will have approximately 310
traditional stores, 251 in North America and 59 in Europe
and six non-traditional stores. In 2013 through March 8, we
have closed 15 stores.

Non-traditional Store Locations: In 2004 we began
offering merchandise in seasonal, event-based locations such
as Major League Baseball ballparks. As of December 29,
2012, we had one location each in a ballpark, a zoo, a
science center, an airport and a hospital. In 2010, we
opened our first temporary stores, which generally have lease
terms of six to eighteen months and are excluded from our
store count. These locations are intended to capitalize on
short-term opportunities in specific locations. As of
December 29, 2012, we operated four temporary stores.

Commercial Revenue: In fiscal 2004, we began entering
into license agreements pursuant to which we receive royalties
on Build-A-Bear Workshop brand products produced and sold
by third parties. These agreements generated revenue of
$1.1 million in 2012, $1.8 million in 2011 and $2.8 million
in 2010. Wholesale revenue is primarily generated under
agreements with third-parties who operate Build-A-Bear
Workshop locations or sell our product in agreed-upon
outlets. These agreements generated revenue of $1.7 million
in 2012, $2.1 million in 2011 and $2.0 million in 2010. In
addition to our normal wholesale business, in 2010, we had
two wholesale transactions totaling $6.4 million with no
gross margin.

International Franchise Revenue: Our first franchisee
location was opened in November 2003. The number of
international, franchised stores opened and closed for the
periods presented below can be summarized as follows:

Beginning of period

Opened
Closed

End of period

Fiscal year

2012

2011

2010

79
17
(5)

91

63
19
(3)

79

65
10
(12)

63

As of December 29, 2012, we had 12 master franchise

agreements, which typically grant franchise rights for a
particular country or group of countries, covering an
aggregate of 16 countries. In the ordinary course of business,
we anticipate signing additional master franchise agreements
in the future and terminating other such agreements. We
expect our current franchisees to open eight to twelve stores
in fiscal 2013. We believe there is a market potential for
approximately 300 international stores outside of the
United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland,
which we expect to be operated primarily by new and
existing franchisees.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

2012 Overview
While fiscal 2012 was a challenging year, with an overall
decline in comparable store sales, significant impairment
charges and a decline in store contribution, we made
significant progress on our strategic objectives. We
announced our plans to close 50 to 60 stores by the end of
2014 and introduced our innovative new store design and
reintroduced brand building national television advertising
in the United States. In the fourth quarter, we began to
see indications that our strategic plans were having the
desired impact:

(cid:129) Our first six stores in the new design exceeded sales

expectations, increasing an average of 30%;

(cid:129) The ten stores that were closed in 2012 transferred an
average of 20% of sales to other stores in the same
market;

(cid:129) The television marketing that began in mid-October,

contributed to a significant improvement in the sales trend
in North America, with fourth quarter comparable store
sales increasing 1.5%;

(cid:129) The gift of experience message in our ad campaigns also
drove a 30% increase in gift card sales in the peak fourth
quarter gifting season. We expect to see the benefit of
these redemptions in 2013; and

(cid:129) We achieved cost savings of $7.5 million in 2012 which
we used to support sales-driving marketing initiatives and
to offset product cost increases.

28

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Fiscal 2013 will be a year of significant transition as we

Commercial revenue was $2.8 million in fiscal 2012

compared to $3.9 million in fiscal 2011, a decrease of
$1.2 million. This decrease was primarily due to an overall
decrease in licensing activity in 2012. Revenue from
international franchise fees increased to $3.6 million for fiscal
2012 from $3.4 million for fiscal 2011, an increase of
$0.2 million. This increase was primarily due to the increase
in the number of franchise locations from 79 at the end of
fiscal 2011 to 91 at the end of fiscal 2012.

Gross margin. Total gross margin, calculated as net
retail sales and commercial revenues less cost of merchandise
sold, was $147.2 million for fiscal 2012 compared to
$156.8 million for fiscal 2011, a decrease of $9.6 million, or
6.1%. Retail gross margin was $145.7 million in fiscal 2012
compared to $154.5 million in fiscal 2011, a decrease of
$8.8 million, or 5.7%. As a percentage of net retail sales,
retail gross margin decreased to 38.9% for fiscal 2012 from
39.9% for fiscal 2011, a decrease of 100 basis points as a
percentage of net retail sales (bps). This decline in margin
was primarily attributable to decreased leverage on fixed
occupancy costs, including store asset impairment charges
and decreased merchandise margin, partially offset by cost
savings in distribution and packaging costs.

Selling, general and administrative. Selling, general and
administrative expenses were $165.5 million for fiscal 2012
as compared to $162.9 million for fiscal 2011, an increase
of $2.6 million, or 1.6%. As a percentage of total revenues,
selling, general and administrative expenses were 43.4% for
fiscal 2012, compared to 41.3% in fiscal 2011. The dollar
increase was primarily attributable to $3 million in asset
impairment charges and investment in marketing and
store-related costs as part of our long-term initiatives.
Excluding the impairment charges, selling general and
administrative expenses were 42.6% of total revenues.

Goodwill impairment. In 2012, the goodwill associated

with the UK business was fully impaired, resulting in a
$33.7 million non-cash charge.

Interest expense (income), net. Interest expense, net of
interest income, was $3,000 for fiscal 2012 as compared
to $0.1 million of income for fiscal 2011.

Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense was

$0.9 million in fiscal 2012, compared to $14.4 million
for fiscal 2011. The effective rate was 1.8% in 2012 and
543.4% in 2011. The fluctuation in the effective rate
was primarily attributable to the recording of a valuation
allowance in 2011 on the US deferred tax assets.

expect to hire a new chief executive bear and execute
significant real estate strategy with the closure of
approximately 35 to 40 stores and the remodeling or
relocation of approximately 25 stores in our new design.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated,

selected statement of operations data expressed as a
percentage of total revenues, except where otherwise
indicated. Percentages will not total due to cost of
merchandise sold being expressed as a percentage of net
retail sales and commercial revenue and immaterial rounding:

Revenues:

Net retail sales
Commercial revenues
Franchise fees

Total revenues
Costs and expenses:

Cost of merchandise

sold(1)

Selling, general, and

administrative

Goodwill impairment
Interest expense
(income), net

Total costs and expenses

Loss before income taxes
Income tax expense

(benefit)

Net income (loss)

Fiscal 2012

Fiscal 2011

Fiscal 2010

98.3%
0.7
0.9

98.1%
1.0
0.9

96.4%
2.8
0.8

100.0

100.0

100.0

61.0

43.4
8.8

0.0

112.7

(12.7)

0.2

(12.9)

59.9

41.3
—

(0.0)

100.7

(0.7)

3.7

(4.3)

60.1

41.0
—

(0.1)

100.6

(0.6)

(0.6)

0.0

Retail gross margin (%)(2)

38.9%

39.9%

40.1%

(1) Cost of merchandise sold is expressed as a percentage of net retail sales

and commercial revenue.

(2) Retail gross margin represents net retail sales less cost of retail merchandise

sold, which excludes cost of wholesale merchandise sold. Retail gross
margin was $145.7 million, $154.5 million and $155.1 million in 2012,
2011 and 2010, respectively. Retail gross margin percentage represents
retail gross margin divided by net retail sales.

Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012 (52 weeks) Compared
to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011 (52 weeks)

Total revenues. Net retail sales were $374.6 million for
fiscal 2012, compared to $387.0 million for fiscal 2011, a
decrease of $12.5 million. Comparable store sales decreased
$11.6 million in fiscal 2012, or 3.3%. Other decreases
include $4.3 million in sales from non-comparable locations,
comprised primarily of relocated and remodeled locations,
$1.0 million in deferred revenue adjustment as compared
to the prior year, $0.9 million from the impact of foreign
exchange rates and $0.6 million in sales from non-store
locations which includes temporary locations. Partially
offsetting these decreases are increases of $5.0 million from
sales in new stores and $1.0 million in e-commerce sales.

29

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Interest expense (income), net. Interest income, net of

interest expense, was $0.1 million for fiscal 2011 as
compared to $0.3 million for fiscal 2010.

Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense was
$14.4 million in fiscal 2011, compared to an income tax
benefit of $2.6 million for fiscal 2010. The effective rate was
(543.4)% in 2011 and 104.2% in 2010. The fluctuation in
the effective rate in 2011 was primarily attributable to the
recording of a $15.6 million valuation allowance in 2011
on the US deferred tax assets.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We use the term “store contribution” throughout this Annual
Report on Form 10-K. Store contribution consists of income
before income tax expense, interest, store depreciation,
amortization and impairment, goodwill impairment, general
and administrative expense, excluding franchise fees, income
from licensing activities and contribution from our web store
and seasonal and event-based locations. This term, as we
define it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures
used by other companies and is not a measure of
performance presented in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

We use store contribution as a measure of our stores’

operating performance. Store contribution should not be
considered a substitute for net income (loss), net income (loss)
per store, cash flows provided by operating activities, cash
flows provided by operating activities per store, or other
income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with
U.S. GAAP.

We believe store contribution is useful to investors in
evaluating our operating performance because it, along
with the number of stores in operation, directly impacts
our profitability.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011 (52 weeks) Compared
to Fiscal Year Ended January 1, 2011 (52 weeks)

Total revenues. Net retail sales were $387.0 million for
fiscal 2011, compared to $387.2 million for fiscal 2010, a
decrease of $0.2 million. Comparable store sales decreased
$7.6 million in fiscal 2011, or 2.1% and sales from
non-comparable locations, comprised primarily of relocated
and remodeled locations, decreased $3.6 million. Partially
offsetting these decreases are increases of $4.4 million from
sales in new stores, $1.0 million in e-commerce sales and of
$2.7 million in sales from non-store locations which includes
temporary locations. Other changes, adding $2.9 million to
net retail sales, resulted from the impact of foreign currency
exchange rates, changes in deferred revenue estimate, offset
by redemptions throughout the year, and other revenue.

Commercial revenue was $3.9 million in fiscal 2011
compared to $11.2 million in fiscal 2010. This decrease
was primarily due to $6.4 million from two non-recurring
wholesale transactions in fiscal 2010. Excluding these
transactions, commercial revenues decreased $0.9 million,
primarily due to the 2010 Build-A-Bear Craftshop launch that
did not reoccur in 2011. Revenue from international franchise
fees increased to $3.4 million for fiscal 2011 from
$3.0 million for fiscal 2010, an increase of $0.4 million. This
increase was primarily due to the increase in the number of
franchise locations from 63 at the end of fiscal 2010 to 79
at the end of fiscal 2011.

Gross margin. Total gross margin, calculated as net
retail sales and commercial revenues less cost of merchandise
sold, was $156.8 million for fiscal 2011 compared to
$158.9 million for fiscal 2010, a decrease of $2.1 million, or
1.3%. Retail gross margin was $154.5 million in fiscal 2011
compared to $155.1 million in fiscal 2010, a decrease
of $0.7 million or 0.4%. As a percentage of net retail sales,
retail gross margin decreased to 39.9% for fiscal 2011 from
40.1% for fiscal 2010, a decrease of 20 basis points as a
percentage of net retail sales (bps). This decline in margin
was primarily attributable to decreased merchandise margin,
decreased leverage on fixed occupancy costs and increased
purchasing costs offset by cost savings in distribution costs.

Selling, general and administrative. Selling, general and
administrative expenses were $162.9 million for fiscal 2011
as compared to $164.6 million for fiscal 2010, a decrease
of $1.7 million, or 1.1%. As a percentage of total revenues,
selling, general and administrative expenses were 41.3% for
fiscal 2011, compared to 41.0% in fiscal 2010. The dollar
decrease was primarily attributable to higher costs in 2010
of $1.6 million in charges related to the closure of our stores
in France and corporate payroll costs primarily related to a
bonus that did not reoccur in 2011. These decreases were
partially offset by consulting costs related to continuing efforts
to improve efficiencies and reduce expenses.

30

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of store contribution to net income for our company-owned stores located in the

United States, Canada and Puerto Rico (North America), stores located in the United Kingdom, Ireland and, prior to 2011,
France (Europe) and for our consolidated store base (dollars in thousands):

Net income (loss)
Income tax expense (benefit)
Interest expense (income)
Store depreciation, amortization and impairment(1)
Goodwill impairment(2)
General and administrative expense(3)
Franchising and commercial contribution(4)
Non-store activity contribution(5)

North
America

$ (13,955)
(85)
63
13,436
—
44,154
(966)
(2,301)

Fiscal 2012

Fiscal 2011

Europe

Total

North
America

Europe

Total

$(35,340)
951
(60)
3,597
33,670
4,751
—
(1,094)

$ (49,295) $ (19,232) $ 2,170
803
(137)
2,514
—
5,043
—
(1,109)

13,607
56
15,233
—
43,867
(4,142)
(3,008)

866
3
17,033
33,670
48,905
(966)
(3,395)

$ (17,062)
14,410
(81)
17,747
—
48,910
(4,142)
(4,117)

Store contribution

$ 40,346

$ 6,475

$ 46,821

$ 46,381

$ 9,284

$ 55,665

Total revenues from external customers
Franchising and commercial revenues from external customers
Revenues from non-store activities(5)

$309,141
(6,388)
(16,848)

$ 71,800
—
(3,576)

$380,941
(6,388)
(20,424)

$319,810
(7,334)
(16,765)

$74,565
—
(3,313)

$394,375
(7,334)
(20,078)

Store location net retail sales

$285,905

$ 68,224

$354,129

$295,711

$71,252

$366,963

Store contribution as a percentage of store location

net retail sales

14.1%

9.5%

13.2%

15.7%

13.0%

Total net income (loss) as a percentage of total revenues

(4.5)%

(49.2)%

(12.9)%

(6.0)%

2.9%

15.2%

(4.3)%

Net income (loss)
Income tax expense (benefit)
Interest expense (income)
Store depreciation, amortization and impairment(1)
Goodwill impairment(2)
General and administrative expense(3)
Franchising and commercial contribution(4)
Non-store activity contribution(5)

Store contribution

Total revenues from external customers
Franchising and commercial revenues from external customers
Revenues from non-store activities(5)

Store location net retail sales

Store contribution as a percentage of store location net retail sales

Total net income (loss) as a percentage of total revenues

Fiscal 2010

North
America

Europe

Total

$ (5,376) $ 5,480
708
(164)
2,949
—
(138)
—
(972)

(3,284)
(86)
16,222
—
48,573
(4,291)
(3,070)

$

104
(2,576)
(250)
19,171
—
48,435
(4,291)
(4,042)

$ 48,688

$ 7,863

$ 56,551

$331,392
(13,699)
(14,345)

$70,060
(590)
(2,785)

$401,452
(14,289)
(17,130)

$303,348

$66,685

$370,033

16.1%

11.8%

(1.6)%

7.8%

15.3%

0.0%

(1) Store depreciation, amortization and impairment includes depreciation and amortization of all capitalized assets in store locations, including leasehold

improvements, furniture and fixtures, and computer hardware and software and store asset impairment charges.

