UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549


 

FORM 10-Q

 


(Mark One)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017October 28, 2023

 

OR

 

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from             to              

 

Commission file number: 001-32320

 


BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


 

Delaware

43-1883836

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive415 South 18th St.

St. Louis, Missouri

6311463103

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

 

(314) 423-8000

(Registrant’sRegistrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock

BBW

New York Stock Exchange

1

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  ☒    No   ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No   ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “smaller reporting“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ☐

Accelerated filer ☒

 

Accelerated filer ☒

Non-accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☒

 

Smaller reportingEmerging growth company ☐

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 14(a)13(a) of the Exchange Act.

    

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No   ☒

 

As of November 3, 2017,December 4, 2023, there were 15,917,449 issued14,305,690 issued and outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock.



 


2

 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

Page

 

Part I Financial Information

Page

Item 1.

Part I Financial Statements (Unaudited)Information

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

4

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

3

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

6

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

4

Item 2.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

5

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

Item 2.

Management’sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

11

16

 

Item 3.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

19

24

 

Item 4.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

19

24

Part II Other Information

 

Part II Other Information

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

25

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

20

Item 2.

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

20

25

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

21

Item 6.

Exhibits

26

 

Signatures

22

27

 


3

 

PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 (Dollars(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

  

October 1,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2016

 
  

(Unaudited)

      

(Unaudited)

 

ASSETS

 

Current assets:

            

Cash and cash equivalents

 $10,920  $32,483  $11,780 

Inventories

  61,952   51,885   59,398 

Receivables

  7,881   12,939   8,787 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  13,365   12,737   13,752 

Total current assets

  94,118   110,044   93,717 
             

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $171,922; $172,333 and $179,584, respectively

  76,718   74,924   71,984 

Deferred tax assets

  9,803   8,256   10,737 

Other intangible assets, net

  1,131   1,721   1,653 

Other assets, net

  2,571   4,650   4,806 

Total Assets

 $184,341  $199,595  $182,897 
             

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

Current liabilities:

            

Accounts payable

 $16,855  $27,861  $26,242 

Accrued expenses

  13,055   15,897   11,918 

Gift cards and customer deposits

  27,584   37,070   27,094 

Deferred revenue

  1,768   2,029   2,030 

Other current liabilities

  88   -   - 

Total current liabilities

  59,350   82,857   67,284 
             

Deferred rent

  17,914   15,438   15,278 

Deferred franchise revenue

  504   565   603 

Other liabilities

  1,643   1,623   1,008 
             

Stockholders' equity:

            

Preferred stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 15,000,000; No shares issued or outstanding at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and October 1, 2016

  -   -   - 

Common stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 50,000,000; Issued and outstanding: 15,918,117; 15,856,927 and 15,850,629 shares, respectively

  159   159   159 

Additional paid-in capital

  69,972   68,001   67,197 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (11,623)  (12,727)  (11,994)

Retained earnings

  46,422   43,679   43,362 

Total stockholders' equity

  104,930   99,112   98,724 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 $184,341  $199,595  $182,897 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


  

October 28,

  

January 28,

  

October 29,

 
  

2023

  

2023

  

2022

 
  

(Unaudited)

      

(Unaudited)

 

ASSETS

 

Current assets:

            

Cash and cash equivalents

 $24,800  $42,198  $12,023 

Inventories, net

  64,466   70,485   88,339 

Receivables, net

  13,908   15,374   15,894 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  13,592   19,374   10,379 

Total current assets

  116,766   147,431   126,635 
             

Operating lease right-of-use asset

  67,768   71,791   76,236 

Property and equipment, net

  51,914   50,759   46,264 

Deferred tax assets

  6,822   6,592   7,561 

Other assets, net

  7,273   4,221   3,105 

Total Assets

 $250,543  $280,794  $259,801 
             

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

Current liabilities:

            

Accounts payable

 $11,961  $10,286  $19,514 

Accrued expenses

  25,319   37,358   25,764 

Operating lease liability short term

  26,002   27,436   27,644 

Gift cards and customer deposits

  18,366   19,425   18,287 

Deferred revenue and other

  3,665   6,646   5,713 

Total current liabilities

  85,313   101,151   96,922 
             

Operating lease liability long term

  52,423   59,080   64,212 

Other long-term liabilities

  1,159   1,446   1,569 
             

Stockholders' equity:

            

Preferred stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 15,000,000; No shares issued or outstanding at October 28, 2023, January 28, 2023 and October 29, 2022

  -   -   - 

Common stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 50,000,000; Issued and outstanding: 14,391,876, 14,802,338, and 14,718,368 shares, respectively

  144   148   147 

Additional paid-in capital

  66,641   69,868   68,422 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (12,319)  (12,274)  (12,336)

Retained earnings

  57,182   61,375   40,865 

Total stockholders' equity

  111,648   119,117   97,098 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 $250,543  $280,794  $259,801 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

