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Moving into the Construct-A-Bear headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, I used to be keen to take a seat down with Sharon Value John, the CEO who has remodeled the corporate since taking the helm in 2013. With over 550 areas throughout 25 international locations and a inventory that has skyrocketed practically 700% since Covid, it is clear that Construct-A-Bear is not any odd retail model. My dialog with Sharon was not nearly plush toys — it was about management, adaptability and the ability of name reinvention.
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From the outset, Sharon exuded a deep understanding of branding. She spoke about how monetary struggles will be fastened, however a weak model is much harder to show round. When she stepped into Construct-A-Bear, it wasn’t the model that was damaged — it was the enterprise mannequin. Retail was declining, ecommerce was rising, and the recession was contemporary on everybody’s thoughts — forcing the corporate to rethink its technique. As an alternative of preventing in opposition to change, she leaned into it, increasing the corporate’s digital presence, forming high-profile partnerships and making certain Construct-A-Bear remained culturally related.
One of the vital putting points of our dialog was her philosophy on change. She acknowledged that failure is usually the largest catalyst for transformation. The corporate needed to pivot from being a mall-based retailer for youths to a multi-dimensional model that catered to a wider demographic. From strategic licensing offers with Pokémon and Star Wars to the growth into digital content material and ecommerce, Sharon made it clear that Construct-A-Bear was not nearly making teddy bears — it was about creating experiences.
Past enterprise technique, Sharon additionally had a private connection to the emotional aspect of the model. After I went by way of the bear-building course of myself — recording a heartfelt message for my daughter — I used to be reminded why Construct-A-Bear is such a beloved model. The corporate would not simply promote stuffed animals; it sells nostalgia, connection and reminiscences. Sharon understands this higher than anybody, and her management displays a mix of enterprise acumen and emotional intelligence.
As we wrapped up, I used to be left with a profound respect for her management. She’s not simply working an organization — she’s shaping its future in a manner that ensures it stays related for generations. She might not be the founder, however she carries the identical ardour and imaginative and prescient that many founders do. In an period the place retail is consistently evolving, Construct-A-Bear is not simply surviving — it is thriving, due to a CEO who embraces change, innovation and the magic of human connection.
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