(2) Goodwill impairment represents the write-off of the goodwill associated with the UK reporting unit.

(3) General and administrative expenses consist of non-store, central office general and administrative functions such as management payroll and related benefits,
travel, information systems, accounting, purchasing and legal costs as well as the depreciation and amortization of central office leasehold improvements,
furniture and fixtures, computer hardware and software, including intellectual property and store closing expenses. General and administrative expenses also
include a central office marketing department, primarily payroll and related benefits expense, but exclude advertising expenses, such as television advertising,
virtual world costs and direct mail catalogs, which are included in store contribution.

(4) Franchising and commercial contribution includes franchising and commercial revenues and all expenses attributable to the international franchising and

commercial segments including asset impairments and excluding depreciation, amortization and interest expense/income. Depreciation and amortization related
to franchising and licensing is included in the general and administrative expense caption. Interest expense/income related to franchising and commercial
activities is included in the interest expense (income) caption.

(5) Non-store activities include our webstores, temporary locations and seasonal and event-based locations.

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BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

SEASONALITY AND QUARTERLY RESULTS

The following is a summary of certain unaudited quarterly results of operations data for each of the last two fiscal years.

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)

Total revenues
Retail gross margin(1)
Goodwill impairment
Net (loss) income(2)
Earnings (loss) per common share:

Basic
Diluted

Number of stores (end of quarter)

Fiscal 2012

Fiscal 2011

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

$ 96.4
38.0
—
(1.0)

(0.06)
(0.06)
357

$ 80.4
27.7
—
(7.6)

(0.46)
(0.46)
354

$ 86.0
30.8
—
(4.3)

(0.26)
(0.26)
351

$118.1
49.2
33.7
(36.4)

(2.23)
(2.23)
351

$ 96.0
36.6
—
(2.3)

(0.12)
(0.12)
357

$ 81.8
28.8
—
(6.7)

(0.37)
(0.37)
354

$97.4
38.4
—
0.9

0.05
0.05
355

Fourth
Quarter

$119.1
50.7
—
(9.0)

(0.56)
(0.56)
356

(1) Retail gross margin represents net retail sales less cost of retail merchandise sold.

(2) The fourth quarter of 2012 and 2011 included a $4.7 million and a $15.6 million charge, respectively, related to the recording of a valuation allowance

on deferred tax assets.

As a toy retailer, our sales are highest in our fourth
quarter, followed by the first quarter. The timing of holidays
and school vacations can impact our quarterly results. Our
European-based stores have historically been more heavily
weighted in the fourth quarter as compared to our
North American stores. We cannot ensure that this will
continue to be the case.

Our operating results for one period may not be
indicative of results for other periods, and may fluctuate
significantly because of a variety of factors, including those
discussed under “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Owning Our
Common Stock — Fluctuations in our quarterly results of
operations could cause the price of our common stock to
substantially decline.”

The timing of permanent store closures and temporary
closures for remodels and relocations may result in fluctuations
in quarterly results as a result of the revenues and expenses
associated with each store location. We typically incur most
preopening costs for a store in the three months immediately
preceding the store’s opening or reopening. We also incur
costs to close stores, typically in the three to six months prior
to the closure.

For accounting purposes, the quarters of each fiscal year
consist of 13 weeks, although we will have a 14-week quarter
approximately once every six years. The fiscal 2008 fourth
quarter was a 14-week quarter. Quarterly fluctuations and
seasonality may cause our operating results to fall below the
expectations of securities analysts and investors, which could
cause our stock price to fall.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our cash requirements are primarily for the opening of new
stores, installation and upgrades of information systems and
working capital. Over the past several years, we have met
these requirements through capital generated from cash flow
provided by operations. We have access to additional cash
through a revolving line of credit that has been in place
since 2000.

Operating Activities. Cash flows provided by operating
activities were $14.9 million in fiscal 2012 and $16.0 million
in fiscal 2011 and $22.0 million in fiscal 2010. Cash flows
from operating activities decreased in fiscal 2012 as
compared to 2011, primarily due to decreased store
contribution. Cash flows from operating activities decreased
in fiscal 2011 as compared to 2010 as accounts payable
and accrued expenses increased due to the timing of
inventory shipments and payments were offset by higher
inventory levels.

Investing Activities. Cash flows used in investing activities

were $15.1 million in fiscal 2012, $13.3 million in fiscal
2011 and $13.8 million in fiscal 2010. Cash used in
investing activities in 2012 related primarily to the continued
installation and upgrades of central office information
technology systems, the opening of five new stores, the
remodeling or relocation of 14 stores, offset by the maturity
of short-term investments. Cash used in investing activities in
2011 related primarily to the continued installation and
upgrades of central office information technology systems, the
opening of eight new stores, the relocation of four stores and
the purchase of short-term investments, offset by the maturity
of those investments. Cash used in investing activities in 2010
related primarily to the continued installation and upgrades
of central office information technology systems, acquisition
of intangible assets, the opening of four new stores and
11 temporary locations and the relocation of one store, offset
by cash received for the sale of key money from one of our
French stores.

Financing Activities. Financing activities used cash of
$1.2 million, $14.6 million and $7.2 million in 2012, 2011
and 2010, respectively. Purchases of our stock in fiscal 2012,
2011 and 2010 used cash of $1.3 million, $15.0 million
and $7.3 million, respectively. In fiscal 2011 and 2010,
exercises of employee stock options and related tax benefits
provided cash of $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
No employee stock options were exercised in fiscal 2012.

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BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Capital Resources. As of December 29, 2012, we had
a cash balance of $45.2 million, nearly half of which was
domiciled outside of the United States. We also have a line
of credit, which we can use to finance capital expenditures
and working capital needs throughout the year. The credit
agreement is with U.S. Bank National Association. On
December 21, 2012, we amended the existing bank line of
credit that now provides borrowing capacity of $35 million.
Borrowings under the credit agreement are secured by our
assets and a pledge of 65% of our ownership interest in
our foreign subsidiaries. The credit agreement expires on
December 31, 2014 and contains various restrictions on
indebtedness, liens, guarantees, redemptions, mergers,
acquisitions or sale of assets, loans, transactions with
affiliates, and investments. It prohibits us from declaring
dividends without the bank’s prior consent, unless such
payment of dividends would not violate any terms of the credit
agreement. We are also prohibited from repurchasing shares
of our common stock unless such purchase would not violate
any terms of the credit agreement; we may not use proceeds
of the line of credit to repurchase shares. Borrowings bear
interest at LIBOR plus 1.8%. Financial covenants include
maintaining a minimum tangible net worth, maintaining a
minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the credit
agreement) and not exceeding a maximum funded debt to
earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization ratio.
On February 13, 2013, we amended our existing bank line
of credit to reduce the fixed charge coverage ratio for the
fiscal year ending December 29, 2012, returning to its
previous requirement thereafter. As of December 29, 2012:
(i) we were in compliance with these covenants; (ii) there
were no borrowings under our line of credit; and (iii) there
was a standby letter of credit of approximately $1.1 million
outstanding under the credit agreement. Giving effect to this
standby letter of credit, there was approximately
$33.9 million available for borrowing under the line of credit.
Most of our retail stores are located within shopping

malls and all are operated under leases classified as
operating leases. Our leases in North America typically have
a ten-year term and contain provisions for base rent plus
percentage rent based on defined sales levels. Many of the
leases contain a provision whereby either we or the landlord
may terminate the lease after a certain time, typically in the
third or fourth year and sixth or seventh year of the lease, if a
certain minimum sales volume is not achieved. Many leases
contain incentives to help defray the cost of construction of a
new store. Typically, a portion of the incentive must be repaid
to the landlord if we choose to terminate the lease. In
addition, some of these leases contain various restrictions
relating to change of control of our company. Our leases also
subject us to risks relating to compliance with changing mall
rules and the exercise of discretion by our landlords on
various matters, including rights of termination in some cases.

Our leases in the United Kingdom and Ireland typically

have terms of ten to fifteen years and generally contain a
provision whereby every fifth year the rental rate can be

adjusted to reflect the current market rates. The leases
typically provide the lessee with the first right for renewal
at the end of the lease. We may also be required to make
deposits and rent guarantees to secure new leases as we
expand. In addition, some of these leases contain various
restrictions relating to change of control of our company.
Real estate taxes also change according to government time
schedules to reflect current market rental rates for the locations
we lease. Rents are charged quarterly and paid in advance.

In fiscal 2013, we expect to spend approximately $20 to

$25 million on capital expenditures. Capital spending in
fiscal 2012 totaled $17 million. Capital spending in fiscal
2012 was primarily for continued installation and upgrades
of central office information technology systems, the opening
of five new stores, the remodeling or relocation of 14 stores.
On February 20, 2007, we announced that our board
of directors had authorized a $25 million share repurchase
program of our outstanding common stock. On March 10,
2008, we announced an expansion of our share repurchase
program to $50 million. On February 28, 2013, we
announced that our share repurchase program had been
extended to March 31, 2014. We currently intend to
purchase up to an aggregate of $50 million of our common
stock in the open market (including through 10b5-1 plans),
through privately negotiated transactions or through an
accelerated repurchase transaction. As of March 8, 2013,
approximately 5.9 million shares at an average price of
$7.24 per share have been repurchased under this program
for an aggregate amount of $42.6 million, leaving
$7.4 million of availability under the program. The primary
source of funding for the program has been, and is expected
to be, cash on hand. The timing and amount of additional
share repurchases, if any, will depend on price, market
conditions, applicable regulatory requirements, and other
factors. The program does not require us to repurchase any
specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended
or terminated at any time without prior notice. Shares
repurchased under the program have been, and will continue
to be, subsequently retired.

We believe that cash generated from operations and
borrowings under our credit agreement will be sufficient to
fund our working capital and other cash flow requirements
for the near future. Our credit agreement expires on
December 31, 2014.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We hold a minority interest in Ridemakerz, LLC, which is
accounted for under the equity method. Ridemakerz has
developed a wholesale toy product line and selectively
operates interactive retail stores, primarily in tourist locations
that allow children and families to build and customize their
own personalized cars. In 2006, we purchased a call option
from a group of other Ridemakerz investors for $150,000 for
1.25 million Ridemakerz common units at an exercise price of
$1.25 per unit. Simultaneously, the Company granted a put
option to the same group of investors for 1.25 million

33

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

common units at an exercise price of $0.50 per unit. The put
option was exercised for all 1.25 million shares on

February 13, 2012. We have no further obligations related to
our investment in Ridemakerz

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

Our contractual obligations and commercial commitments include future minimum obligations under operating leases and
purchase obligations. Our purchase obligations primarily consist of purchase orders for merchandise inventory. The future
minimum payments for these obligations as of December 29, 2012 for periods subsequent to this date are as follows:

(In thousands)

Total

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Beyond

Payments Due by Fiscal Period as of December 29, 2012

Operating lease obligations
Purchase obligations

Total

$205,675
33,251

$45,264
33,251

$39,229
—

$33,587
—

$25,425
—

$18,518
—

$43,652
—

$238,926

$78,515

$39,229

$33,587

$25,425

$18,518

$43,652

Our total liability for uncertain tax positions under the
Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards
Codification (ASC) section 740-10-25 was $0.2 million as of
December 29, 2012. During the next fiscal year,
unrecognized tax benefits are expected to remain unchanged.
At this time, we do not expect a significant payment related to
these obligations within the next year. See Note 9 — Income
Taxes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional
information.

INFLATION

We do not believe that inflation has had a material adverse
impact on our business or operating results during the periods
presented. We cannot assure you, however, that our business
will not be affected by inflation in the future.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires the
appropriate application of certain accounting policies, which
require us to make estimates and assumptions about future
events and their impact on amounts reported in our financial
statements and related notes. Since future events and their
impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results
will inevitably differ from our estimates. Such differences could
be material to the financial statements.

We believe application of accounting policies, and the
estimates inherently required therein, are reasonable. These
accounting policies and estimates are periodically
reevaluated, and adjustments are made when facts and
circumstances dictate a change. Historically, we have found
our application of accounting policies to be appropriate, and
actual results have not differed materially from those
determined using necessary estimates.

Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note

2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, which appear
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have
identified the following critical accounting estimates:

Inventory
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost
determined on an average cost basis. Historically, we have
not conducted sales whereby we offer products below cost
and, accordingly, have no significant lower of cost or market
reserve recorded.

Throughout the year we record an estimated cost of
shortage based on past experience. The amount accrued for
shortage each period is based on detailed historical
averages. The accrual rate remained unchanged for fiscal
2012, 2011 and 2010. Periodic physical inventories are
taken and any difference between the actual physical count of
merchandise and the recorded amount in our records are
adjusted and recorded as shortage. Historically, including
fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, the timing of the physical
inventory has been in the fourth quarter so that no material
amount of shortage was required to be estimated on activity
between the date of the physical count and year-end.
However, future physical counts of merchandise may not be at
times at or near the end of a fiscal quarter or fiscal year-end,
and our estimate of shortage for the intervening period may
be material based on the amount of time between the date of
the physical inventory and the date of the fiscal quarter or
year-end.

Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with ASC section 360-10-35 we assess the
potential impairment of long-lived assets annually or when
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
value may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by
comparing the carrying amount of an asset, or asset group, to
expected future net cash flows generated by the asset, or
asset group. If the carrying amount exceeds its estimated
undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying amount is

34

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

compared to its fair value and an impairment charge is
recognized to the extent of the difference. For purposes of
evaluating store assets for impairment, we have determined
that each store location is an asset group. As of December
29, 2012, store assets represented approximately
$46.4 million, or approximately 65% of total property, plant
and equipment, net. Factors that we consider important which
could individually or in combination trigger an impairment
review include, but are not limited to, the following: (1)
significant underperformance relative to historical or projected
future operating results; (2) significant changes in the manner
of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall
business; and (3) significant changes in our business
strategies and/or negative industry or economic trends. We
assess events and changes in circumstances or strategy that
could potentially indicate that the carrying value of long-lived
assets may not be recoverable as they occur. Due to the
significance of the fourth quarter to individual store locations,
we assess store performance annually, using the full year’s
results. We consider a historical and/or projected negative
cash flow trend for a store location to be an indicator that the
carrying value of that asset group may not be recoverable.
As a result of our 2012 review, we determined that
certain stores would not be able to recover the carrying value
of certain store leasehold improvements through expected
undiscounted cash flows over the remaining life of the related
assets. Accordingly, we reduced the carrying value of the
assets to fair value, calculated as the present value of
estimated future cash flows for each asset group and recorded
asset impairment charges of $1.4 million in the fourth quarter
of fiscal 2012, which is included in cost of merchandise sold.
The calculation of fair value could increase or decrease
depending on changes in the inputs and assumptions used,
such as changes in the financial performance of the asset
group, future growth rate and discount rate. In order to
evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value assumptions on store
asset impairment, we applied a hypothetical decrease of 1%
in the comparable stores sales trend and in margin, which we
believe is appropriate. Based on the analysis performed as of
December 29, 2012, the changes in our assumptions would
have resulted in additional impairment charges of
approximately $0.1 million.

As a result of our reviews in 2011 and 2010, we

determined that certain stores would not be able to recover the
carrying value of certain store leasehold improvements through
expected undiscounted cash flows over the remaining life of
the related assets. Accordingly, we reduced the carrying value
of the assets to fair value, calculated as the present value of
estimated future cash flows for each asset group and recorded
asset impairment charges of $0.4 million and $0.6 million in
the fourth quarters of fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively,
which are included in cost of merchandise sold.

In 2012, we made the decision to close a number of
stores. We consider a more likely than not assessment that an
individual location will close as a triggering event to review

the store asset group for recoverability. These assessments are
reviewed on a quarterly basis. As a result of these reviews, it
was determined that certain stores would not be able to
recover the carrying value of store leasehold improvements
through expected undiscounted cash flows over the shortened
remaining life of the related assets. Accordingly, the carrying
value of the assets was reduced to fair value, calculated as
the estimated future cash flows for each asset group, and
asset impairment charges of $0.9 million were recorded in
fiscal 2012, which are included in selling, general and
administrative expenses as a component of net loss before
income taxes in the Retail segment. The inputs used to
determine the fair value of the assets are Level 3 inputs as
defined by ASC section 820-10. As of December 29, 2012,
the remaining net book value related to these stores was
approximately $0.1 million.

In the event that we decide to close any or all of these

stores in the future, we may be required to record additional
impairments, lease termination fees, severance and other
charges. Impairment losses in the future are dependent on a
number of factors such as site selection and general economic
trends, and thus could be significantly different than historical
results. As we continue to face a challenging retail
environment and general uncertainty in the global economy,
the assumptions used in future calculations of fair value may
change significantly which could result in further impairment
charges in future periods.

Corporate assets, including computer hardware and

software and the Company-owned distribution center
(approximately $25.0 million as of December 29, 2012),
and certain other assets, such as trademarks and intellectual
property, net (approximately $0.6 million as of December 29,
2012), have a broad applicability and are generally
considered to be recoverable, unless abandoned. Other
long-lived assets, including deferred franchise and lease costs
(approximately $0.8 million as of December 29, 2012), are
monitored in relation to the relevant franchisee or store
location.

At December 29, 2012, we evaluated our trade credits

asset and determined that certain assumptions regarding
future utilization were no longer attainable. Accordingly, an
impairment review was performed. Based on current
utilization expectations, we determined that the full value of
the asset was not recoverable. Accordingly, the carrying
value of the trade credits was reduced to fair value,
calculated as the expected present value of estimated future
utilization. An impairment charge of $2.2 million was
recorded in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter and is included in
selling, general and administrative expenses as a component
of net loss before income taxes in the Commercial segment.
The inputs used to determine the fair value of the asset are
level 3 inputs as defined by ASC 80-10. As of December 29,
2012, $0.7 million was included in prepaid expenses and
other current assets and $1.2 million was included in other
assets, net, related to these credits.

35

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Goodwill
We record goodwill related to the excess of the purchase
price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired.
All of our recorded goodwill, which is associated with our
acquisition of our operations in the United Kingdom, is
recorded in the European reporting unit. Goodwill is subject
to periodic evaluation for impairment when circumstances
warrant, or at least once per year. We perform our annual
impairment assessment as of the end of the fourth quarter
of each year. Impairment is tested in accordance with ASC
section 350-20-35, by comparison of the carrying value
of the reporting unit to its estimated fair value and a
reconciliation of the fair value to our overall market
capitalization. As there are not quoted prices for our reporting
unit, fair value is estimated based upon a present value
technique using estimated discounted future cash flows,
forecasted over the reasonably assured lease terms for retail
stores, with growth rates forecasted for the reporting unit and
using a credit adjusted discount rate. We use current results,
trends, future prospects, and other economic factors as the
basis for expected future cash flows. Additionally, we are
required to reconcile the fair value of the reporting unit to our
overall market capitalization. In 2012, we performed our
annual evaluation of our goodwill as of December 29, 2012.
As a result of the sustained decline in the market price of our
common stock, coupled with the decline in the performance of
the UK reporting unit, we determined that the fair value of the
reporting unit, estimated using discounted cash flow analysis
and reconciled to our market capitalization, was less than its
carrying value. As a result, we recognized an impairment
charge for the entire balance of goodwill in the 2012 fourth
quarter. This does not change our long-term outlook for the
UK reporting unit.

Revenue Recognition
Revenues from retail sales, net of discounts and excluding
sales tax, are recognized at the time of sale. Guest returns
have not been significant. Revenues from gift cards are
recognized at the time of redemption. Unredeemed gift
cards are included in current liabilities on the consolidated
balance sheets.

We have a customer loyalty program, the Stuff Fur Stuff
club, whereby guests enroll in the program and receive one
point for every dollar. Points accumulate and expire after
12 months of inactivity. In North America, guests receive a
coupon for free merchandise after reaching 50 points and a
$10 reward certificate after reaching 100 points. Additional
awards are earned for each additional 50 points earned in
the 12 month period. In the UK, guests receive a £5 certificate
for every 50 points they earn. An estimate of the obligation
related to the program, based on historical redemption
patterns, is recorded as deferred revenue and a reduction of
net retail sales. The deferred revenue obligation is reduced,
and a corresponding amount is recognized in net retail sales,
in the amount of and at the time of redemption of awards.

We review redemption patterns and assess the adequacy

of the deferred revenue liability at the end of each fiscal
quarter. Due to the estimates involved in these assessments,
adjustments to the historical rates are generally made no more
often than annually in order to allow time for more definite
trends to emerge. Based on this assessment at the end of fiscal
2012, the deferred revenue liability was adjusted downward
by $0.5 million, with a corresponding increase to net retail
sales, and a $0.5 million decrease in net loss.

Based on this assessment at the end of fiscal 2011 and

2010, the deferred revenue liability was adjusted downward
by $1.5 million and $4.3 million, respectively, with a
corresponding increase to net retail sales, and a $0.9 million
and $2.6 million decrease in net loss, respectively.

The calculation of fair value could increase or decrease
depending on changes in the inputs and assumptions used,
specifically, expected conversion and redemption rates. In
order to evaluate the sensitivity of the estimates used in the
recognition of deferred revenue, we applied a hypothetical
increase of 100 bps in the conversion and redemption rates
which we believe is appropriate. Based on the analysis
performed as of December 29, 2012, the change in our
assumptions would have resulted in a $0.4 million reduction
of net retail sales.

Income Taxes
Our income tax expense is based on our income, statutory tax
rates, and tax planning opportunities available in the various
jurisdictions in which we operate. Tax laws are complex and
subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and
respective governmental taxing authorities. Significant
judgment is required in determining our income tax expense
and in evaluating our tax positions, including evaluating
uncertainties. Management reviews tax positions at least
quarterly and adjusts the balances as new information
becomes available. Deferred income tax assets represent
amounts available to reduce income taxes payable on taxable
income in future years. Such assets arise because of
temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax
bases of assets and liabilities, as well as from net operating
loss and tax credit carryforwards. We performed an analysis
of all available evidence, both positive and negative,
consistent with the provisions of ASC 740-10-30-17. In the
fiscal 2012 and 2011 fourth quarters, the Company recorded
a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets of
$4.7 million and $15.6 million, respectively. The 2012
charge related to deferred tax assets in the UK and Canada,
while the 2011 charge related the deferred tax assets in the
United States. This allowance does not preclude us from
utilizing the deferred tax assets in the future, nor does it reflect
a change in our long-term outlook.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

There are no recently issued but not yet adopted accounting
pronouncements that are expected to significantly impact our
financial statements.

36

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our market risks relate primarily to changes in interest rates,
and we bear this risk in two specific ways. First, our revolving
credit facility carries a variable interest rate that is tied to
market indices and, therefore, our results of operations and
our cash flows can be impacted by changes in interest rates.
Outstanding balances under our credit facility bear interest at
LIBOR plus 1.8%. We had no borrowings during fiscal 2012.
Accordingly, a 100 basis point change in interest rates would
result in no material change to our annual interest expense.
The second component of interest rate risk involves the short
term investment of excess cash in short term, investment grade
interest-bearing securities. If there are changes in interest
rates, those changes would affect the investment income we
earn on these investments and, therefore, impact our cash
flows and results of operations.

We conduct operations in various countries, which
expose us to changes in foreign exchange rates. The financial
results of our foreign subsidiaries and franchisees may be
materially impacted by exposure to fluctuating exchange
rates. Reported sales, costs and expenses at our foreign
subsidiaries, when translated into U.S. dollars for financial
reporting purposes, can fluctuate due to exchange rate
movement. While exchange rate fluctuations can have a
material impact on reported revenues, costs and expenses,
and earnings, this impact is principally the result of the
translation effect and does not materially impact our short-term
cash flows.

Although we enter into a significant amount of purchase

obligations outside of the U.S., these obligations are settled
primarily in U.S. dollars and, therefore, we believe we have
only minimal exposure at present to foreign currency
exchange risks for our purchase obligations. Historically,
we have not hedged our currency risk and do not currently
anticipate doing so in the future.

We do not engage in financial transactions for trading

or speculative purposes.

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The financial statements and schedules are listed under Item
15(a) and filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS
WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE

None.

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management, with the participation of our Chief
Executive Bear and Chief Operations and Financial Bear,
has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period
covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and
procedures are designed ensure that information required
to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted under
the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules
and forms and is accumulated and communicated to
management, including our certifying officers, as appropriate
to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based
on the foregoing evaluation, our management, including the
Chief Executive Bear and Chief Operations and Financial
Bear, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures
were effective as of December 29, 2012, the end of the
period covered by this Annual Report.

It should be noted that our management, including the
Chief Executive Bear and the Chief Operations and Financial
Bear, do not expect that our disclosure controls and
procedures or internal controls will prevent all error and all
fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or
operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute,
assurance that the objectives of the control system are
met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the
fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of
controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of
the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of
controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues
and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been
detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that
judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that
breakdowns can occur because of simple error or
mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the
individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more
people, or by management override of the controls. The
design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there
can be no assurance that any design will succeed in
achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions;
over time, controls may become inadequate because of
changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with
the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of
the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system,
misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not
be detected.

37

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER
FINANCIAL REPORTING

Our management is responsible for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting,
as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. Under the supervision and with the participation of
our management, including the Chief Executive Bear and the
Chief Operations and Financial Bear, we conducted an
evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting as of December 29, 2012. Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive
Bear and Chief Operations and Financial Bear, also conducted
an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting to
determine whether any changes occurred during the period
covered by this report that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial reporting. All internal control systems have inherent

limitations, including the possibility of circumvention and
overriding the control. Accordingly, even effective internal
control can provide only reasonable assurance as to the
reliability of financial statement preparation and presentation.
Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of
internal control may vary over time.

In making its evaluation, our management used the

criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in
Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based upon this
evaluation, our management has concluded that our internal
control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012 is
effective.

Our independent registered public accounting firm,
Ernst & Young LLP, has audited the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting, as stated in its report which is
included herein.

38

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

We have audited Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the Company’s) internal control over financial

reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). The Company’s management is
responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our
audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

(United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and
evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the

reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions
of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,

projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and subsidiaries, maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control

over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

(United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 29, 2012 and
December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity,
and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 29, 2012 and our report dated March 14, 2013,
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young

March 14, 2013

39

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL
REPORTING

There were no changes in internal control over financial
reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and
15d-15(f)) that occurred during the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter
that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information concerning directors, appearing under the caption
“Directors”, “The Board of Directors and its Committees”,
“Committee Charters, Corporate Governance Guidelines,
Business Conduct Policy and Code of Ethics” and “Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our
Proxy Statement (the “Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the
SEC in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders
scheduled to be held on May 9, 2013 is incorporated by
reference in response to this Item 10.

