Build-A-Bear reviews

3.8

59% would recommend to a friend

(1,769 total reviews)

Sharon John

60% approve of CEO

51% positive business outlook

Build-A-Bear has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 1,769 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Build-A-Bear employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
3.0
Sep 13, 2025

Corporate is bad

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible hours were nice and people were nice

Cons

Bad pay, bad managers, bad corporate

4.0
Sep 7, 2025

Has ups and downs

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pretty good job for those who thrive as a team, and can chat.

Cons

Working here can be humiliating. The general public is very rude at times. I’ve been talking to a guest as I’ve been told to, only to be looked at awkwardly and completely ignored. Can be dehumanising at times. As Bear builders we only do what we’re told to do- which is greet every guest, and ensure they know the deals, ensure they have a good time..

4.0
Sep 5, 2025

Fun!

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It was a fun and entertaining job You get to work with cute merchandise The day-to-day work could be enjoyable and engaging

Cons

Management was very poor and unorganized Hiring managers (district managers) often choose outside hires over established employees Frequently felt like I was doing more than required and fulfilling certain roles for my boss Management staff often got stuck with the worst hours, while upper leadership avoided the workload Lack of fairness and support from leadership

Viewing 64 - 66 of 1,769 Reviews

Glassdoor has 1,850 Build-A-Bear reviews submitted anonymously by Build-A-Bear employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Build-A-Bear is right for you.