- Even though last year's sale had a messy outcome, this year Build-a-Bear Workshop is bringing back its Pay-Your-Age Day promotion.
- Build-a-Bear Bonus Club Members have to enter for a chance to win a Pay-Your-Age Day ticket.
- The ticketing system is an attempt to avoid the long lines and huge crowds that hampered last year's event.
Last year, Build-a-Bear Workshop tried a new promotion: Pay-Your-Age Day, where kids could create some new fuzzy friends for far, far less than what the experience would normally cost. A 5-year-old could make a stuffed animal for five bucks, for example.
The problem: the deal was too good, and, when the day arrived, the event was plagued with long lines, stores that couldn't accommodate the number of people who showed up, frustrated parents, and disappointed kids. The store had to issue vouchers to fans who couldn't get in on the deal.
With such a mess on their hands — in some cities, there were reports that police had to step in! — you'd think that Pay-Your-Age day would go away forever. These cuddly bears must be stuffed with lots of courage, because Build-a-Bear Workshop is bringing back Pay-Your-Age day, and this time they've come prepared.
This time, you have to enter for a chance to win a Pay-Your-Age ticket.
Yes, there's a catch this time. To avoid swarms and crowds this year, the promotion has a sweepstakes element to it. Here's how to enter:
- First, you have to join the Build-a-Bear Bonus Club.
- Once you have an account, club members then have to fill out the Birthday Profile and enter for a chance to win a Pay-Your-Age ticket. You must enter before Sunday, June 16, 2019.
- Winners will be notified sometime around June 21. More than 200,000 tickets will be issued, and each Pay-Your-Age ticket can be redeemed for up to two people to create new friends.
- If you're lucky enough to receive a golden ticket, you have to check it to see which dates it'll be valid for. You'll be assigned one of two time periods: Monday, June 24 through Wednesday, June 26, 2019, or Wednesday, June 26 through Friday, June 28, 2019.
Giving a window of time, instead of a single day, is sure to cut down on long lines — just make sure you go during your window! Read the company's FAQ for more information.
Don't forget about the Count Your Candles program!
The Pay-Your-Age deal is meant to promote Build-a-Bear Workshop's Count Your Candles birthday program. If you enter, you'll also be in the running to win a grand prize birthday party experience worth up to $250.
But even if you don't win anything, you can still score a deal with the Count Your Candles program. If you're a club member, that means you can get a pay-your-age deal on the Birthday Treat Bear for the entire month of your kids' birth. No lines, no tickets necessary!
New Friends at Build-a-Bear Workshop
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