BUSINESS CONDUCT POLICY

The Board of Directors has adopted a Business Conduct Policy
applicable to our directors, officers and employees, including
all executive officers. The Business Conduct Policy has been
posted in the Investor Relations section of our corporate
website at http://ir.buildabear.com. We intend to satisfy the
amendment and waiver disclosure requirements under
applicable securities regulations by posting any amendments
of, or waivers to, the Business Conduct Policy on our website.
The information appearing under the caption “Committee

Charters, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Business
Conduct Policy and Code of Ethics” in the Proxy Statement is
incorporated by reference in response to this Item 10.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES

Maxine Clark, 64, has been our Chief Executive Bear

since she founded the Company in 1997. In 2013, we
announced her plans to retire. She was our President from our
inception in 1997 to April 2004, and served as Chairman of
our Board of Directors from our conversion to a corporation in
April 2000 until 2012. She was initially elected to our Board
of Directors pursuant to the terms of a stockholders’ agreement
which terminated upon the closing of the Company’s initial
public offering in 2004. Ms. Clark was re-elected as a
director at our 2005,2008 and 2011 Annual Meetings of
Stockholders. Prior to founding Build-A-Bear Workshop,
Ms. Clark was the President of Payless ShoeSource, Inc. from
1992 until 1996. Before joining Payless, Ms. Clark spent over
19 years in various divisions of The May Department Stores
Company in areas including merchandise development,
merchandise planning, merchandise research, marketing and
product development.

Eric Fencl, 50, joined Build-A-Bear Workshop in July 2008

as Chief Bearrister — General Counsel. In March 2009, he
assumed responsibility for international franchising and human
resources. He now holds the title of Chief Bearrister, General
Counsel and International Franchising. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Fencl was Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary for Outsourcing Solutions Inc., a
national accounts receivable management firm from August
1998 to June 2008. From September 1990 to August 1998,
he held legal positions for Monsanto Company, McDonnell
Douglas Corporation and Bryan Cave LLP. Mr. Fencl began his
career in 1984 as an auditor with Arthur Young & Company.
Dave Finnegan, 43, joined Build-A-Bear Workshop in
December 1999 as Director Inbearmation Technology and
was named Chief Information Bear in January 2007, adding
logistics responsibilities in March 2009 to become Chief
Information and Logistics Bear, and in March 2010 he
became Chief Information Bear. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Finnegan held information systems management positions
at Novell, Inc. in Provo Utah and Interchange Technologies
Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Finnegan is a member of the
St. Louis Regional Chief Information Officer Forum and the
NSB Executive Client Advisory Board. He was instrumental in
the development of bearville.com — the company’s virtual
world Web site. The online community received a 2009 “Best
of the Web” award from WiredSafety at the 9th Annual
Wired Kids Summit and a 2008 iParenting Media Award.

40

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Tina Klocke, 53, has been our Chief Financial Bear since

November 1997, our Treasurer since April 2000, and
Secretary since February 2004. In March 2009, she assumed
responsibility for store operations and in July 2011, she
assumed responsibility for logistics and planning. She now
holds the title of Chief Operations and Financial Bear. Prior to
joining the Company, Ms. Klocke was the Controller for
Clayton Corporation, a manufacturing company, where she
supervised all accounting and finance functions as well as
human resources. Prior to joining Clayton Corporation in
1990, she was the controller for Love Real Estate Company, a
diversified investment management and development firm.
Ms. Klocke began her career in 1982 with Ernst & Young LLP.

Teresa Kroll, 58, joined Build-A-Bear Workshop in
September 2001 as Chief Marketing Bear, was named Chief
Entertainment Bear in March 2009, was named Chief
Entertainment and Digital Marketing Bear in June 2010 and
was named Chief Marketing and Entertainment Bear in
December 2011. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Kroll was
Vice President — Advertising for The WIZ, a unit of
Cablevision, from 1999 to 2001. From 1995 to 1999,

Ms. Kroll was Director of Marketing for Montgomery Ward
Holding Corp., a department store retailer. From 1980 to
1994 Ms. Kroll held various administrative and marketing
positions for Venture Stores, Inc.

Kenneth Wine, 50, joined Build-A-Bear Workshop in
December 2012 as Chief Merchandise Bear. Prior to joining
the Company, Mr. Wine was Senior Vice President of
Merchandising at Weissman Designs for Dance, a national
dancewear retailer, from June 2008 to December 2012, and
Director of Merchandising at Oriental Trading Company, a
direct retailer of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts,
school supplies, toys and novelties, from January 2007 to
May 2008. Prior to that Mr. Wine held senior merchandising
positions with Lands’ End, American Girl, Woolrich, Inc. and
Polo Ralph Lauren.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information contained in the sections titled “Executive
Compensation” and “Board of Directors Compensation” in the
Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference in
response to this Item 11.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED

STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information contained in the section titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Proxy
Statement is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 12.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Plan Category

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

Total

(a)

(b)

(c)

Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))

1,155,239

1,155,239

$8.53

$8.53

608,864

608,864

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES

TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE

The information contained in the section titled “Related Party
Transactions” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by
reference in response to this Item 13.

AND SERVICES

The information contained in the section titled “Principal
Accountant Fees” and “Policy Regarding Pre-Approval of
Services Provided by the Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated
herein by reference in response to Item 14.

41

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)(1) Financial Statements

The financial statements and schedules set forth below are filed on the indicated pages as part of this Annual Report on

Form 10-K.

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011
and January 1, 2011

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012, December 31,
2011 and January 1, 2011

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011
and January 1, 2011

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011
and January 1, 2011

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

43

45

46

47

48

49

50

42

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and subsidiaries
(collectively, the Company) as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended
December 29, 2012. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2). These
financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

(United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the consolidated
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 29, 2012 in conformity
with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

(United States), Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012,
based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 14, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young

St. Louis, Missouri
March 14, 2013

43

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’
equity, and cash flows of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) for the fiscal year ended January 1,
2011. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

(United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, Build-A-Bear

Workshop Inc. and subsidiaries’ results of its operations and its cash flows for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2011, in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ KPMG

St. Louis, Missouri
March 17, 2011

44

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

ASSETS
Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents
Inventories
Receivables
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Deferred tax assets

Total current assets

Property and equipment, net
Goodwill
Other intangible assets, net
Other assets, net

Total Assets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Gift cards and customer deposits
Deferred revenue

Total current liabilities

Deferred franchise revenue
Deferred rent
Other liabilities
Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 15,000,000; No shares issued or outstanding at

December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011

Common stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 50,000,000; Issued and outstanding: 17,068,182

and 17,405,270 shares, respectively

Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Retained earnings

Total stockholders’ equity

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$ 45,171
46,904
9,428
14,216
987

116,706

71,459
—
633
3,304

$ 46,367
51,860
7,878
17,854
419

124,378

77,445
32,306
655
6,787

$192,102

$241,571

$ 38,984
11,570
30,849
4,800

86,203

1,177
20,843
742

$ 41,032
12,128
28,323
5,285

86,768

1,436
23,867
257

—

—

171
66,112
(7,683)
24,537

83,137

174
65,402
(10,165)
73,832

129,243

$192,102

$241,571

45

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

2012

2011

2010

Fiscal Year

Revenues:

Net retail sales
Commercial revenue
Franchise fees

Total revenues

Costs and expenses:

Cost of merchandise sold
Selling, general, and administrative
Goodwill impairment
Interest expense (income), net

Total costs and expenses

Loss before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)

Net income (loss)

Earnings (loss) per common share:

Basic

Diluted

Shares used in computing per common share amounts:

Basic
Diluted

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

$

$

$

$

$

$

374,553
2,790
3,598

380,941

230,181
165,516
33,670
3

429,370

(48,429)
866

387,041
3,943
3,391

394,375

234,227
162,881
—
(81)

397,027

(2,652)
14,410

(49,295) $

(17,062) $

387,163
11,246
3,043

401,452

239,556
164,618
—
(250)

403,924

(2,472)
(2,576)

104

(3.02) $

(0.98) $

(3.02) $

(0.98) $

0.01

0.01

16,331,672
16,331,672

17,371,315
17,371,315

18,601,465
18,653,012

46

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Fiscal Year

2012

2011

2010

$(49,295) $(17,062) $ 104
(3,623)
—

2,889
(407)

(206)
—

2,482

(206)

(3,623)

$(46,813) $(17,268) $(3,519)

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Dollars in thousands)

Net income (loss)

Foreign currency translation adjustment:

Reclass realized gain on liquidation of investment in a foreign entity

Other comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

47

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(Dollars in thousands)

Balance, January 2, 2010
Share repurchase
Stock-based compensation
Shares issued under employee stock plans, net of tax benefit
Other comprehensive loss
Net income

Balance, January 1, 2011
Share repurchase
Stock-based compensation
Shares issued under employee stock plans, net of tax benefit
Other comprehensive loss
Net loss

Balance, December 31, 2011
Share repurchase
Stock-based compensation
Shares issued under employee stock plans, net of tax benefit
Other comprehensive income
Net loss

Common
stock

$204
(11)
—
3
—
—

196
(25)
—
3
—
—

174
(4)
—
1
—
—

Additional
paid-in
capital

$ 80,122
(7,263)
4,818
(1,095)
—
—

76,582
(14,977)
4,605
(808)
—
—

65,402
(1,343)
3,611
(1,558)
—
—

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)

Retained
earnings

$ (6,336) $ 90,790
—
—
—
—
104

—
—
—
(3,623)
—

(9,959)
—
—
—
(206)
—

(10,165)
—
—
—
2,482
—

90,894
—
—
—
—
(17,062)

73,832
—
—
—
—
(49,295)

Total

$164,780
(7,274)
4,818
(1,092)
(3,623)
104

157,713
(15,002)
4,605
(805)
(206)
(17,062)

129,243
(1,347)
3,611
(1,557)
2,482
(49,295)

Balance, December 29, 2012

$ 171

$ 66,112

$ (7,683)

$ 24,537

$ 83,137

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

48

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net (loss) income
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Goodwill impairment
Asset impairment
Deferred taxes
Losses from investment in affiliate
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
Excess tax benefit from share-based payments
Stock-based compensation
Trade credit utilization
Change in assets and liabilities:

Inventories
Receivables
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Lease related liabilities
Gift cards and customer deposits
Deferred revenue

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment, net
Purchases of other assets and other intangible assets
Proceeds from sale or maturity of short term investments
Purchases of short term investments
Proceeds from sale of assets
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

Cash flow used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Exercise of employee stock options and employee stock purchases
Purchases of Company’s common stock
Excess tax benefit from share-based payments

Cash flow used in financing activities

Effect of exchange rates on cash

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Net cash paid (received) during the period for income taxes

Noncash Transactions:

Return of common stock in lieu of tax withholdings and option exercises

Exchange of inventory for trade credits

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Fiscal Year

2012

2011

2010

$(49,295) $(17,062) $

104

21,422
33,670
4,486
109
475
292
(123)
3,611
515

5,298
(1,520)
1,263
(3,918)
(3,120)
2,445
(746)

24,232
—
416
14,560
—
624
(266)
4,605
253

(5,477)
35
1,013
45
(4,743)
(561)
(1,664)

26,976
—
924
(2,437)
—
1,259
(33)
4,818
—

(7,030)
(1,803)
691
7,084
(5,983)
(325)
(2,224)

14,864

16,010

22,021

(16,633)
(635)
2,647
—
—
(475)

(12,035)
(213)
4,829
(5,899)
—
—

(14,086)
(563)
—
—
883
—

(15,096)

(13,318)

(13,766)

—
(1,347)
123

149
(15,002)
266

(1,224)

(14,587)

260

(493)

(1,196)
46,367

(12,388)
58,755

25
(7,274)
33

(7,216)

(2,683)

(1,644)
60,399

$ 45,171

$ 46,367

$ 58,755

$

182

$ 1,432

$

$

(98) $ (3,218)

692

$

712

$

— $

— $ 4,867

49

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(1) DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PREPARATION

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (the Company) is a specialty
retailer of plush animals and related products. The Company
began operations in October 1997. The Company sells its
products through its 351 company-owned stores located in the
United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and
Ireland along with its Web sites. Operations in foreign
countries where the Company does not have company-owned
stores are through franchise agreements.

Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been

made to conform to current year presentation.

(2) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies
applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated
financial statements follows:

(a) Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements

include the accounts of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

(b) Fiscal Year

The Company operates on a 52-or 53-week fiscal year

ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. The periods
presented in these financial statements are the fiscal years
ended December 29, 2012 (fiscal 2012), December 31,
2011 (fiscal 2011) and January 1, 2011 (fiscal 2010). All
fiscal years presented included 52 weeks. References to years
in these financial statements relate to fiscal years or year ends
rather than calendar years.

(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short-term

highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three
months or less held in both domestic and foreign financial
institutions.

The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents
exceed federal deposit insurance limits. The Company has not
experienced any losses in such accounts and management
believes that the Company is not exposed to any significant
credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

(d) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with
cost determined on an average-cost basis. Inventory includes
supplies of $3.5 million and $3.7 million as of December 29,
2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

(e) Receivables

Receivables consist primarily of amounts due to the
Company in relation to tenant allowances, corporate product

50

sales, franchisee royalties and product sales, and licensing
revenue. The Company assesses the collectability of all
receivables on an ongoing basis by considering its historical
credit loss experience, current economic conditions, and other
relevant factors. Based on this analysis, the Company has
determined that no material allowance for doubtful accounts
was necessary at either December 29, 2012 or
December 31, 2011.

(f) Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of leasehold

improvements, furniture and fixtures, computer equipment and
software, building and land and are stated at cost. Leasehold
improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method
over the shorter of the useful life of the assets or the life of the
lease which is generally ten years. Furniture and fixtures and
computer equipment are depreciated using the straight-line
method over the estimated service lives ranging from three to
seven years. Computer software is amortized using the
straight-line method over a period of three to five years. New
store construction deposits are recorded at the time the
deposit is made as construction-in-progress and reclassified to
the appropriate property and equipment category at the time
of completion of construction, when operations of the store
commence. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as
incurred and improvements are capitalized. Gains or losses
on the disposition of fixed assets are recorded upon disposal.

