(The chance wouldn't be because it would be like a gacha per barcode IN MY IDEAL WORLD, but just because certain SKUs wouldn't trigger a special bg. So like the seasonal Sanrios would trigger seasonal Sanrio bgs and bday bears would trigger bday bgs but maybe Pawlette wouldn't have a special bg.)

Scan your furry friend's barcode for a chance at a special background the photobooth can superimpose you onto... this capitalism shit is easy

"Made a new friend!" "My bear's birthday!" "My birthday!" "Did all my chores!" "Did all my homework!" whatever, you know? cheap to manufacture, easy upsell on a calendar. They used to do stuff like this but I think they could do it again & maybe better.

AND!! If you're making calendars,
1) you can pre-plan a few big releases for the year and put them on the calendar (even just on the month) to get kids excited - like if there's a big movie coming out that you have a tie-in for (Sonic, Wicked, etc)
2) you can sell calendar accessories like stickers

I mean modern Build-A-Bear would be charging like $25 for them and then think-emojiing each other at the office because why isn't anyone buying our calendars, but if they could choke down a slightly smaller profit margin I think this could be cute

They're always doing stuff like this for their social media accounts, just slap em on a calendar and sell em for like $15 during the month of december

The heat treatment worked REALLY well on Hass's legs last year (and pretty well on the rest of her body too), so I'm hoping if I keep up with it every year we'll see incremental gains on her fur texture everywhere.

Pre soup for Hass. She is very well loved :)

I am a thousand percent coming home with at least 2 popcorn wristies and one velvet gifting bow but we'll see what else.

I have a little fun money left over from my last paycheck so I may have a little fun spoiling them with new cozy collection things if they seem nice enough when I go in. I heard one (1) person say they liked the new Gingerbread scent so I'm hoping I might also like it enough to put it in one.

We don't talk about Father's Day and how much I'm going to have to spend on a mini Maple Teddy.

- Was Messenger Bearemy for ALL associates or just certain types (managers etc) when he was introduced? When was he introduced? Presumably after Bearemy the mascot was designed and Bearemy the bear came out. Was there an onboarding gift before him?

- Is there a museum of furry friends at Bearquarters still 🥺

- Were there employee holiday and anniversary gifts distributed in 1997/1998, or when did they start?
- If Lil' Cub Butterscotch was available in October 1997, why is it missing from some old catalogs?
- Why are Floppy Bunny and Founding Bear not in collectors' guides?

- Was Scottie Bear's design based on the similar looking tartan-pawed bear from Bear Factory?
- What kind of exclusive Kennel Pals did the NYC flagship store have?
- Were there other special international franchise signing events with special furry friends, or just for Japan since it was the first?