Retirement

After a period of time, Build-A-Bears will often be placed into Retirement, where they can no longer be purchased in stores. However, some retired bears can return in the form of redesigns, like in the 25th Anniversary Collection. Retirement also happens regularly to both internal and external accessories.

Examples

• 

  The retired Kennel Pals Black Labrador, released in 2001.

• 

  The retired Kennel Pals Black Labrador, a redesign released in 2008.

• 

  The 25th Anniversary Black Labrador, a redesign released in 2022.

Obtaining Retired Bears

Finding retired bears can be challenging for many Build-A-Bear fans, but they are most commonly found on websites such as eBay. Older models consistently go for higher prices, and can be subject to price gouging. Some fans will gather in online Build-A-Bear communities and seek others willing to sell or trade retired bears.