Build-A-Bear Workshop(r)?is one of the most successful retailing concepts in recent history. Starting with just one location in 1997, the company now operates more than 200 stores worldwide.
Leading the way is Maxine Clark, the company's founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Bear. Clark is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading and most creative entrepreneurs. In The Bear Necessities of Business, she reveals how she built this amazing global business from the ground up, while arming you with the tools you need to start, run, and market your own company in today's tough competitive environment. While primarily drawing on real-life experiences from Build-A-Bear Workshop(r), Clark also offers wisdom gained throughout her entire thirty-plus-year career, including lessons and examples from some of the other great companies that do so much right.
Straightforward and accessible, The Bear Necessities of Business is divided into seven parts, each built around an essential element that will allow you to stand apart from the crowd. The short, accessible chapters show you everything you need to:
- Get your business started
- Become a great boss
- Connect with your customers
- Add value to the overall experience
- Effectively market your company
- Plan for future growth
- Give back to your customers, employees, and community
Best of all, these principles can be applied to any industry and are proven to work whether your target audience is children, teenagers, baby boomers, seniors, or any age in-between.
Whether you're looking to start a new business, improve an existing one, be a better manager, or hire the best employees, The Bear Necessities of Business contains the insights and information you need to succeed. Even if you work for some-one else and have no plans to strike out on your own, you'll still benefit from the advice found in this book. After all, the best employees-and those who consistently rise to the top-are those who think like entrepreneurs!
Maxine Clark will donate 100 percent of her proceeds from the sales of this book to¿the Build-A-Bear Workshop(r) Bear Hugs Foundation, which supports meaningful philanthropic efforts for children and families through financial and in-kind support for health and wellness causes and educational and literacy programs.
Review:
"Maxine Clark has written a powerfully effective book that will help you build an organization that's more competitive, more inventive, more productive, and simply more fun to work in. It takes a tough-minded entrepreneur to create such a warm-hearted business. I can't 'bear' the thought that you won't read this book."
--William C. Taylor, Founding Editor, Fast Company magazine
"This book not only shows how to get customers to spend more time with you, it comes with a heart--Maxine Clark's heart for her business, associates, and Guests. Few companies both mass-customize their offerings and stage a compelling experience. Of those that do, Build-A-Bear Workshop(r) is the beary best."
--Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore, authors, The Experience Economy
"The Bear Necessities of Business is pithy, accessible, fun, and very smart. Maxine Clark is the twenty-first century's Walt Disney. The knowledge she shares on building a global business and creating customer evangelists is as infectious as the enthusiasm evident around every corner of her empire. Whatever business you're in--or dream of building--this chock-full-of-wisdom guide is a must-read."
--Susan W. Bird, founder and CEO, Wf360
"The spirit and passion Maxine Clark has for bringing dreams to life is now in your hands. Every chapter is stuffed with the secrets of what has made her so successful in every aspect of business. Her mentoring and the words in this book are a big part of the magic of my success."
--Denise Chapman Weston, President and Director of Imagination, MagiQuest
"As price, convenience, and customer service become 'table stakes,' firms have to depend on innovation and personalized, co-created experiences for sustained value creation. Maxine Clark is a pioneer in this area. Now she shares her insights in an eminently readable book. A must-read not just for aspiring entrepreneurs, but for seasoned managers as well."
--C. K. Prahalad, coauthor, The Future of Competition
"This book provides a 'how-to manual' for all those budding entrepreneurs with an idea they want to see blossom into a booming business."
--Martin Sneider, Adjunct Professor of Retailing, Olin School of Business, Washington University
Table of contents:
Introduction.
PART ONE: GETTING STARTED.
Dream the Dream Supreme.
Let a Child Inspire You.
Do What You Love.
Beware of Conventional Wisdom.
Pour Your Heart Into It.
Envision the Core User.
Imagine Your Company from the Inside Out.
It's All in the Details.
Develop Strong Partnerships.
Be Financially Secure.
Put Your Plans in Writing.
Make Investors Come to You.
PART TWO: BEING A GREAT BOSS.
Show a Willingness to Do Any Job.
Seek and Find Those Who Share Your Passion.
Create a Fun Place to Work.
Celebrate Mistakes with a Red Pencil Award.
Respect Those Around You.
Empower Your Employees to Contribute.
Know What You Don't Know.
Seek the Help of Outside Experts.
Keep Score.
Read, Act, and Share.
PART THREE: CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMPUTER.
See Yourself Through the Public's Eyes.
Learn from Your Customers.
Build an Advisory Board.
Bring Out the Child in Everyone.
Spending More Creates More Value.
Don't Cater to All Audiences.
Ensure That Each Person Feels Special.
Answer Customer Letters.
PART FOUR: CREATING AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Make First Impressions Last.
Turn Every Day into a Holiday.
Emulate the Five Pillars of Success.
Keep Inventory in Check.
Pay Attention to Packaging.
Offer an Escape from the Ordinary.
PART FIVE: USING ESSENTIAL MARKETING STRATEGIES.
Be a Great Brand.
The Best Advertising Is Free.
Target Your Pitches.
Respond to the Media.
Advertise Smart.
Create Buzz.
Use the Web Wisely.
Embrace Viral Marketing.
PART SIX: GROWING YOUR BUSINESS.
1 + 1 = 10.
Live in the Now . . . and the Future.
Learn from the Experiences of Others.
Grow Without Compromise.
Be Prepared for the Unimaginable.
Innovate Incessantly.
Speak in All Languages.
Turn "No" into Your Own "Yes".
The Harder You Work, the Luckier You Get.
Five Questions That Will Help Propel Your Business.
PART SEVEN: GIVING BACK..
Good Works Are Good Business.
Begin in Your Own Backyard.
Share and Share Alike.