  

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

  

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

 
                 

Revenues:

                

Net retail sales

 $80,552  $81,870  $243,559  $249,854 

Commercial revenue

  1,304   1,322   5,037   2,601 

Franchise fees

  572   556   1,689   1,407 

Total revenues

  82,428   83,748   250,285   253,862 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Cost of merchandise sold - retail

  44,916   46,461   133,686   137,778 

Cost of merchandise sold - commercial

  590   535   2,712   1,213 

Selling, general and administrative

  34,268   33,404   107,760   110,135 

Store preopening

  488   571   2,000   2,969 

Interest expense (income), net

  2   (19)  (16)  (58)

Total costs and expenses

  80,264   80,952   246,142   252,037 
                 

Income before income taxes

  2,164   2,796   4,143   1,825 

Income tax expense

  723   955   1,470   767 

Net income

 $1,441  $1,841  $2,673  $1,058 
                 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  387   (298)  1,104   (2,023)

Comprehensive (loss) income

 $1,828  $1,543  $3,777  $(965)
                 

Income per common share:

                

Basic

 $0.09  $0.12  $0.17  $0.07 

Diluted

 $0.09  $0.11  $0.17  $0.07 
                 

Shares used in computing common per share amounts:

             

Basic

  15,633,290   15,518,115   15,600,184   15,471,759 

Diluted

  15,816,265   15,691,004   15,789,851   15,650,143 

 See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 


BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

 
         

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net income

 $2,673  $1,058 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

  12,084   11,573 

Stock-based compensation

  2,681   2,259 

Deferred taxes

  1,840   (236)

Provision for doubtful accounts

  367   - 

Impairment of store assets

  82   298 

(Gain) Loss on disposal of property and equipment

  (220)  269 

Change in assets and liabilities:

        

Inventories

  (9,093)  (6,296)

Receivables

  4,816   4,079 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  (371)  363 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  (14,180)  (22,663)

Lease related liabilities

  2,341   3,621 

Gift cards and customer deposits

  (9,682)  (7,986)

Deferred revenue

  (337)  (684)

Net cash used in operating activities

  (6,999)  (14,345)

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Purchases of property and equipment

  (12,502)  (17,647)

Purchases of other assets and other intangible assets

  (287)  (566)

Proceeds from property insurance

  310   - 

Proceeds from sale or maturitiy of short term investments

  -   1,461 

Cash used in investing activities

  (12,479)  (16,752)

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options, net of withholding tax payments

  (465)  (513)

Payments made under capital leases

  (56)  - 

Purchases of Company's common stock

  (998)  (1,469)

Cash used in financing activities

  (1,519)  (1,982)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

  (566)  (337)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

  (21,563)  (33,416)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

  32,483   45,196 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 $10,920  $11,780 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


4

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

  

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28,

  

October 29,

  

October 28,

  

October 29,

 
  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Revenues:

                

Net retail sales

 $100,411  $99,229  $315,972  $308,001 

Commercial revenue

  6,020   4,125   17,685   12,464 

International franchising

  1,131   1,126   3,180   2,362 

Total revenues

  107,562   104,480   336,837   322,827 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Cost of merchandise sold - retail

  47,551   47,354   146,165   149,341 

Cost of merchandise sold - commercial

  2,675   1,929   8,458   5,824 

Cost of merchandise sold - international franchising

  703   867   2,042   1,593 

Total cost of merchandise sold

  50,929   50,150   156,665   156,758 

Consolidated gross profit

  56,633   54,330   180,172   166,069 

Selling, general and administrative expense

  46,566   44,436   140,516   130,320 

Interest (income) expense, net

  (281)  6   (524)  27 

Income before income taxes

  10,348   9,888   40,180   35,722 

Income tax expense

  2,762   2,433   9,648   8,247 

Net income

 $7,586  $7,455  $30,532  $27,475 
                 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

  (302)  49   (45)  134 

Comprehensive income

 $7,284  $7,504  $30,487  $27,609 
                 

Income per common share:

                

Basic

 $0.53  $0.51  $2.12  $1.82 

Diluted

 $0.53  $0.51  $2.10  $1.78 
                 

Shares used in computing common per share amounts:

                

Basic

  14,362,702   14,542,947   14,413,308   15,097,816 

Diluted

  14,438,795   14,760,586   14,563,974   15,412,130 

 See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 

5

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands) 

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28,

  

October 29,

 
  

2023

  

2022

 
         

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

        

Net income

 $30,532  $27,475 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        
         

Depreciation and amortization

  9,540   9,295 

Share-based and performance-based stock compensation

  2,492   1,924 

Provision/adjustments for doubtful accounts

  (276)  (154)

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

  85   108 

Deferred taxes

  (41)  16 

Change in assets and liabilities:

        

