Build-A-Bear Workshop® is one of the most successful retailing concepts in recent history. Starting with just one location in 1997, the company now operates more than 200 stores worldwide. Leading the way is Maxine Clark, the company's founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Bear. Clark is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading and most creative entrepreneurs. In The Bear Necessities of Business, she reveals how she built this amazing global business from the ground up, while arming you with the tools you need to start, run, and market your own company in today's tough competitive environment. While primarily drawing on real-life experiences from Build-A-Bear Workshop®, Clark also offers wisdom gained throughout her entire thirty-plus-year career, including lessons and examples from some of the other great companies that do so much right. Straightforward and accessible, The Bear Necessities of Business is divided into seven parts, each built around an essential element that will allow you to stand apart from the crowd. The short, accessible chapters show you everything you need to: Get your business started - Become a great boss - Connect with your customers - Add value to the overall experience - Effectively market your company - Plan for future growth - Give back to your customers, employees, and community Best of all, these principles can be applied to any industry and are proven to work whether your target audience is children, teenagers, baby boomers, seniors, or any age in-between. Whether you're looking to start a new business, improve an existing one, be a better manager, or hire the best employees, The Bear Necessities of Business contains the insights and information you need to succeed. Even if you work for some-one else and have no plans to strike out on your own, you'll still benefit from the advice found in this book. After all, the best employees―and those who consistently rise to the top―are those who think like entrepreneurs! "The advice is excellent and easily transferable." ( Professional Manager , October 2006) "... it's well structured so that people can easily dip in and out. Worth reading whatever your line of business." ( The Guardian , September 2006) Praise for The Bear Necessities Of Business Maxine Clark has written a powerfully effective book that will help you build an organization that's more competitive, more inventive, more productive, and simply more fun to work in. ----William C. Taylor, Founding Editor, Fast Company magazine The Bear Necessities of Business is pithy, accessible, fun, and very smart. Maxine Clark is the twenty-first century's Walt Disney. Whatever business you're in--or dream of building--this chock-full-of-wisdom guide is a must-read. ----Susan W. Bird, founder and CEO, Wf360 The spirit and passion Maxine Clark has for bringing dreams to life is now in your hands. Every chapter is stuffed with the secrets of what has made her so successful in every aspect of business. Her mentoring and the words in this book are a big part of the magic of my success. ----Denise Chapman Weston, President and Director of Imagination, MagiQuest A must-read not just for aspiring entrepreneurs, but for seasoned managers as well. ----C. K. Prahalad, coauthor, The Future of Competition This book provides a 'how-to manual' for all those budding entrepreneurs with an idea they want to see blossom into a booming business. ----Martin Sneider, Adjunct Professor of Retailing Olin School of Business, Washington University Praise for The Bear Necessities Of Business "Maxine Clark has written a powerfully effective book that will help you build an organization that's more competitive, more inventive, more productive, and simply more fun to work in." William C. Taylor, Founding Editor, Fast Company magazine "The Bear Necessities of Business is pithy, accessible, fun, and very smart. Maxine Clark is the twenty-first century's Walt Disney. Whatever business you're in or dream of building this chock-full-of-wisdom guide is a must-read." Susan W. Bird, founder and CEO, Wf360 "The spirit and passion Maxine Clark has for bringing dreams to life is now in your hands. Every chapter is stuffed with the secrets of what has made her so successful in every aspect of business. Her mentoring and the words in this book are a big part of the magic of my success." Denise Chapman Weston, President and Director of Imagination, MagiQuest "A must-read not just for aspiring entrepreneurs, but for seasoned managers as well." C. K. Prahalad, coauthor, The Future of Competition "This book provides a 'how-to manual' for all those budding entrepreneurs with an idea they want to see blossom into a booming business." Martin Sneider, Adjunct Professor of Retailing Olin School of Business, Washington University Maxine Clark is the founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop®. A veteran of the retail industry, she has been widely recognized for her innovative work and is