Build-A-Bear Reviews

3.8

59% would recommend to a friend

(1,769 total reviews)

Sharon John

60% approve of CEO

51% positive business outlook

Build-A-Bear has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,769 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Build-A-Bear employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail and wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
1.0
26 Jul 2015

Build a bear ? More like nightbear

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most people were "casual chit chat" friendly Get to read nice magazine's on break

Cons

- They Take tax from under 18's (beware of that) - calling every customer guest - They call on-call you which means they can call you in on days off -Doing FIB at the very front of the store - which is basically dragging a bear around on wheels OUTSIDE THE STORE trying to persuade people to come in and buy stuff - person who is good at this will be doing it every shift ! - Management expect new employees to know everything right away - Training process is horrible !! Not enough training is done with you to make you feel secure in what you're doing - Management blame everything on you even if you miss or forget something even if it's accidental - Management expect you to do 2 things widespread across the store at once for example greeting EVERY guest at the front, making sure not to miss any that walk in while running to the back of the store to refill the stuffing machine and still maintain greeting at the front . - Pre recorded script you have to say to each customer they quiz you on who came in for what - Only work at build a bear if you want to be treated like a personal clown ! Or don't take yourself seriously

3.0
16 Jan 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I had a great team and loved working with the kids that came in! I used to love running kids parties, though party hosting is not for everyone. You have to be confident and loud, or at least know how to fake it! It was an hour of playing games and really having fun with the kids. Build a bear definitely isn't you're standard sales job. I was given a lot more responsibility than other bear builders, like training new recruits, which for me was great, even if it was all unofficial.

Cons

They pay is appaling for what is expected. You're not just a sales associate, you're a bear builder, an entertainer, a party planner and host, a cleaner, etc. My area manager hated my store, we were constantly being belittled, even when we were often the best or second best performing in the district! Yet her favourite managers and stores could do no wrong. There is no clear training programme, the stores are provided with uninformative training videos and a work booklet. The level of your training depends on your store and managers. The contracts are unstable, you can go from 4 hours one week to 30-odd the next. Finally, the company assesses and grades you like a school child, not in an encouraging way. There is a script and order you're expected to adhere to at every station, but get marked down for sounding scripted. You really need to be resilient to work for BAB, take everything with a pinch a salt and pray for a good team and managers. Don't expect to make a career out of it.

2.0
25 Jul 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I worked for the company for a few years. In 2 different stores. One store was great and I loved it. Can be fun Good people work there

Cons

The pay is awful and one of the reasons I left My manager at one store talked to me in the most demeaning and horrible way. Three years of employment for nothing The other bear builders are nice but the managers talk about you behind your back a lot and have obvious favourites Get paid very little t give an experience rather then just an ordinary retail job. You could work somewhere else with more pay and less work.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 1,769 Reviews

Glassdoor has 1,850 Build-A-Bear reviews submitted anonymously by Build-A-Bear employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Build-A-Bear is right for you.