(g) Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more
frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that
the asset might be impaired. This testing requires comparison
of the carrying value of the reporting unit to its fair value and
a reconciliation to the Company’s total market capitalization,
and when appropriate, the carrying value of impaired assets
is reduced to fair value. The calculation of fair value requires
multiple assumptions regarding our future operations to
determine future cash flows, including but not limited to, sales
volume, margin rates, store growth rates and discount rates,
all of which are Level 3 inputs. Based on the annual
impairment test performed for the Company’s UK reporting
unit as of December 29, 2012, the Company has determined
that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its
carrying value, which resulted in an impairment of the entire
goodwill balance in 2012.

(h) Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets consist primarily of initial costs

related to trademarks and other intellectual property and key
money deposits. Trademarks and other intellectual property
represent third-party costs that are capitalized and amortized
over their estimated lives ranging from one to three years
using the straight-line method. Key money deposits represent
amounts paid to a tenant to acquire the rights of tenancy

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

under a commercial property lease for a property located in
France. These rights can be subsequently sold by us to a new
tenant. All key money deposits were sold in 2010.

(i) Other Assets

Other assets consist primarily of deferred leasing fees
and deferred costs related to franchise agreements. Deferred
leasing fees are initial, direct costs related to the Company’s
operating leases and are amortized over the term of the
related leases. Deferred franchise costs are initial costs related
to the Company’s franchise agreements that are deferred and
amortized over the life of the respective franchise agreement.
Amortization expense related to other assets was
$0.3 million, $0.5 million and $0.7 million for 2012, 2011
and 2010, respectively.

(j) Long-lived Assets

Whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable,
the carrying value is reviewed. If this review indicates that
the carrying value of the asset will not be recovered, as
determined based on projected undiscounted cash flows
related to the asset over its remaining life, the carrying value
of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value. See
Note 4 — Property and Equipment and Note 6 — Other
Intangible Assets for further discussion regarding the
impairment of long-lived assets.

The calculation of fair value requires multiple assumptions

regarding our future operations to determine future cash
flows, including but not limited to, sales volume, margin rates
and discount rates. If different assumptions were used in the
analysis, it is possible that the amount of the impairment
charge may have been significantly different than what
was recorded.

(k) Deferred Rent

Certain of the Company’s operating leases contain
predetermined fixed escalations of minimum rentals during
the original lease terms. For these leases, the Company
recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis
over the life of the lease and records the difference between
the amounts charged to operations and amounts paid as
deferred rent. The Company also receives certain lease
incentives in conjunction with entering into operating leases.
These lease incentives are recorded as deferred rent at
the beginning of the lease term and recognized as a reduction
of rent expense over the lease term. In addition, certain of the
Company’s leases contain future contingent increases in
rentals. Such increases in rental expense are recorded in the
period that it is probable that store sales will meet or exceed
the specified target that triggers contingent rental expense.

(l) Franchises

The Company defers initial, one-time nonrefundable

franchise fees and amortizes them over the life of the
respective franchise agreements, which extend for periods up
to 25 years. The Company’s obligations under the contract
are ongoing and include operations and product development
support and training, generally concentrated around new
store openings. Continuing franchise fees are recognized as
revenue as the fees are earned.

(m) Retail Revenue Recognition

Net retail sales are net of discounts, exclude sales tax,

and are recognized at the time of sale. Shipping and
handling costs billed to customers are included in net
retail sales.

Revenues from the sale of gift cards are recognized at the

time of redemption. Unredeemed gift cards are included in
gift cards and customer deposits on the consolidated balance
sheets. The company escheats a portion of unredeemed gift
cards according to the escheatment regulations of the relevant
authority that generally require remittance of the cost of
merchandise portion of unredeemed gift cards over five years
old. The difference between the value of gift cards and the
amount escheated is recorded as income in the consolidated
statement of operations.

The Company has a customer loyalty program, the Stuff

Fur Stuff club, whereby guests enroll in the program and
receive one point for every dollar and receive awards for
various discounts on future purchases after acheiving defined
point thresholds. An estimate of the obligation related to the
program, based on historical redemption patterns, is recorded
as deferred revenue and a reduction of net retail sales. The
deferred revenue obligation is reduced, and a corresponding
amount is recognized in net retail sales, in the amount of and
at the time of redemption of the awards.

For 2012, 2011 and 2010, historical rates for points
converting into awards and ultimate award redemption were
applied to actual points and awards outstanding at the
respective balance sheet date to calculate the liability and
corresponding adjustment to net retail sales. Management
reviews these patterns and assesses the adequacy of the
deferred revenue liability at the end of each fiscal quarter.
Due to the estimates involved in these assessments,
adjustments to the historical rates are generally made no more
often than annually in order to allow time for more definite
trends to emerge.

Based on the assessment at the end of 2012, 2011 and
2010, the deferred revenue liability was adjusted downward
by $0.5 million,$1.5 million and $4.3 million, respectively,
with corresponding increases to net retail sales, and net
income was increased by $0.5 million, $0.9 million and
$2.6 million, respectively.

51

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(n) Cost of Merchandise Sold

Cost of merchandise sold includes the cost of the
merchandise, including royalties paid to licensors of third
party branded merchandise; store occupancy cost, including
store depreciation and store asset impairment charges; cost of
warehousing and distribution; packaging; stuffing; damages
and shortages; and shipping and handling costs incurred in
shipment to customers.

(o) Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses include
store payroll and related benefits, advertising, credit card
fees, store supplies and store closing costs, as well as central
office management payroll and related benefits, travel,
information systems, accounting, insurance, legal, and public
relations. It also includes depreciation and amortization of
central office leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures,
and equipment, as well as amortization of trademarks and
intellectual property.

(p) Store Preopening Expenses

Store preopening expenses, including store set-up, certain

labor and hiring costs, and rental charges incurred prior to
store openings are expensed as incurred.

(q) Advertising

The costs of advertising and marketing programs are

charged to operations in the first period the program takes place.
Advertising expense was $23.0 million, $19.3 million and $18.5
million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

(r) Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using a balance sheet

approach known as the asset and liability method. The asset
and liability method accounts for deferred income taxes by
applying the statutory tax rates in effect at the date of the
consolidated balance sheets to differences between the book
basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes
are reported on a jurisdictional basis. Noncurrent deferred
tax assets are included in other assets, net and noncurrent
deferred tax liabilities are included in other liabilities.
Tax positions are reviewed at least quarterly and
adjusted as new information becomes available. The
recoverability of deferred tax assets is evaluated by assessing
the adequacy of future expected taxable income from all
sources, including reversal of taxable temporary differences,
forecasted operating earnings and available tax planning
strategies. These estimates of future taxable income inherently
require significant judgment. To the extent it is considered
more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will be not
recovered, a valuation allowance is established.

The Company accounts for its total liability for uncertain

tax positions according to the provisions of ASC section
740-10-25. The Company recognizes estimated interest and
penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax
expense. See Note 9 — Income Taxes for further discussion.

(s) Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Under the two-class method, basic earnings (loss) per share

is determined by dividing net income or loss allocated to
common stockholders by the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted
earnings or loss per share reflects the potential dilution that
could occur if options to issue common stock were exercised. In
periods in which the inclusion of such instruments is anti-dilutive,
the effect of such securities is not given consideration.

(t) Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has share-based compensation plans
covering the majority of its management groups and its
Board of Directors. The Company accounts for share-based
payments utilizing the fair value recognition provisions of ASC
section 718. The Company recognizes compensation cost for
equity awards over the requisite service period for the entire
award. See Note 13 — Stock Incentive Plans.

For fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, selling, general and

administrative expense includes $3.6 million, $4.6 million
and $4.8 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation
expense. As of December 29, 2012, there was $4.3 million
of total unrecognized compensation expense related to
non-vested restricted stock awards and options which is
expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period
of 1.5 years.

(u) Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income

or loss and foreign currency translation adjustments.

(v) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For purposes of financial reporting, management has

determined that the fair value of financial instruments,
including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts
payable and accrued expenses, approximates book value at
December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

(w) Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements
requires management of the Company to make a number of
estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of
assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. The assumptions used

52

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

by management in future estimates could change significantly
due to changes in circumstances, including, but not limited to,
challenging economic conditions. Accordingly, future
estimates may change significantly. Significant items subject
to such estimates and assumptions include the valuation of
long-lived assets, including goodwill, trade credits and
deferred income tax assets, inventories, and the determination
of deferred revenue under the Company’s customer loyalty
program.

(x) Sales Tax Policy

The Company’s revenues in the consolidated statement of

operations are net of sales taxes.

(y) Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations

with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are
translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet
date, while revenues and expenses are translated at average
rates prevailing during the years. Translation adjustments are
reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, a
separate component of stockholders’ equity.

(z) Investment in Affiliate

The Company holds a minority interest in Ridemakerz,

LLC of approximately 21%, which is accounted for under the
equity method. Ridemakerz has developed a wholesale toy
product line and selectively operates interactive retail stores,
primarily in tourist locations that allow children and families to
build and customize their own personalized cars. In 2009,
the carrying value of this investment was reduced to $-0-. In
2012, certain investors exercised a put option on 1.25 million
shares, requiring an additional investment of $0.5 million,
which was immediately impaired and is included in selling
general and administrative expenses as a component of net
loss before income taxes in the Retail segment. No income or
loss allocations, impairments or other charges related to
Ridemakerz were recorded in fiscal 2011 or 2010. Under the
current agreements, the Company could, at its discretion, own
up to approximately 28% of fully diluted equity in
Ridemakerz. The Company has no further obligations relating
to its investment in Ridemakerz.

(3) PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER ASSETS

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the
following (in thousands):

Prepaid rent
Prepaid income taxes
Other

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$ 8,736
—
5,480

$14,216

$ 7,745
1,970
8,139

$17,854

(4) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consist of the following (in
thousands):

Land
Furniture and fixtures
Computer hardware
Building
Leasehold improvements
Computer software
Construction in progress

Less accumulated depreciation

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$ 2,261
40,516
23,120
14,970
136,402
40,943
2,381

260,593
189,134

$

2,261
39,306
20,705
14,970
137,352
35,326
2,543

252,463
175,018

$ 71,459

$ 77,445

For 2012, 2011 and 2010, depreciation expense was

$20.4 million, $22.8 million and $24.9 million, respectively.
In 2012, the Company made the decision to close a
number of stores. The Company considers a more likely than
not assessment that an individual location will close as a
triggering event to review the store asset group for
recoverability. As a result of these reviews, it was determined
that certain stores would not be able to recover the carrying
value of store leasehold improvements through expected
undiscounted cash flows over the shortened remaining life of
the related assets. Accordingly, the carrying value of the
assets was reduced to fair value, calculated as the estimated
future cash flows for each asset group, and asset impairment
charges of $0.9 million were recorded in fiscal 2012, which
are included in selling, general and administrative expenses
as a component of net loss before income taxes in the Retail
segment. The inputs used to determine the fair value of the
assets are Level 3 inputs as defined by ASC section 820-10.
Any remaining net book value is depreciated over the
shortened expected life.

Also during 2012, the Company reviewed the operating
performance and forecasts of future performance for the stores
in its Retail segment. As a result of that review, it was
determined that several stores would not be able to recover
the carrying value of certain store leasehold improvements
through expected undiscounted cash flows over the remaining
life of the related assets. Accordingly, the carrying value of
the assets was reduced to fair value, calculated as the net
present value of estimated future cash flows for each asset
group, and asset impairment charges of $1.4 million were
recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, which are
included in cost of merchandise sold as a component of net
loss before income taxes in the Retail segment. The inputs
used to determine the fair value of the assets are Level 3
inputs as defined by ASC section 820-10. In the event that we
decide to close any or all of these stores in the future, we may
be required to record additional impairments, lease

53

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

meaning that the sale of the inventory was recorded at its cost
in the Commercial segment. The trade credits expire in 2015.

The Company evaluated its trade credits to determine if

an impairment existed at December 29, 2012. Based on
current utilization expectations, the Company determined that
the full value of the asset was not recoverable. Accordingly,
the carrying value of the trade credits was reduced to fair
value, calculated as the expected present value of estimated
future utilization. An impairment charge of $2.2 million was
recorded in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter and is included in
selling, general and administrative expenses as a component
of net loss before income taxes in the Commercial segment.
The inputs used to determine the fair value of the asset are
level 3 inputs as defined by ASC 820-10. As of
December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $0.7 million
was included in prepaid expenses and other current assets
and $1.2 million and $3.9 million, respectively, was included
in other assets, net, related to these credits.

(8) ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

Accrued wages, bonuses and related

expenses

Sales tax payable
Accrued rent and related expenses
Current income taxes payable

2012

2011

$ 5,455
5,216
811
88

$ 5,200
5,678
454
796

$11,570

$12,128

(9) INCOME TAXES

The components of the provision for income taxes are as
follows (in thousands):

Current:

Federal
State
Foreign
Deferred:
Federal
State
Foreign

2012

2011

2010

$ — $

165
790

—
(928)
839

— $ (171)
31
859

(439)
906

11,592
2,281
70

(1,965)
(1,205)
(125)

Income tax expense (benefit)

$ 866

$14,410

$(2,576)

termination charges, severance charges and other charges.
The Company recorded asset impairment charges of
$0.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and
$0.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

(5) GOODWILL

Goodwill is accounted for in accordance with ASC
Section 350-20 and is reported as a component of the
Company’s Retail segment. The following table summarizes
the Company’s goodwill (in thousands):

Balance as of January 1, 2011

Effect of foreign currency translation

Balance as of December 31, 2011

Effect of foreign currency translation
Impairment

Balance as of December 29, 2012

$32,407
(101)

32,306
1,364
(33,670)

$

—

Due primarily to the decline in the market value of the

Company’s share price at the impairment testing date of
December 29, 2012, the fair value related to the UK
reporting unit was less than its carrying amount which resulted
in an impairment charge of $33.7 million. This represented
the entire balance of the Company’s goodwill.

