Build-a-Bear: Living Vicariously Through My 5th Grade Self

Remember in elementary school when Build-a-Bear mania was upon us? Many of us can recall visiting our local store with family or friends, picking out a bear, dressing him/her up, and low-and-behold, finding ourselves a new best friend. It was so thrilling for us as children to have an object we could customize and individualize to our own tastes. Myself and my fellow Silverwarians spent our excursion day at Build-a-Bear in the Menlo Park Mall. Not only was this a wonderful bonding experience for the silver team, it was a venture we definitely learned from.

The newest addition to my bedroom:
Bonnie Bear

When we got to the store, we were able to create a bear of our choice (or penguins and dogs!) We went through the standard store procedure of choosing the bear and stuffing it. The employee working the stuffing machine also asks you to perform a store ritual in which you hop, turn, and warm up the bear's heart before creating it. Once the bear is created, you have the option to bathe it, and then select clothing. In typical Rutgers fashion, we were able to dress our bears, penguins, and dogs up with some spirited Scarlet Knight attire. When that ended, we filled out the birth certificate, named our bears, and they were ready to go!

It was after these 20 or so minutes that I realized Build-a-Bear's modus operandi was about more than simply making a stuffed animal. This was a memorable experience for children of all ages. I distinctly remember my first visit to the store in 5th grade for an old friend's birthday party. It was such a neat place to be and you felt like you created something special. The Build-a-Bear company does an excellent job at empowering children. From the minute you enter the store, literally everything they have is of the child's choice. Their imaginations can run wild within the confinements of this store when it comes to the type of animal they choose, clothing they dress them up in, and what they choose to name it. No matter the child's taste, Build-a-Bear gives them the option to individualize their creation, and it becomes an occurrence they will remember for a long time.

Another awesome thing about Build-a-Bear is the fact that the place is an awesome work environment. There were two employees working when we visited, and we spoke to both of them. Instantly, we could see how passionate they are about their jobs simply in the tone of voice they used to describe their work experiences. The woman at the register explained she had been working at the Menlo Park store since its opening almost 10 years ago. This was amazing to me because it proved to me that if you love your work, it never feels like a "job", and customers will see this when they frequent the store.

The Build-a-Bear experience is quite similar to NSO. We are told to empower students. Like at the store, OL's must point out helpful resources that students would be interested in. Every student is extremely diverse and has their own interests, so it's up to us to point them in the right direction of how to handle their first-year experience. On the same note, NSO aims to be an excellent and comfortable work environment for all staff members. The Build-a-Bear employees were visibly content and satisfied with the jobs they were doing. If we behave with the same optimism and spirit for Rutgers in front of our groups, it will rub off on them, and they will feel just as excited as we are. At Build-a-Bear, you create a tangible object that is all your own style; after going through orientation, students have the knowledge to customize their college experience.