Hardware Podcasts

Build-A-Bear: Maxine Clark. A Former Shoe Executive Launches a Stuffed Animal Empire

How I Built This · 15 Jun 2026 · 1h 04m

What this episode covers

Maxine Clark, former president of Payless ShoeSource, explains how she leveraged her retail experience to launch Build-A-Bear, creating a 'Willy Wonka'-style store experience where children stuff and personalize stuffed animals. She details the impromptu inspiration from a child's comment about Beanie Babies, the strategic decision to use existing US factories rather than buying them, and the importance of securing exclusive mall leases to defend against copycats. Clark also discusses navigating the 2008 financial crisis, the company's 2004 IPO, and her deliberate transition to CEO Sharon Price John to ensure the brand's long-term legacy.

Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up and established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Payless ShoeSource, May Department Stores, Heck Company, Hamley's, Stride Rite, Hasbro
Products
Build-A-Bear, Beanie Babies
Also
Willy Wonka

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