There was no tax-deductible goodwill as of

December 29, 2012 or December 31, 2011.

(6) OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Other intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):

Trademarks and other intellectual property
Less accumulated amortization

Total, net

2012

2011

$12,151
11,518

$11,516
10,861

$

633

$

655

Trademarks and intellectual property are amortized over
three years. Amortization expense related to trademarks and
intellectual property was $0.7 million, $0.9 million and
$1.4 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

(7) OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS

In 2010, certain other non-current assets were obtained
through a series of wholesale transactions whereby the
Company exchanged $6.4 million of inventory, at cost, with a
third-party vendor for $4.9 million of credits for future media
purchases and $1.5 million in cash. The transaction was
accounted for based upon the fair values of the assets
involved in the transaction. In accordance with Accounting
Standards Codification (ASC) Section 845-10, in an
exchange transaction for trade credits, the fair value of the
asset being surrendered cannot exceed its carrying value,

54

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

A reconciliation between the statutory federal income tax

rate and the effective income tax rate is as follows
(in thousands):

Loss before income taxes
Statutory federal income tax rate

$(48,429) $ (2,652) $(2,472)

34%

34%

34%

2012

2011

2010

Income tax expense (benefit)
at statutory federal rate

State income taxes, net of

federal tax benefit

Permanent difference—Goodwill

impairment

Valuation allowance
Effect of lower foreign taxes
Release of state tax reserves
Other items, net

(16,466)

(902)

(840)

124

2

(74)

11,448
4,739
296
(23)
748

—
15,565
(231)
(47)
23

—
(1,249)
(174)
(174)
(65)

Income tax expense (benefit)

$

866

$14,410

$(2,576)

Effective tax rate

(1.8)% (543.4)% 104.2%

Temporary differences that gave rise to deferred tax

assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

Deferred tax assets:
Deferred revenue
Accrued rents
Net operating loss carryforwards
Intangible assets
Deferred compensation
Carryforward of tax credits
Receivable write-offs
Stock compensation
Depreciation
Other

Less: Valuation allowance

Total deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:

Depreciation
Other

Total deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax asset

2012

2011

$ 4,676
1,884
4,336
1,799
2,089
4,585
641
179
1,871
2,054

24,114
20,865

3,249

$ 4,711
2,414
1,770
1,837
2,218
2,251
840
179
743
1,925

18,888
16,126

2,762

—
(2,321)

(2,321)

—
(1,925)

(1,925)

$

928

$

837

We evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets

on a quarterly basis. As the Company has incurred a
cumulative book loss over the three year period ended
December 31, 2011, management evaluated the realizability
of the Company’s deferred tax assets. The Company
performed an analysis of all available evidence, both positive
and negative, consistent with the provisions of ASC
740-10-30-17. Some of the evidence evaluated includes our
historical operating performance, the macroeconomic factors
contributing to the recent fiscal loss for which the tax benefits
have been fully realized by the carryback availability, and
our forecast of future taxable income, including the

55

availability of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.
The three-year cumulative loss is a significant piece of
negative evidence and while management believes that it is
primarily a result of losses that were primarily attributable to
the significant economic conditions experienced in 2009 and
not an indication of continuing operations, ASC 740 requires
that objective historical evidence be given more weight than
subjective evidence, such as forecasts of future income.
Accordingly, in the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter, the Company
recorded a $15.6 million valuation allowance on its US
deferred tax assets.

The valuation allowance on US deferred tax assets will

continue to increase as a result of temporary differences
between the financial reporting and tax basis of the assets
and liabilities as well as the generation of net operating loss
and tax credit carryforwards. Accordingly, the Company
recorded an additional valuation allowance of $3.2 million
on it US deferred tax assets in 2012. The Company also
evaluated the realizability of deferred tax assets in foreign
jurisdictions and , upon determining that it was more likely
than not that the assets were not realizable, recorded a
$1.5 million valuation allowance of foreign deferred tax
assets in 2012.

Included in the deferred tax asset is $4.3 million related
to federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards
for which a valuation allowance of $4.3 million has been
recorded. US federal and foreign net operating loss
carryforwards total $11.7 million and $4.3 million as of
December 29, 2012, respectively, and do not expire. Also
included in the deferred tax asset is $4.6 million related to tax
credits for which a valuation allowance of $4.6 million has
been recorded.

The Company has not provided for United States income

taxes on the accumulated but undistributed earnings of its
non-U.S. subsidiaries of $9.0 million and $20.5 million as of
December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively,
as the Company intends to indefinitely reinvest these
undistributed earnings. However, if any portion were to be
distributed, the related U.S. tax liability may be reduced by
foreign income taxes paid on these earnings. Determination of
the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to these
undistributed earnings is not practicable because of the
complexities with its hypothetical calculation.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of

unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

Balance as of January 1, 2011

Lapse of statute

Balance as of December 31, 2011

Lapse of statute

Balance as of December 29, 2012

$263
(50)

213
(28)

$ 185

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

As of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011,

approximately $0.2 million of the unrecognized tax benefits
would impact the Company’s provision for income taxes and
effective tax rate if recognized. In the normal course of
business, the Company provides for uncertain tax positions
and the related interest and penalties and adjusts its
unrecognized tax benefits and accrued interest and penalties
accordingly. During the next fiscal year, unrecognized tax
benefits are expected to remain unchanged.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related
to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. There was
approximately $50,000 and $40,000 of accrued interest
related to uncertain tax positions as of December 29, 2012
and December 31, 2011, respectively.

The Company’s income before income taxes from
domestic and foreign operations (which include the United
Kingdom, Canada, France and Ireland), are as follows
(in thousands):

Domestic
Foreign

Total

2012

2011

2010

$(11,550) $(6,200) $(8,744)
6,272
3,548

(36,879)

$(48,429) $(2,652) $(2,472)

before interest, depreciation and amortization ratio. On
February 13, 2013, the Company amended its existing bank
line of credit to reduce the fixed charge coverage ratio for
the fiscal year ending December 29, 2012, returning to its
previous requirement for thereafter. As of December 29,
2012: (i) the Company was in compliance with these
covenants; (ii) there were no borrowings under the line of
credit; and (iii) there was a standby letter of credit of
approximately $1.1 million outstanding under the credit
agreement. Giving effect to this standby letter of credit, there
was approximately $33.9 million available for borrowing
under the line of credit.

(11) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(a) Operating Leases

The Company leases its retail stores and corporate offices

under agreements which expire at various dates through
2030. The majority of leases contain provisions for base rent
plus contingent payments based on defined sales as well as
scheduled escalations. Total office and retail store base rent
expense was $48.2 million, $48.2 million and $47.7 million,
and contingent rents were $1.2 million, $1.2 million and
$1.0 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Future minimum lease payments at December 29, 2012,

The following tax years remain open in the Company’s

were as follows (in thousands):

major taxing jurisdictions as of December 29, 2012:

United States (Federal)
United Kingdom
Canada
France
Ireland

(10) LONG-TERM DEBT

2008 through 2012
2006 through 2012
2009 through 2012
2007 through 2012
2007 through 2012

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Subsequent to 2017

$ 45,264
39,229
33,587
25,425
18,518
43,652

$205,675

On December 21, 2012, the Company amended its existing
bank line of credit that provides borrowing capacity of $35
million. Borrowings under the credit agreement are secured
by our assets and a pledge of 65% of the Company’s
ownership interest in foreign subsidiaries. The credit
agreement expires on December 31, 2014 and contains
various restrictions on indebtedness, liens, guarantees,
redemptions, mergers, acquisitions or sale of assets, loans,
transactions with affiliates, and investments. It prohibits the
Company from declaring dividends without the bank’s prior
consent, unless such payment of dividends would not violate
any terms of the credit agreement. The Company is also
prohibited from repurchasing shares of its common stock
unless such purchase would not violate any terms of the credit
agreement; the Company may not use proceeds of the line of
credit to repurchase shares. Borrowings bear interest at LIBOR
plus 1.8%. Financial covenants include maintaining a
minimum tangible net worth, maintaining a minimum fixed
charge coverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement)
and not exceeding a maximum funded debt to earnings

(b) Litigation

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject

to certain claims or lawsuits. Except as noted below,
management is not aware of any claims or lawsuits that may
have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial
position or results of operations of the Company.

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject
to regular examination by various taxing authorities for years
not closed by the statute of limitations, including an ongoing
customs audit in the United Kingdom in which the Company is
contesting audit findings. The Company accrues a liability for
this type of contingency when it believes that it is both
probable that a liability has been incurred and that it can
reasonably estimate the amount of the loss. In October 2012,
the Company received notification from the customs authority
that it intends to assess approximately £1.2 million, or
US$2.0 million at the exchange rate at the end of the quarter,
for unpaid taxes, penalties and interest. The Company intends
to appeal this determination and continues to believe that the

56

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material
adverse impact on the results of operations, liquidity or
financial position of the Company. However, if one or more
of these examinations has an unfavorable resolution, it is

possible that the results of operation, liquidity or financial
position of the Company could be materially affected in any
particular period.

(12) EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

The Company uses the two-class method to compute basic and diluted earnings per common share. In periods of net loss, no
effect is given to the Company’s participating securities as they do not contractually participate in the losses of the Company. The
following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except share and per
share data):

2012

2011

2010

NUMERATOR:

Net (loss) earnings before allocation of earnings to participating securities

Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities

Net (loss) earnings after allocation of earnings to participating securities

$

$

(49,295) $
—

(17,062) $
—

(49,295) $

(17,062) $

104
7

97

DENOMINATOR:

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic

Dilutive effect of share-based awards:

16,331,672
—

17,371,315
—

18,601,465
51,547

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — dilutive

16,331,672

17,371,315

18,653,012

Basic (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc,

stockholders:

Diluted (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc,

stockholders

$

$

(3.02) $

(0.98) $

0.01

(3.02) $

(0.98) $

0.01

In calculating diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, options to purchase 1,155,239, 1,210,816,

and 627,456, respectively, shares of common stock were outstanding at the end of the period, but were not included in the
computation of diluted earnings per share due to their anti-dilutive effect.

Due to the net loss in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, the denominator for diluted earnings per common share is the same as

the denominator for basic earnings per common share for those periods because the inclusion of stock options and unvested
restricted shares would be anti-dilutive.

(13) STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS

On April 3, 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Stock
Option Plan (the Plan). In 2003, the Company adopted the
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, in
2004, the Company adopted the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
2004 Stock Incentive Plan and in 2009, the Company
amended and restated the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2004
Stock Incentive Plan (collectively, the Plans).

Under the Plans, as amended, from January 3, 2009, up

to 3,230,000 shares of common stock were reserved and
may be granted to employees and nonemployees of the
Company. The Plan allows for the grant of incentive stock
options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights

(SAR) and restricted stock. Options granted under the Plan
expire no later than 10 years from the date of the grant. The
exercise price of each incentive stock option shall not be less
than the fair value of the stock subject to the option on the
date the option is granted. The vesting provision of individual
options is at the discretion of the compensation committee of
the board of directors and generally ranges from one to four
years. Each share of stock awarded pursuant to an option or
subject to the exercised portion of a SAR reduces the number
of shares available by one share. Each share of stock
awarded pursuant to any other stock-based awards, including
restricted stock grants, reduces the number of shares available
by 1.27 shares.

57

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(a) Stock Options

The following table is a summary of the balance and activity for the Plans related to stock options for the periods presented:

Outstanding, January 2, 2010
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited

Outstanding, January 1, 2011
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited

Outstanding, December 31, 2011
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited

Outstanding, December 29, 2012

Options Exercisable As Of:
December 29, 2012

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual Term

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)

Number of
Shares

805,347
391,228
28,484
42,868

1,125,223
305,727
55,501
164,633

1,210,816
228
—
55,805

1,155,239

$ 9.51
6.63
0.87
9.32

8.73
6.22
5.13
7.04

8.49
8.32
—
7.79

$ 8.53

704,937

$10.06

6.0

5.1

$—

$—

The expense recorded related to options granted during
fiscal 2012 was immaterial. The expense recorded related to
options granted during fiscal 2011 was determined using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model and the provisions of Staff
Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 107 and 110, which allow the use
of a simplified method to estimate the expected term of “plain
vanilla” options. The assumptions used in the option pricing
model during fiscal 2011 were: (a) dividend yield of 0%;
(b) volatility of 65%; (c) risk-free interest rates ranging from
1.2% to 2.5%; and (d) an expected life of 6.25 years. The
grant date fair value of options granted in 2011 was
approximately $1.2 million.

The assumptions used in the option pricing model during

fiscal 2010 were: (a) dividend yield of 0%; (b) volatility of
65%; (c) risk-free interest rates ranging from 2.1% to 3.4%;
and (d) an expected life of 6.25 years. The assumptions
used in the option pricing model during fiscal 2009 were:
(a) dividend yield of 0%; (b) volatility of 65%; (c) risk-free
interest rates ranging from 2.3% to 3.1%; and (d) an
expected life of 6.25 years.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised in fiscal

2011 and fiscal 2010 was approximately $0.1 and
$0.2 million. No options were exercised in 2012.
The Company generally issues new shares to satisfy
option exercises.

Shares available for future option, non-vested stock and
restricted stock grants were 608,864 and 1,104,894 at the
end of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

(b) Restricted Stock

The following table is a summary of the balance and

activity for the Plans related to unvested restricted stock
granted as compensation to employees and directors for the
periods presented:

Outstanding, January 2, 2010
Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding, January 1, 2011
Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding, December 31, 2011
Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

$ 7.23
6.56
10.05
6.73

6.32
6.46
8.52
5.68

5.85
4.97
5.53
6.03

Number of
Shares

1,450,308
486,302
376,142
92,095

1,468,373
532,791
394,766
168,267

1,438,131
366,270
874,852
69,224

Outstanding, December 29, 2012

860,325

$ 5.78

The vesting date fair value of shares that vested in 2012,

2011 and 2010 was $4.6 million, $2.5 million and
$2.6 million, respectively.

