Build-A-Bear Workshop, a global leader in interactive retail, inaugurated its first store in the Gulf at Dubai Festival City.

Located on the first floor on the high traffic 'Retail Link Bridge' at Dubai Festival City, the store was officially inaugurated by Laila Suhail, CEO of Dubai Shopping Festival Office.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is based on the premise that nearly everyone, regardless of age, has a special fondness for stuffed animals. When guests visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop store, they enter a light-hearted teddy-bear-themed environment consisting of eight bear-making stations.

Guests stuff their new furry friend, give it a heart filled with wishes – a Build-A-Bear Workshop trademark – and make a personalised birth certificate.  Guests can further personalise their new friend by recording their own message to place inside their furry friend and by choosing from a wide selection of unique fashions and accessories.

“Dubai Shopping Festival Office, in its capacity as an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, stands firmly behind any initiative that can elevate the standards of the local retail sector; it’s in our mandate to support innovative ideas such as “Build-A-Bear Workshop” that will enrich the shopping experience in Dubai” said Laila Suhail, CEO – Dubai Shopping Festival Office.

“Build-A-Bear Workshop’s innovative store concept takes interactive entertainment retailing to a new level, combining the process of making your own stuffed animal in the exciting atmosphere created in our store and fun of shopping,' said Anders Carlsson, general manager, Build-A-Bear Workshop Gulf States.

'We will be opening our next store at Dubai Marina Mall while looking for other premier store locations within UAE as well as expanding into other GCC countries.”

“Moreover, we have always believed in focusing on and supporting good causes that support children and after much deliberation we partnered with Dubai Center for Special Needs. Champ Bear is our champion for good causes and when our guests purchase this bear, part of the proceeds from the sale, will be donated to the center,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service