Secrets of Success: Maxine Clark
A former executive with Payless Shoe Source, Clark switched gears and created her own specialty retail business of custom-made teddy bears, Build-A-Bear Workshops with sales of over $474 million.
Her secret to success: “My mother was a great influence in helping me see the importance of giving back to the community. Mom was a force for change in the ’60s for children with Down Syndrome—she saw the possibilities in all children, especially the ‘differently abled.’ While I chose a career in business vs. social work, I can say that my mother’s focus on opportunity for all children is part of who I am and what our company stands for.”
Photo by BusinessWeek.


















Sheryl on May 15th, 2008 11:06 am
I hope the market for custom made teddy bears in her country is the same with the market in my country. The market size of these teddy bears in my country is getting smaller and smaller.
brittany on October 8th, 2008 4:03 pm
hi if maxine goes on the great but i am a big fan i i love buildabearville and on there my name is brittany4leafclover342 i think i met u 2 timess but u were invisable so yeah hi and wow.
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