58

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(14) STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The following table summarizes the changes in outstanding
shares of common stock for fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012:

Shares as of January 2, 2010

Shares issued under employee stock plans, net of

shares withheld in lieu of tax withholding

Repurchase of shares

Shares as of January 1, 2011

Shares issued under employee stock plans, net of

shares withheld in lieu of tax withholding

Repurchase of shares

Shares as of December 31, 2011

Shares issued under employee stock plans, net of

shares withheld in lieu of tax withholding

Repurchase of shares

Shares as of December 29, 2012

Common
Stock

20,447,343

318,045
(1,133,765)

19,631,623

302,007
(2,528,360)

17,405,270

29,612
(366,700)

17,068,182

(15) RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company bought fixtures for new stores and furniture for
the corporate offices from a related party. The total payments
to this related party for fixtures and furniture amounted to
$0.9 million, $0.5 million and $0.6 million, in 2012, 2011
and 2010, respectively. The total amount due to this related
party as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
was $-0-.

The Company collected $2.2 million, $2.4 million and

$2.8 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, from its
guests on behalf of charitable foundations controlled by
certain executive officers of the Company. Substantially all of
the contributions are collected from guests at the point of sale
via pin pad prompts or as a portion of the proceeds of
specifically identified products. The foundations support a
variety of children’s causes, domestic animal shelters, disaster
relief and other concerns. The foundations distribute grants to
qualifying charitable organizations based upon decisions of
their respective contribution committees most of whose
members are employees of the Company. The total due to the
charitable foundations as of December 29, 2012 and
December 31, 2011 was $0.7 million and $0.5 million,
respectively.

(16) MAJOR VENDORS

Three vendors, each of whose primary manufacturing facilities
are located in China, accounted for approximately 80%, 81%
and 73% of inventory purchases in 2012, 2011 and 2010,
respectively.

During 2012, 278,308 shares of restricted stock were
granted to employees of the Company. The shares vest over a
period of four years from the grant date at grant date fair
values ranging from $3.59 to $8.32. Various members of the
Company’s board of directors were granted an additional
87,962 shares in the aggregate of restricted stock as
compensation for services. The shares were issued subject to
a restriction of continued service on the board of directors and
all restrictions lapse six months from the grant date or upon a
director’s retirement upon the completion of his or her term,
if earlier.

During 2011, 455,640 shares of restricted stock were
granted to employees of the Company. The shares vest over a
period of four years from the grant date at grant date fair
values ranging from $5.31 to $7.94. Various members of the
Company’s board of directors were granted an additional
77,151 shares in the aggregate of restricted stock as
compensation for services. The shares were issued subject to
a restriction of continued service on the board of directors and
all restrictions lapse one year from the grant date or upon a
director’s retirement upon the completion of his or her term,
if earlier.

During 2010, 402,656 shares of restricted stock were
granted to employees of the Company. The shares vest over a
period of four years from the grant date at grant date fair
values ranging from $5.94 to $9.64. Various members of the
Company’s board of directors were granted an additional
83,646 shares in the aggregate of restricted stock as
compensation for services. The shares were issued subject to
a restriction of continued service on the board of directors and
all restrictions lapse one year from the grant date or upon a
director’s retirement upon the completion of his or her term,
if earlier.

The aggregate unearned compensation expense related

to options and restricted stock was $4.3 million as of
December 29, 2012. Based on the vesting provisions of the
underlying equity instruments, future compensation expense
related to previously issued options and restricted stock at
December 29, 2012 will be as follows (in thousands):

2013
2014
2015
2016

$ 901
1,992
1,117
328

$ 4,338

The outstanding non-vested restricted stock is included in

the number of outstanding shares on the face of the
consolidated balance sheets, but is treated as outstanding
stock options for accounting purposes. The shares of
non-vested restricted stock, accounted for as options, are
included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share using
the two-class method, with the proceeds equal to the sum of
unrecognized compensation cost.

59

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(17) SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company’s operations are conducted through three operating segments consisting of retail, international franchising, and
commercial. The retail segment includes the operating activities of company-owned stores in the United States, Canada, the
United Kingdom, Ireland, France and other retail delivery operations, including the Company’s web store, temporary stores and
non-traditional store locations such as baseball ballparks. The international franchising segment includes the licensing activities of
the Company’s franchise agreements with store locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and
South America. The commercial segment has been established to market the naming and branding rights of the Company’s
intellectual properties for third party use. The operating segments have discrete sources of revenue, different capital structures and
different cost structures. These operating segments represent the basis on which the Company’s chief operating decision maker
regularly evaluates the business in assessing performance, determining the allocation of resources and the pursuit of future
growth opportunities. Accordingly, the Company has determined that each of its operating segments represent one reportable
segment. The reportable segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Following is a summary of the financial information for the Company’s reporting segments (in thousands):

Fiscal 2012

Net sales to external customers
Net income (loss) before income taxes
Capital expenditures
Depreciation and amortization

Fiscal 2011

Net sales to external customers
Net income (loss) before income taxes
Capital expenditures
Depreciation and amortization

Fiscal 2010

Net sales to external customers
Net income (loss) before income taxes
Capital expenditures
Depreciation and amortization

Total Assets as of:

December 29, 2012
December 31, 2011

Retail

Commercial

International
Franchising

Total

$ 374,553
(49,215)
17,116
21,243

$387,041
(6,553)
12,137
23,992

$387,163
(6,858)
14,490
26,482

$ 2,790
(1,207)
—
—

$ 3,943
1,940
—
—

$11,246
2,827
—
—

$ 3,598
1,993
152
179

$3,391
1,961
111
240

$3,043
1,559
159
494

$ 380,941
(48,429)
17,268
21,422

$394,375
(2,652)
12,248
24,232

$401,452
(2,472)
14,649
26,976

$ 182,186
$ 229,190

$ 7,098
$ 9,877

$ 2,818
$ 2,504

$ 192,102
$ 241,571

The Company’s reportable segments are primarily determined by the types of products and services that they offer. Each
reportable segment may operate in many geographic areas. Revenues are recognized in the geographic areas based on the
location of the customer or franchisee. The following schedule is a summary of the Company’s sales to external customers and
long-lived assets by geographic area (in thousands):

Fiscal 2012

Net sales to external customers
Property and equipment, net

Fiscal 2011

Net sales to external customers
Property and equipment, net

Fiscal 2010

Net sales to external customers
Property and equipment, net

For purposes of this table only:

North
America(1)

Europe(2)

Other(3)

Total

$ 306,049
61,995

$ 72,788
9,464

$ 2,104
—

$ 380,941
71,459

$316,853
65,902

$75,469
11,543

$2,053
—

$394,375
77,445

$328,524
76,729

$70,864
11,300

$2,064
—

$401,452
88,029

(1) North America includes the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and franchise business in Mexico

(2) Europe includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, franchise businesses in Europe and, prior to 2011, Company-owned stores in France

(3) Other includes franchise businesses outside of North America and Europe

60

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(18) SUBSEQUENT EVENT

(a)(3) Exhibits.

The following is a list of exhibits filed as a part of the

Annual Report on Form 10-K:

On February 28, 2013, the Company announced the
extension of its previously announced $50 million share
repurchase program until March 31, 2014, subject to further
extension by the Company’s Board of Directors. The
Company currently intends to purchase up to $50 million of
its common stock in the open market (including through
10b5-1 plans), through privately negotiated transactions or
through an accelerated repurchase transaction. The primary
source of funding for the program is expected to be cash on
hand. The timing and amount of share repurchases, if any,
will depend on price, market conditions, applicable
regulatory requirements, and other factors. The program does
not require the Company to repurchase any specific number
of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated at
any time without prior notice. Shares repurchased under the
program will be subsequently retired. As of March 8, 2013,
there was $7.4 million of availability remaining under the
program.

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance —

Exhibit
Number

2.1

3.1

3.2

4.1

Balance as of January 1, 2011
Charged to cost and expenses
Charged to other accounts
Deductions

Balance as of December 31, 2011
Charged to cost and expenses
Charged to other accounts
Deductions

Balance as of December 29, 2012

$

561
15,565
—
—

16,126
4,739
—
—

$ 20,865

10.1*

10.1.1*

10.1.2*

61

Description

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 3,
2000 between Build-A-Bear Workshop, L.L.C.
and the Registrant (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 2.1 to our Registration Statement on
Form S-1, filed on August 12, 2004,
Registration No. 333-118142)

Third Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 3.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K,
filed on November 8, 2004)

Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 3.4 to our Registration
Statement on Form S-1, filed on August 12, 2004,
Registration No. 333-118142)

Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 3
to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed
on October 1, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2000 Stock Option
Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1,
filed on August 12, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under
the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2000 Stock
Option Plan (incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 10.1.1 to Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1,
filed on October 1, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement
under the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2000
Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.1.2 to Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1,
filed on October 1, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Exhibits (continued)

10.2*

10.2.1*

10.2.2*

10.3*

10.3.1*

10.3.2*

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2002 Stock
Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.2 to our Registration
Statement on Form S-1, filed on August 12,
2004, Registration No. 333-118142)

Form of Manager-Level Incentive Stock Option
Agreement under the Build-A-Bear Workshop,
Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.2.1 to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 3 to our Registration Statement
on Form S-1, filed on October 1, 2004,
Registration No. 333-118142)

Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement
under the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2002
Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.2.2 to Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1,
filed on October 1, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 10.3 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3
to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed
on October 1, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under
the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 10.3.1 to Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1,
filed on October 1, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Model Incentive Stock Option Agreement Under
the Registrant’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3.3
to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 5 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on
October 12, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

10.3.3*

10.3.4*

10.3.5*

10.3.6*

10.3.8*

10.3.9*

10.3.10*

Form of Employee Nonqualified Stock Option
Under the Registrant’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3.4
to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 5 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on
October 12, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under
the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to
our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on
August 1, 2006)

Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under
the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on
May 8, 2008)

Second Amended and Restated Build-A-Bear
Workshop, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 to
our Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed on
May 18, 2009)

Form of the Restricted Stock and Non-Qualified
Stock Option Agreement under the Registrant’s
Second Amended and Restated 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 10.1 on our Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, filed on May 14, 2009)

Form of the Restricted Stock Agreement under
the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated
2004 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.3 on our Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 20, 2009)

Form of the Restricted Stock and Non-Qualified
Stock Option Agreement under the Registrant’s
Second Amended and Restated 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 10.2 on our Current Report on Form 8-K,
filed on March 28, 2011)

62

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Exhibits (continued)

10.4*

10.4.1*

10.4.2*

10.4.3*

10.4.4*

10.5*

10.5.1*

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete
Agreement dated May 1, 2004 between Maxine
Clark and the Registrant (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.4 to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 2 to our Registration Statement
on Form S-1, filed on September 20, 2004,
Registration No. 333-118142)

First Amendment dated February 22, 2006
to the Employment, Confidentiality and
Noncompete Agreement dated May 1, 2004
between Maxine Clark and the Registrant
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4.1
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005)

Second Amendment dated March 22, 2011 to
Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete
Agreement dated May 1, 2004 between
Maxine Clark and the Registrant (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 on our Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 28, 2011)

Retirement, Separation Agreement and General
Release by and between Maxine Clark and
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., dated January 28,
2013 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on
January 31, 2013)

Consulting Agreement by and between Maxine
Clark and Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., dated
January 28, 2013 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed on January 31, 2013)

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete
Agreement dated March 7, 2004 between Tina
Klocke and the Registrant (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.6 to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 2 to our Registration Statement
on Form S-1, filed on September 20, 2004,
Registration No. 333-118142)

First Amendment dated February 22, 2006 to
the Employment, Confidentiality and
Noncompete Agreement dated March 7, 2004
between Tina Klocke and the Registrant
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.6.1
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005)

10.6*

10.7*

10.7.1*

10.8*

10.9*

10.10*

10.11

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete
Agreement dated as of January 10, 2007
between Dave Finnegan and the Registrant
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.6
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended January 2, 2010)

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete
Agreement dated September 10, 2001 between
Teresa Kroll and the Registrant (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.9 to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 2 to our Registration Statement
on Form S-1, filed on September 20, 2004,
Registration No. 333-118142)

First Amendment dated February 22, 2006
to the Employment, Confidentiality and
Noncompete Agreement dated September 10,
2001 between Teresa Kroll and the Registrant
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.9.1
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005)

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete
Agreement dated July 1, 2008 between Eric
Fencl and the Registrant (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, filed on
November 6, 2008)

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete
Agreement dated December 3, 2012 between
Kenneth Wine and the Registrant

Form of Indemnification Agreement between
the Registrant and its directors and executive
officers (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
10.11 to our Registration Statement on Form
S-1, filed on August 12, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Third Amendment to Loan Documents among the
Registrant, Shirts Illustrated, LLC, Build-A-Bear
Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, LLC (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.12 to our Registration Statement
on Form S-1, filed on August 12, 2004,
Registration No. 333-118142)

63

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Exhibits (continued)

10.11.1

10.11.2

10.11.3

10.11.4

10.11.5

10.11.6

10.11.7

10.11.8

10.12

10.13

Fifth Amendment to Loan Documents among the
Registrant, Shirts Illustrated, LLC, Build-A-Bear
Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, LLC (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed on July 10, 2006)

Sixth Amendment to Loan Documents between
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc. Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, Inc., and Build-A-Bear Workshop
UK Holdings Ltd., as borrowers, Build-A-Bear
Workshop Canada, Ltd. and US Bank National
Association, as lender entered into on and
effective as of on June 19, 2007 (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2007)

Seventh Amendment to Loan Documents
between Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.,
Build-A-Bear Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Entertainment, LLC, and Build-A-
Bear Retail Management, Inc., as borrowers,
and US Bank National Association, as lender
entered into as of on October 28, 2009
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1
to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
October 29, 2009)

Eighth Amendment to Loan Documents between
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, Inc., as Borrowers, and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Lender, entered into
effective as of December 31, 2010
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
January 4, 2011)

