It seems like just yesterday Build-A-Bear Workshop announced its first "Pay Your Age" Day — a one-day-only event that encouraged customers to come in, pick out a bear, and pay for it according to their age. (For instance, if your kid is 5 years old, his bear would cost just $5.) But who could forget the mass hysteria that ensued in malls across America last year, as eager parents and their EXTREMELY EXCITED kids showed up to make their own bear for a price they couldn't believe? (Not I.) Well, folks, the beloved toy store is back this month with a much more streamlined Pay-Your-Age offer — plus a pretty sweet Count Your Candles birthday sweepstakes you (and your kiddo) won't want to miss.
To be eligible, members of the Build-A-Bear Bonus Rewards program must complete an online birthday profile by Sunday, June 16.
You can complete yours — and sign up for the members program right here (if you're not already a member).
This year, the Pay Your Age offer is working a little differently, because it won't be a one-day-only event encouraging families to descend upon their nearest store. (Spoiler alert: Apparently, nobody was a fan of all that chaos last year.)
Instead, after creating an online profile, you'll be prompted to enter to win a "Pay Your Age limited ticket offer," which — if chosen — you can redeem for a Make-Your-Own Bear at participating stores in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. Winners of the limited ticket offer will be notified by email by June 21, and asked to visit a nearby store during one of two redeemable periods between June 24 and 28.
This way, Build-A-Bear will have a sense of just how many customers will be clamoring for a bear, which will hopefully cut down on the chaos and ensure all kids who've been promised one walk away with a furry friend.
Completing a birthday profile also gives parents the chance to sign up for the Count Your Candles Sweepstakes to win a birthday party experience.
(And if that doesn't leave your kid jumping for joy, I don't know what will.)
The best part is, the sweepstakes isn't limited to just one winner: According to a press release from Build-A-Bear, 10 winners will walk away with the grand prize of an in-store birthday party experience, which can be used any time within the following 12 months. (Considering an in-store party costs up to $250 a pop, that's pretty sweet!)
“At Build-A-Bear Workshop, we love parties and want to help parents create special birthday moments with their children,” said Sharon Price John, president and chief executive officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop. “Our Count Your Candles birthday program is designed to increase the accessibility for kids to be able to celebrate their most special day at Build-A-Bear Workshop."
As with any good deal, though, this one comes with a few caveats.
Aside from being an enter-to-win kind of offer, it's also only open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada (excluding Quebec), and the United Kingdom. And although no purchase is necessary to enter, entrants who enroll a child in the program must be at least 18 or older.
The Pay Your Age deal also can't be combined with any other offer, and each ticket holder is limited to one bear per child present (and a max of two kids). Outfits and other accessories (which are half the fun of the bear, TBH) are also not included, though it's honestly a pretty great deal even without that.
If you don't get to snag a limited ticket, all hope is not lost.
The good news is, Build-A-Bear actually hosts a year-round celebration for birthdays, so guests 14 and under who visit the store during their birthday month can actually pay their age for Build-A-Bear Workshop’s Birthday Treat Bear (as opposed to just any bear), so long as they're a member of the Build-A-Bear Bonus Club.
I'd call that a win-win!
