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Epicor Retail Technology: At Work While Consumers Play at the Newly Imagined Build-A-Bear Workshop Stores
[January 15, 2013]

Epicor Retail Technology: At Work While Consumers Play at the Newly Imagined Build-A-Bear Workshop Stores


(Marketwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 01/15/13 -- NRF 2013 (Booth 1805) -- Consumers will want to visit Build-A-Bear Workshop to experience the unique interactive in-store experience supported in part by the latest retail technology from Epicor Software Corporation, a global leader in business software solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail and services organizations.



Offering an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience, Build-A-Bear Workshop has 400 stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South America.

The company recently introduced a newly imagined store design in six markets across the United States. The new store design, which has been over two years in the making, merges the Build-A-Bear Workshop hands-on bear-making process with the power of technology to provide a magical new experience for consumers of all ages. The new design received industry recognition from Retail TouchPoints, naming Build-A-Bear Workshop a winner in the 2012 Customer Engagement Awards honoring retailers that have embraced customer engagement and implemented solutions and services that are delighting customers. As one of an elite group of eleven award winners, Build-A-Bear Workshop won the In-Store Experience category for its use of technology to provide a more personalized experience for shoppers in its stores of the future.


Providing technology components to support a seamless shopping experience, Epicor retail technology plays a key role in the newly imagined store design. Data pertaining to Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animals is collected as Guests go through each step of the process to personalize their furry friend (watch the video). The Epicor Retail Multi-Channel Transaction Adapter (MCTA), Epicor Retail CRM, and Epicor Retail Store solutions play a role to support this interactive in store customer engagement.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is leveraging the Epicor Retail Multi-Channel Transaction Adapter, which simplifies the task of sharing the full spectrum of POS functions and logic across channels and devices, for more effective management of transaction execution across the enterprise. In Build-A-Bear Workshop stores, the MCTA technology supports the retail transactions that take place at different "stations" where Guests create their stuffed animals and add personality traits, clothing, and accessories to customize them.

Leveraging the Epicor Retail CRM solution, Build-A-Bear Workshop has a broad set of tools to build and manage loyalty programs, execute and manage campaigns and promotions, analyze customer data and transaction information across sales channels, segment and manage lists, and analyze and measure the impact of CRM efforts. Designed to support multiple sales channels, Epicor CRM technology supports the company's omnichannel CRM initiatives to support more seamless customer interaction. With real-time connectivity across all sales channels, Epicor Retail CRM helps Build-A-Bear Workshop provide a world-class shopping experience that is relevant and engaging, based on the most current customer data.

The Epicor Retail Store solution also supports streamlined point of sale transactions for an improved customer checkout experience. The flagship Epicor Retail Store suite functions as the critical Point-of-Sale (POS) backbone for a large and growing number of specialty, mass merchandise, and department store retailers. Upon checkout, the POS system delivers a unique code on each printed receipt for Bearville.comâ„¢, the Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world and entertainment destination where Guests can redeem credits for virtual merchandise and bring their Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animals to life online.

"Since 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop has captured the hearts of our Guests from three to 103 by creating unique experiences that translate into lifelong memories. Now with today's increasingly tech-savvy kids, we are leveraging technology to foster richer and more personal connections with our Guests in our newly designed stores," said Dave Finnegan, Build-A-Bear Workshop Chief Information and Interactive Bear.

"We've had a deep and rich partnership with Build-A-Bear Workshop for many years and were delighted to collaborate with retail executives to envision how to leverage Epicor retail technology to create a truly inspiring store experience. Everyone at Epicor is extremely proud to see these innovative ideas come to life in the newly designed Build-A-Bear Workshop store to create a very unique Guest experience," said Diane Cerulli, Director of Retail Marketing for Epicor.

Epicor and Build-A-Bear Workshop Presented at NRFDuring the Epicor Big !deas Session on Tuesday, January 15 titled, "The Technology Behind the Magic: Creating the Newly Imagined Build-A-Bear Workshop Store with Epicor Stuffing," Brandon Elliott, Director of Digital Ventures for Build-A-Bear Workshop and Diane Cerulli, Director of Retail Marketing for Epicor shared the story behind the newly designed Build-A-Bear Workshop stores. Attendees heard how it all came about -- from internal and external collaboration, to the innovative ideas, execution and how the Epicor Retail technology and solutions played an important role in delivering a unique customer experience.

About Build-A-Bear WorkshopBuild-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. There are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball® mascot in-stadium locations, and Build-A-Dino® stores. Build-A-Bear Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award winning virtual world website at bearville.comâ„¢. The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the fourth year in a row in 2012. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $394.4 million in fiscal 2011. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning website at buildabear.com®.

Epicor Retail SolutionsEpicor provides advanced solutions for retailers seeking to streamline processes, integrate channels, leverage intelligence and inspire customers, to maximize profitability. The Epicor Retail end-to-end suite is designed to meet the evolving merchandise and service expectations of today's connected, cross-channel shoppers, and the business requirements of the most demanding softgoods, hardgoods and specialty retail environments in a variety of industries including apparel, footwear, discount, general merchandise, automotive aftermarket, lumber and building materials, nursery, and pharmacy. Thousands of leading companies -- from Aeropostale, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance and Build-a-Bear Workshop, to General Nutrition Centers, True Value Company and Under Armour -- trust Epicor to help them remain current, competitive, and consistently strong.

About Epicor Software CorporationEpicor Software Corporation is a global leader delivering inspired business software solutions to the manufacturing, distribution, retail and services industries. With over 40 years of experience serving small, midmarket and larger enterprises, Epicor has more than 20,000 customers in over 150 countries. Epicor enterprise resource planning (ERP), retail management software, supply chain management (SCM), and human capital management (HCM) enable companies to drive increased efficiency and improve profitability. With a history of innovation, industry expertise and passion for excellence, Epicor provides the single point of accountability that local, regional and global businesses demand. The Company's headquarters are located in Dublin, California, with offices and affiliates worldwide. For more information, visit www.epicor.com.

Follow Epicor on Twitter @Epicor, @EpicorUK, @EpicorEMEA, @EpicorANZ, @EpicorLAC, @Epicor_Retail, @Epicor_DIST and Facebook.

Epicor and the Epicor logo are trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation.

Contact: Lisa Preuss Senior Director, Public Relations Epicor Software Corporation +1 949.585.4235 [email protected] Erin Lutz Lutz PR (on behalf of Epicor) +1 949.293.1055 [email protected] Jill Saunders Director of Bear and Public Relations Build-A-Bear Workshop +1 314.422.4523 [email protected] Source: Epicor Software Corporation

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