Ninth Amendment to Loan Documents between
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, Inc., as Borrowers, and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Lender, entered into
effective as of December 30, 2011
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to
our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on
January 4, 2012)

Tenth Amendment to Loan Documents between
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, Inc., as Borrowers, and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Lender, entered into
effective as of June 30, 2012 (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 26, 2012)

Eleventh Amendment to Loan Documents
between Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.,
Build-A-Bear Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc.,
Build-A-Bear Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear
Retail Management, Inc., as Borrowers, and
U.S. Bank National Association, as Lender,
entered into effective as of December 21, 2012
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1
to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on
December 21, 2012)

Twelfth Amendment to Loan Documents between
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, Inc., as Borrowers, and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Lender, entered into
effective as of February 13, 2013 (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 14, 2013)

Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
between the Registrant, Shirts Illustrated, LLC,
Build-A-Bear Workshop Franchise Holdings, Inc.,
Build-A-Bear Entertainment, LLC, and
Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc., as
borrowers, and U.S. Bank National Association,
as Lender, entered into on September 27, 2005
with an effective date of May 31, 2005
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to
our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on
October 3, 2005)

Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit
Note dated May 31, 2005 by the Registrant,
Shirts Illustrated, LLC, Build-A-Bear Workshop
Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, and Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, Inc., as Borrowers, in favor of
U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 3, 2005)

64

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

10.18

10.19*

10.20*

10.21

11.1

21.1

23.1

23.2

31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

Real Estate Purchase Agreement dated
December 19, 2005 between Duke Realty Ohio
and the Registrant (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.36 to our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2005)

Rules of the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. U.K.
Share Option Scheme (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2007)

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.42
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on
March 15, 2007)

Settlement Agreement between Build-A-Bear
Workshop, Inc. and the United States Consumer
Products Safety Commission, finally accepted
effective January 4, 2012 (incorporated by
reference from Exhibit 10.2 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed January 4, 2012)

Statement regarding computation of earnings
per share (incorporated by reference from Note
12 of the Registrant’s audited consolidated
financial statements included herein)

List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

Consent of KPMG LLP

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification (pursuant
to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, executed by the Chief Executive Bear)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification (pursuant
to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, executed by the Chief Financial Bear)

Section 1350 Certification (pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
executed by the Chief Executive Bear)

Section 1350 Certification (pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
executed by the Chief Financial Bear)

Exhibits (continued)

10.14

10.14.1

10.15

10.16

10.16.1

10.16.2

10.17

Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
between the Registrant, Build-A-Bear Workshop
Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC, Build-A-Bear Retail
Management, Inc., as borrowers, and U.S. Bank
National Association, as lender, dated as of
August 11, 2008 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed on August 13, 2008)

Fourth Amended And Restated Revolving Credit
Note dated as of October 28, 2009 by the
Registrant, Franchise Holdings, Inc., Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, LLC (“BABE”), and Build-A-Bear
Retail Management, Inc., as borrowers, in favor
of U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated
by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 13, 2008)

Agreement dated July 19, 2001 between the
Registrant and Adrienne Weiss Company
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.32
to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed
on August 12, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Standard Form Industrial Building Lease dated
August 28, 2004 between First Industrial, L.P.
and the Registrant (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.35 to Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1,
filed on October 5, 2004, Registration
No. 333-118142)

Third Amendment to Lease between First
Industrial, L.P. and Registrant, dated as of
November 21, 2007 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.19.1 to our Annual Report on
Form 10-K, filed on March 15, 2012)

Fourth Amendment to Lease between First
Industrial, L.P. and Registrant, dated as of
November 21, 2007 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 10.19.2 to our Annual Report on
Form 10-K, filed on March 15, 2012)

Facility Construction Agreement dated
December 22, 2005 between the Registrant and
Duke Construction Limited Partnership
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.35
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005)

65

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

Exhibits (continued)

101.INS

XBRL Instance

101.SCH

XBRL Extension Schema

101.CAL

XBRL Extension Calculation

101.DEF

101.LAB

101.PRE

XBRL Extension Definition

XBRL Extension Label

XBRL Extension Presentation

* Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.
† Confidential treatment requested as to certain portions filed seperately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

66

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

2012 FORM 10-K

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.
(Registrant)

By:

/S/ MAXINE CLARK

Maxine Clark
Chief Executive Bear

Date: March 14, 2013

By:

/S/ TINA KLOCKE

Tina Klocke
Chief Operations and Financial Bear, Treasurer and
Secretary

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Maxine

Clark and Tina Klocke, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign the Annual Report on
Form 10-K of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012 and any other
documents and instruments incidental thereto, together with any and all amendments and supplements thereto, to enable the
Company to comply with the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

Signatures

Title

Date

/s/ MARY LOU FIALA

Mary Lou Fiala

/s/ JAMES M. GOULD

James M. Gould

/s/ VIRGINIA KENT

Virginia Kent

/s/ BRADEN LEONARD

Braden Leonard

/s/ LOUIS M. MUCCI

Louis M. Mucci

/s/ COLEMAN PETERSON

Coleman Peterson

/s/ THOMAS PINNAU

Thomas Pinnau

/s/ MAXINE CLARK

Maxine Clark

/s/ TINA KLOCKE

Tina Klocke

Non-Executive Chairman

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director and Chief Executive Bear
(Principal Executive Officer)

Chief Operations and Financial Bear, Treasurer
and Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

67

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

coleman peterson (2,3)
President and CEO 
Hollis Enterprises LLC 
(a human resources consulting firm)  
Former Executive  
Vice President of People  
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

thomas pinnau (1, 2)
Chief Executive Officer
Knowledge Universe, Global Work-Life 
Solutions (a provider of corporately  
sponsored employee work life support  
product services)

boaRd of diRectoRs

maxine clark
Founder and Chief Executive Bear 
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

barney ebsworth*
Founder and CEO  
Windsor, Inc. (a corporation  
that provides financing for  
venture capital, real estate,  
and other investments)

mary lou fiala (1, 2)**
Retired Vice Chairman  
and Chief Operating Officer  
Regency Centers Corporation 
(a real estate investment trust  
specializing in the ownership 
and operation of grocery-anchored  
shopping centers) 

James m. gould (2,3)
Managing General Partner  
The Walnut Group  
(a group of affiliated  
private equity funds)

virginia Kent (1,2)
Independent Management 
Consultant (primary focus  
on marketing strategy, 
global branding, and  
product development)

braden leonard(1,3)
Managing Member and Founder  
BML Capital Management, LLC

louis mucci (1,3)
Retired Partner  
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Board Committees:

(1)   Audit Committee

  * Board Member Emeritus since 2006

(2) Compensation and Development Committee

** Non-Executive Chairman

(3)  Nominating and Corporate  
Governance Committee

senioR m anagement

managing diRectoRs

Jeff fullmer
Managing Director,  
Bear Merchandise Planning  
and Allocation

scott gower
Managing Director, 
Stores — East Region

Jennifer guinn
Managing Director, 
Corbearate Controller

dorrie Krueger
Managing Director, 
Strategic Planning and  
Customer Exbearience

Rick levine
Managing Director, 
Stores — West Region

Roger parry
Bear Trading Director — Europe

brian sawyer
Managing Director, Interactive Bear  
and e-Commerce

michael segura
Managing Director,
Inbearmation Technology

maxine clark
Founder and  
Chief Executive Bear

paul bundonis
Chief Workshop Bear — North America

darlene elder
Chief Human Resources Bear

eric fencl 
Chief Bearrister, General Counsel  
and International Franchising

dave finnegan
Chief Information Bear

tina Klocke
Chief Operations and Financial Bear,  
Treasurer and Secretary

teresa Kroll
Chief Marketing and  
Entertainment Bear

Ken wine
Chief Merchandise Bear

68

Hear  
Me

Name  

Me

Love  
Me

Choose  

Me

Stuff 
Me

Fluff  

Me

Dress  

Me

Take me 
home

The heart of our business
remains the same

Build-A-Bear Workshop is synonymous with fun, creativity and self-expression, and we are  

the leader in experiential retail. In 2012, we opened six newly imagined stores that feature  

a bold new design. The heightened experience in these stores merges our hands-on  

bear-making experience with modern technology — central to how today’s generation of kids 

play. We have seen strong Guest response, and sales have exceeded expectations in these 

stores. In 2013, we plan to open approximately 25 additional locations in this new format. 

iT TAkEs A ViLLAgE  Building on our tradition of 
listening to our Guests, we enlisted some very special
friends to help with our new store design — our  
Cub Advisors. This group of children and their parents
worked closely with our team, testing the new stations 
and providing suggestions to help perfect the working
model of the design and experience. 

CONNECTiNg wiTh OUR gUEsTs  We’ve brought  
the same qualities that parents value and kids love about a
Build-A-Bear Workshop store into the digital space to create 
a completely modern way to play. With over 2.4 million
fans on Facebook, nearly 40,000 followers on Twitter,  
over 1.2 million downloads of the Build-A-Bear® mobile
app and over 30,000 cards sent on Red Stamp, Build-A-Bear 
Workshop has a very strong social media presence.

1+1 = 10  Our partnerships demonstrate our belief  
that 1+1 = 10. That means that it has to be a win for
us, a win for our partners and the biggest WOW for  
our Guests. In 2012, we celebrated our fourth promotion
of McDonald’s HAPPY MEAL® toys. We also partnered 
with some of the most popular brands in fashion and
entertainment like Hello Kitty ®,  Twinkle Toes® and  
Hot Lights® by SKECHERS®,  The Avengers by Marvel
and pop singer, Cody Simpson, all relevant to our  
target tween-aged Guests.

A Hug is understood  

in any Language

At the end of fiscal 2012, we had 76 international company-owned stores and
our franchisees operated 91 stores in 14 additional countries. We expect to 
continue to grow globally, primarily through existing and new franchisees. In
December 2012, we surpassed our 5 millionth furry friend sold through an 
international franchise location.

internAtionAl FrAnchise locAtions  (As of December 29, 2012) 

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Bahrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Denmark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Germany  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Kuwait  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Singapore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
South Africa  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Sweden  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
United Arab Emirates . . . . . . . . .  4

internAtionAl compAny oWned locAtions (As of December 29, 2012)

Canada  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2

United Kingdom. . . . . . . . . . . . .  58

1 7  
i n t e r n at i o n a l   
c o u n t r i e s

171 
international  
stores

shAreholder inFormAtion

Build‑A‑Bear Workshop  
World Bearquarters 
1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive
St. Louis, MO  63114-5760
888.560.2327
314.423.8000
Fax: 314.423.8188
Web: buildabear.com®

transfer Agent and registrar
Shareholder correspondence should be mailed to:
Computershare
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3006

Overnight correspondence should be mailed to:
Computershare
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA  02021

Shareholder website: www.computershare.com/investor
Shareholder online inquiries:  
https://www-us.computershare.com/investor/Contact

Auditors
Ernst & Young, LLP
St. Louis, MO

counsel
Bryan Cave LLP
St. Louis, MO

Form 10‑k
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Form 10-K may be requested 
by a letter to the Investor Relations department at the 
World Bearquarters, by a phone call to the Investor 
Relations department at 314.423.8000, or by an e-mail 
to invest@buildabear.com. 

Comprehensive financial information for 
Build-A-Bear Workshop is also available at the company’s 
investor relations website: http://ir.buildabear.com.

Annual meeting
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at  
10:00 a.m. St. Louis time (CDT) on Thursday, May 9, 2013, 
at the company’s World Bearquarters, 1954 Innerbelt 
Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114. A formal 
notice of the meeting and a proxy statement will be sent 
to each shareholder as of March 26, 2013.

Build-A-Bear Workshop common stock is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  
Our symbol is BBW.

As of March 26, 2013, there were approximately  
10,500 shareholders. That number is based on the actual 
number of holders of record and an estimated number  
of beneficial holders of the company’s common stock.

certifications
The most recent certifications by our Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as exhibits to our 
Form 10-K. We have also filed with the New York Stock 
Exchange the most recent Annual CEO Certification, as 
required by the New York Stock Exchange.

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Build‑A‑BeAr Workshop, inc. 
 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive 
St. Louis, MO 63114 
buildabear.com® 
bearville.com™

10 years of
huggable heroes®!

More than 100 kids have been named Huggable Heroes by Build-A-Bear Workshop! Many 

started their own nonprofit organizations and inspired others to join their causes. Collectively,  

the Huggable Heroes have raised more than $9.4 million, have collected over 316 million items  

to donate and recruited thousands of volunteers to help with their efforts. Our program has 

recognized future leaders, and we hope inspired other young people to make a positive difference 

in their communities and around the world. In 2013, the Huggable Heroes program is celebrating 

its tenth year of honoring youth who do their part with heart. They continue to make our  

world a better place through their generosity and kindness. 

Where  
are they  

now?

Jourdan Urbach, 2010

Jourdan is founder of Children Helping Children (CHC), an organization that
raises funds for cutting-edge research and the eradication of neurological 
diseases through benefits called, Concerts for a Cure. CHC continues
to fund the largest music therapy program in America. In 2012, the Yale 
graduate was named a recipient of the National Jefferson Award. Today,
he serves as National Director for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.

Talia Leman, 2007

Talia is the co-founder of RandomKid, a nonprofit
organization that works to support youth around the world to 
encourage their creativity and giving power for other great
causes. She was named a recipient of the 2011 National 
Jefferson Award. In 2012, Talia wrote her first book,
titled “A Random Book About the Power of ANYone.”

Building
Our
future

2012 A N N UA L REP O RT

Love is the  
stuff inside®

It is only fitting that a heart has become a symbol for our business. We offered 

hearts for our animals the day we opened our first store. But it was one dedicated 

associate who elevated the process and interaction that has helped make our 

concept truly unique. During the “heart ceremony,” Guests warm a heart in their 

hands, kiss both sides, then tuck it inside the stuffed animal with a special wish. 

Today, this ceremony remains one of our Guests’ favorite steps in our bear-making 

process. Our Guests and associates continue to contribute innovative ideas and feed 

the heart and passion that it takes to build a promising future for our company.

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