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I never imagined my career would include helping to found and launch a virtual world for kids and their furry friends, but it did, and this project still ranks as one of the most memorable and rewarding ones of my career. It took over a year of my life and trips all over the globe to bring together the team to launch this mammoth project, and I could not have anticipated the global impact that this project would have.
Within months of launch, Build-a-Bearville had become one of the top-five virtual worlds for kids. It was a 24/7 operation attracting millions of weekly visitors and contributing significantly to Build-a-Bear Workshops retail sales.
The world was live for over seven years and attracted a loyal fanbase who loved the virtual world as much as they loved the Buld-a-Bear Workshop brand. When Build-a-Bearville was shut down, there were online petitions begging for its continuation and videos of its final moments.