Ridemakerz -- Anyone hear of this company?

[007]

I just got a recruiting email from a company called RideMakerz...from the looks of it, they're a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear...

Anyone ever hear of these guys? Good company? I'll hang up and listen...

[Schwahalala]

I heard that Build a Bear was actually cutting back on a new company.

Channel 5 morning news.

[Ohio Blues]

Related to the Bad Newz Kennelz?

[Schwahalala]

All I got

http://www.insideretailing.com.au/articles-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=3660

Build-A-Bear Workshop is to close a spin-off chain citing poor sales in the sagging US economy.



Friends 2B Made was launched in 2006, but the parent company, founded in 1997 by Maxine Clark, has struggled to gain any traction with the new brand and will close all nine stores. Most stores are adjacent to Build-A-Bear Workshops which will be expanded as a result, the balance will be closed at a cost of about US$2.8 million. Its merchandise was also sold through 50 Build-A-Bear workshops.

Friends 2B Made offered children a venue to make up their own dolls and related products, rather than bears, in store environments and had a e-tailing website as well.

"We have been pleased with the enthusiastic Guest response to our friends 2B made products and locations, which makes our decision to close these locations even more difficult," said Clark, who is chairman and 'chief executive bear' with the global chain, which has two stores in Australia under a franchise agreement.
"However, to take this concept to the next level would require additional investment and the development of an online presence - which today is required to be a viable children's-entertainment brand. With the slowdown in consumer spending, particularly for discretionary products, we believe the best strategic course for the company is to continue to focus our primary efforts on building our Build-A-Bear Workshop.

"The teddy bear has been an icon of fun and friendship for over a hundred years, and spans ages and genders - a formula that is hard to match. We will also continue to focus our efforts on the successful Guest response we are receiving to our virtual world buildabearville.com. This plan allows us to address our goal of improving our sales while focusing on and investing in brand building strategies for long-term growth."

Friends 2B made doll stores are located in - Columbus, Ohio, Boston, Mass., Pittsburgh, Pa., St. Louis, Mo., Temecula, Calif., Manhattan, N.Y., Minneapolis, Minn., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Ontario, Calif.

[Schwahalala]

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS233517+24-Apr-2008+BW20080424

RIDEMAKERZ(R) Wins ''Retail Store of the Year''

Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:42pm EDT


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Chain Store Age Recognizes Shop as Best Attraction Retailer New Car-customizing for Kids Concept Inspired by Build-A-BearWorkshop(R) is Welcome Addition to Retail Scene -- Especially for BoysST. LOUIS--(Business Wire)--RIDEMAKERZ(R), the new experiential retailer that offers a uniquecar-customizing experience for kids from 6 to 106, has roared out ofthe retailing pack and taken best of show in one of the nation's mostprestigious retail design competitions. RIDEMAKERZ won first place for"best attraction retailing" for stores under 5,000 square feet inChain Store Age magazine's Retail Store of the Year Awards -- a mostauspicious victory given that the retailer is in its rookie year. Chain Store Age cited RIDEMAKERZ Shops for their"larger-than-life-feel, with 3-D fixtures and dynamic visuals. Fromthe high-impact 'hero car' graphics to the black-and-silver checkeredflooring with embedded messaging, RIDEMAKERZ is fun from the word'go.'" RIDEMAKERZ opened its first Shop last June in Myrtle Beach, S.C.,and has since expanded to seven locations. By this June, RIDEMAKERZwill be operating at a dozen locations nationwide. (See below forlocations.) Marianne Wilson, editor-in-chief at Chain Store Age, said contestjudges were impressed with RIDEMAKERZ as "a fresh new concept and awelcome addition in a category that many retailers have overlooked -young males." RIDEMAKERZ ZEO (CEO) Larry Andreini called the win a vote ofconfidence in the team that dreamed up the concept and put it onwheels. "We already knew we had a winner from the smiles on the facesof the Customizers in our Shops building RIDEZ," Andreini said, "butit's always great when you are recognized by your peers and industryexperts, too." The judges included architects, designers and retailerswith broad experience in the industry. Build Your RIDE(TM) The RIDEMAKERZ experience invites guests, or "Customizers(TM),"into the ultimate car-customizing shop where they can CHOOZE,SONICIZE, MOTORIZE, MOBILIZE, CUSTOMIZE, PERSONALIZE and CRUIZE(TM)one-of-a-kind RIDEZ. Between the body styles and colors, tires andwheels, lights and sounds, accessories and decals, RIDEMAKERZestimates there are more than 649,000,000 possible combinations, notincluding individual decal placement. RIDEMAKERZ has agreements with Ford Motor Company to offer theFord Mustang and the Ford Super Chief Alternative Fuel Concept Truck,and Dodge, a trademark of the Chrysler Corporation, to offer the DodgeRam and the Dodge Challenger Concept car in miniature form. Inaddition, legendary car designer and host of TLC's hit showOverhaulin', Chip Foose, serves as an "advizor" and has even trickedout a Limited Edition Dodge Challenger Concept car for RIDEMAKERZ,which is offered alongside the plethora of other options includingrace cars, hot rods, trucks, and emergency-service vehicles. Customizers can have the complete RIDEMAKERZ experience and leavethe shop with a car or truck ranging in price from $12 to $29,depending on body and paint style chosen. Radio control can be addedfor an additional $25, and custom accessories range in price from$2.50 for grille guards, spoilers and hood scoops to $5 for a set ofmonster tires and chassis to $10 for a Street-Glow light kit to $15for a deluxe "Muscle Kit" that includes a blown engine, spoiler, sidepipes, muffler tips and roof vent. With more than half-a-billioncombinations, there is a tricked-out RIDE for everyone's budget. RIDEZmeasure approximately 10 to 12 inches long, about the size of ashoebox, and right around 1:18 scale. Locations RIDEMAKERZ currently can be found at: -- Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, S.C. -- Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. -- Spotsylvania Towne Center in Fredericksburg, Virg. -- Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis, Ind. -- THE AVENUE at White Marsh in Baltimore, Md. -- The Shoppes at Hagerstown in Hagerstown, Md. and Woodfield Mall in Chicago, Ill. -- On Saturday, May 17, RIDEMAKERZ will open its eighth and ninth locations when it unveils two Shops in the Detroit area at Twelve Oaks Mall and Great Lakes Crossing. Following are other store openings with dates: -- Branson Landing, Branson, Mo. May 31 -- Fox River Mall, Appleton, Wis. June 14 -- Baybrook Mall, Friendswood, Texas June 28 Virtual RIDEZ No matter where you are in the country, RIDEMAKERZ.COM extends thecar-customizing fun. Virtual RIDEZ can be tricked out for free andkids can learn about car culture and alternative fuels in the RIDERZED section. RIDEZ and accessories can be purchased online and areshipped unassembled so Customizers can have all the fun of buildingthe RIDEZ at home (in minutes). RIDEMONEY(TM) Gift Cardz also areavailable online, along with information about birthday parties. About RIDEMAKERZ RIDEMAKERZ' mission is to have great fun making cool RIDEZ - withthe ultimate vision of contributing to the positive development ofkidz. Inspired by Build-A-Bear Workshop, a partner and investor in theconcept, RIDEMAKERZ is about the joy and fun of creating somethinggreat, something artistic, something unique and original. VisitRIDEMAKERZ.com for more information.RIDEMAKERZJeff Bachmann, 314-471-8344orSara Miller, 314-727-0911, ext. 105Copyright Business Wire 2008

[007]

I knew of the Friends 2 Be Made was going the way of the do-do...

I didn't know RiderMakerz was 'retailer of the year', either...

[Schwahalala]

I knew of the Friends 2 Be Made was going the way of the do-do...

I didn't know RiderMakerz was 'retailer of the year', either...

That's why you have internet friends.

[Greenmachine]

I have seen stores here in Detroit and they look really sweet. The only issues is that the price points look a little high. If I have to spend $50 to $100 on 1 car that seems a little unreasonable. I think it may have a quick start, but my not have long life-cycle. Just my two cents.