Steve, Brad and Axel. (Build a Bear)

Member Name: playmate

Product:	Build a Bear
Date:	24/01/09 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything about the whole idea.

Disadvantages: I'm addicted.

I love all kinds of stuffed toys, but I especially love monkeys. The first bear that I ever made was in the store in Stirling, and my fiance went halfers with me as it was our 'anniversary'.

So what is build a bear? It is a store that allows you to choose your animal and fully customise it

I went in the shop and was completely amazed at the sheer amount of stock that they had and how much choice of animals that they had for you to stuff. I must have walked around in a daze for about 5 minutes before I settled with a monkey.

With this being my first time ever even going into one of these shops, I had no idea what to do, and luckily a really helpful and overly happy sales assistant came to help me.

Step 1 - was to pick a heart out of the box, and give it a kiss and make a wish,( which I did, but felt like a complete idiot, I think thats a bit silly for adults but ok for kids) so after making this really large kissing sound just to take the micky, the sales assistant took the heart and placed it inside the monkey.

Step 2 - I was asked how i would like to have my monkey stuffed, very soft, cuddly, hard, or extra hard. I chose to have him cuddly. The assistant then put the monkey on a spout that the stuffing came out of and she asked me if I wanted to use the controls so that I could stuff him myself.

Step 3 - I had the choice if I wanted to put a voice into my monkey, you have the choice of a pre recorded one or you can record one your self, I didnt bother, but if you want one these are extra.

Step 4 - My monkey was then closed at the back, by pulling a string that tightened and held the back closed so that there was no sharp parts that a child could be hurt on.

Step 5 - Clothes time, this is the part where you are asked if you would like to dress your animal at an extra cost, which I did do, I dressed my monkey in a full kilt set, with the sporran and everything. The outfit price was qite reasonable at £9.99 for the full thing.

Step 6 - By this stage everything was done, but my monkey was still nameless. They allow you to print off a birth certificate for your bear, that has all of his details on, my monkey ended up with the name Steve, after my fiance.

Then all thats left to do is pay for all of your items. In total I think that steve cost us about £20, which isint bad as you have basically built him from scratch.

That trip was fatal as I have now become completely addicted and eveytime I pass one of these stores I have to go in and either buy a new accessory for my animals or build a new one.

I have three in total now, Steve that I have already mentioned, Brad who is also a monkey but he is dressed on a pit suit from the formula one, (yeah I know it's lame Brad Pit!), and then the most recent one is Axel who I got when I was in Newcastle, and he is a penguin that has a Christmas hat on with a pair of ice skates and a pair of black shades, he looks very cool.

I love the fact that there are so many different accessories that can be purchased for you new friends. Some of the available items are; tiny Timberland boots, slippers, tiny scetchers, wedding dresses, suits, fairy costumes, handbags, roller skates and so on, you get the picture. The prices are not too bad for the accessories either they range from about £2 to roughly £12.

Next time you pass one, (just about every city or large town does) then go in for a look and you will more than likley come out with something.

Summary: My very own little family was bought and made here.