Bearisms to Live and Work By.
Acknowledgments.
About the Authors.
Index.
Leading the way is Maxine Clark, the company's founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Bear. Clark is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading and most creative entrepreneurs. In The Bear Necessities of Business, she reveals how she built this amazing global business from the ground up, while arming you with the tools you need to start, run, and market your own company in today's tough competitive environment. While primarily drawing on real-life experiences from Build-A-Bear Workshop(r), Clark also offers wisdom gained throughout her entire thirty-plus-year career, including lessons and examples from some of the other great companies that do so much right.
Straightforward and accessible, The Bear Necessities of Business is divided into seven parts, each built around an essential element that will allow you to stand apart from the crowd. The short, accessible chapters show you everything you need to:
- Get your business started
- Become a great boss
- Connect with your customers
- Add value to the overall experience
- Effectively market your company
- Plan for future growth
- Give back to your customers, employees, and community
Best of all, these principles can be applied to any industry and are proven to work whether your target audience is children, teenagers, baby boomers, seniors, or any age in-between.
Whether you're looking to start a new business, improve an existing one, be a better manager, or hire the best employees, The Bear Necessities of Business contains the insights and information you need to succeed. Even if you work for some-one else and have no plans to strike out on your own, you'll still benefit from the advice found in this book. After all, the best employees-and those who consistently rise to the top-are those who think like entrepreneurs!
Maxine Clark will donate 100 percent of her proceeds from the sales of this book to¿the Build-A-Bear Workshop(r) Bear Hugs Foundation, which supports meaningful philanthropic efforts for children and families through financial and in-kind support for health and wellness causes and educational and literacy programs.
Review:
"Maxine Clark has written a powerfully effective book that will help you build an organization that's more competitive, more inventive, more productive, and simply more fun to work in. It takes a tough-minded entrepreneur to create such a warm-hearted business. I can't 'bear' the thought that you won't read this book."
--William C. Taylor, Founding Editor, Fast Company magazine
"This book not only shows how to get customers to spend more time with you, it comes with a heart--Maxine Clark's heart for her business, associates, and Guests. Few companies both mass-customize their offerings and stage a compelling experience. Of those that do, Build-A-Bear Workshop(r) is the beary best."
--Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore, authors, The Experience Economy
"The Bear Necessities of Business is pithy, accessible, fun, and very smart. Maxine Clark is the twenty-first century's Walt Disney. The knowledge she shares on building a global business and creating customer evangelists is as infectious as the enthusiasm evident around every corner of her empire. Whatever business you're in--or dream of building--this chock-full-of-wisdom guide is a must-read."
--Susan W. Bird, founder and CEO, Wf360
"The spirit and passion Maxine Clark has for bringing dreams to life is now in your hands. Every chapter is stuffed with the secrets of what has made her so successful in every aspect of business. Her mentoring and the words in this book are a big part of the magic of my success."
--Denise Chapman Weston, President and Director of Imagination, MagiQuest
"As price, convenience, and customer service become 'table stakes,' firms have to depend on innovation and personalized, co-created experiences for sustained value creation. Maxine Clark is a pioneer in this area. Now she shares her insights in an eminently readable book. A must-read not just for aspiring entrepreneurs, but for seasoned managers as well."
--C. K. Prahalad, coauthor, The Future of Competition
"This book provides a 'how-to manual' for all those budding entrepreneurs with an idea they want to see blossom into a booming business."
--Martin Sneider, Adjunct Professor of Retailing, Olin School of Business, Washington University
Table of contents:
Introduction.
PART ONE: GETTING STARTED.
Dream the Dream Supreme.
Let a Child Inspire You.
Do What You Love.
Beware of Conventional Wisdom.
Pour Your Heart Into It.
Envision the Core User.
Imagine Your Company from the Inside Out.
It's All in the Details.
Develop Strong Partnerships.
Be Financially Secure.
Put Your Plans in Writing.
Make Investors Come to You.
PART TWO: BEING A GREAT BOSS.
Show a Willingness to Do Any Job.
Seek and Find Those Who Share Your Passion.
Create a Fun Place to Work.
Celebrate Mistakes with a Red Pencil Award.
Respect Those Around You.
Empower Your Employees to Contribute.
Know What You Don't Know.
Seek the Help of Outside Experts.
Keep Score.
Read, Act, and Share.
PART THREE: CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMPUTER.
See Yourself Through the Public's Eyes.
Learn from Your Customers.
Build an Advisory Board.
Bring Out the Child in Everyone.
Spending More Creates More Value.
Don't Cater to All Audiences.
Ensure That Each Person Feels Special.
Answer Customer Letters.
PART FOUR: CREATING AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Make First Impressions Last.
Turn Every Day into a Holiday.
Emulate the Five Pillars of Success.
Keep Inventory in Check.
Pay Attention to Packaging.
Offer an Escape from the Ordinary.
PART FIVE: USING ESSENTIAL MARKETING STRATEGIES.
Be a Great Brand.
The Best Advertising Is Free.
Target Your Pitches.
Respond to the Media.
Advertise Smart.
Create Buzz.
Use the Web Wisely.
Embrace Viral Marketing.
PART SIX: GROWING YOUR BUSINESS.
1 + 1 = 10.
Live in the Now . . . and the Future.
Learn from the Experiences of Others.
Grow Without Compromise.
Be Prepared for the Unimaginable.
Innovate Incessantly.
Speak in All Languages.
Turn "No" into Your Own "Yes".
The Harder You Work, the Luckier You Get.
Five Questions That Will Help Propel Your Business.
PART SEVEN: GIVING BACK..
Good Works Are Good Business.
Begin in Your Own Backyard.
Share and Share Alike.
Bearisms to Live and Work By.
Acknowledgments.
About the Authors.
Index.