OFFBounds Retail

Build-A-Bear Workshop turned birthday rituals and heart ceremonies into a growth engine, with its stock up about 1,900 percent in five years and domestic store traffic up 3 percent while the national benchmark fell. Paula revisits her conversation with CTO Dara Meath to unpack the experience-first model, the rapid 18-month digital sprint from mobile POS to 2D/3D visualization, and the rise of the “kidult” that powers higher-value collecting and gifting. From clever social drops like the Fruit Stand to a culture that “sells stories, not items,” this episode breaks down how emotion, omnichannel execution, and brand discipline translate into real results. Listen for takeaways any retailer can apply.

Check my interview with Dara Meath here
See Build-a-Bear Workshop (BBW) latest results here
Visit the Bear Cave and get a CaBEARnet

Creators and Guests

Host
Paula Macaggi
Informing Commerce Leaders | Founder of OFFBounds - #1 Podcast for Commerce Leaders | Speaker | Reta Awards Judge | Top Retail Expert 2024
Editor
Bicho de Goiaba Podcasts
A Brazilian podcast producer. Main clients: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Grant Thornton, SKF and Alelo.

What is OFFBounds Retail?

OFFBounds is a podcast where commerce executives share their perspectives, successes, and lessons learned in their careers to inspire other global leaders in their journey and decision-making.

Every week, the host Paula Macaggi meets industry leaders to discuss business strategies, careers, and leadership in one-on-one conversations challenging the limits of borders and boundaries.

Paula unveils the person behind the leader and brings to her audience of commerce executives experiences to relate, motivate, and reflect on decisions that are shaping commerce.

OFFBounds is the first podcast recorded in person with audio and video featuring executives in commerce from around the world.