Inventories, net

  5,729   (18,134)

Receivables, net

  895   (4,343)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  2,511   1,354 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  (10,408)  (894)

Operating leases

  (4,311)  (4,771)

Gift cards and customer deposits

  (1,021)  (2,573)

Deferred revenue

  (2,987)  1,944 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  32,740   11,247 

Cash flows used in investing activities:

        

Purchases of property and equipment

  (11,124)  (6,752)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (11,124)  (6,752)

Cash flows used in financing activities:

        

Proceeds from the exercise of employee equity awards, net of tax

  (1,797)  (1,671)

Cash dividends paid

  (22,098)  (292)

Purchases of Company’s common stock

  (15,239)  (24,172)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (39,134)  (26,135)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

  120   818 

Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

  (17,398)  (20,822)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

  42,198   32,845 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

 $24,800  $12,023 
         

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $24,413  $11,582 

Restricted cash from long-term deposits

 $387  $441 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 $24,800  $12,023 
         

Net cash paid during the period for income taxes

 $16,785  $7,451 


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of Presentation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited and have been prepared by Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company)“Company”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)(“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)(“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2016January 28, 2023 was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. All other condensed consolidated financial statements contained herein are unaudited and reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to summarize fairly the financial position of the Company and the results of the Company’s operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All of these adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Because of the seasonal nature of the Company’s operations, results of operations of any single reporting period should not be considered as indicative of results for a full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016,January 28, 2023, which were included in the Company’s annual reportAnnual Report on Form 10-K10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017.April 13, 2023. 

Certain prior period amounts in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications did not affect net earnings attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company's significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in its Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023. An update and supplement to these policies is needed for the Company's accounting for credit impairment as a result of a recently adopted accounting standard during the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

Receivables

Receivables consist primarily of amounts due to the Company in relation to wholesale and corporate product sales, franchisee royalties and product sales, tenant allowances, certain amounts due from taxing authorities, receivables due from insurance providers, and licensing revenue. The Company assesses the collectability of all receivables on an ongoing basis by considering its historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. At the beginning of fiscal 2023, the Company adopted ASU No.2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU requires entities to report “expected” credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit rather than the current “incurred loss” model. These expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date are to be based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Upon adoption, the Company recognized a charge of $0.8 million to the opening balance of retained earnings which represents a reduction in its account receivable balance associated with expected credit losses.

7

2. Revenue

Currently, most of the Company’s revenue is derived from retail sales (including from its e-commerce sites) and is recognized when control of the merchandise is transferred to the customer. The Company's disaggregated revenue is fully disclosed as net sales to external customers by reporting segment and by geographic area (See Note 11 — Segment Information for additional information). The Company's direct-to-consumer reporting segment represents 93% of consolidated revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The majority of these sales transactions were single performance obligations that were recorded when control of merchandise was transferred to the customer.

The following is a description of principal activities from which the Company generates its revenue, by reportable segment.

The Company’s direct-to-consumer segment includes the operating activities of corporately-operated stores, other retail-delivered operations and e-commerce demand (orders generated online to be fulfilled from either the Company's warehouse or its stores). Direct-to-consumer revenue is recognized when control of the merchandise is transferred to the customer and for the Company's online sales, generally upon estimated delivery to the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration, including any discounts or incentives, the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring the merchandise. Product returns have historically averaged less than one-half of one percent due to the personalized and interactive nature of its products, where consumers customize their own stuffed animal. The Company has elected to exclude from revenue all collected sales, value added, and other taxes paid by its customers.

For the Company’s gift cards, revenue, including any related gift card discounts, is deferred for single transactions until redemption. Historically, three-quarters of gift cards are redeemed within three years of issuance and over the last three years, approximately 60% of gift cards issued have been redeemed within the firsttwelve months. In addition, unredeemed gift cards or breakage revenue is recorded in proportion to the customer’s redemption period using an estimated breakage rate based on historical experience. In regard to the consolidated balance sheet, contract liabilities for gift cards are classified as gift cards and customer deposits.

Subsequent to stores reopening following shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has experienced lower redemptions of its gift cards for all periods of outstanding activated cards compared to pre-pandemic redemption patterns (fiscal year 2019 and earlier), which impacts the gift card breakage rate. The Company utilizes historical redemption data to develop a model to analyze the amount of breakage expected for gift cards sold to consumers and business partners. The Company continues to evaluate expected breakage annually and adjusts the breakage rates in the fourth quarter of each year, or other times, if significant changes in customer behavior are detected. Changes to breakage estimates impact revenue recognition prospectively. Further, given the magnitude of the Company's gift card liability, the changes in breakage rates could have a significant impact on the amount of breakage revenue recognized in future periods. 

For certain qualifying transactions, a portion of revenue transactions are deferred for the obligation related to the Company’s loyalty program or when a material right in the form of a future discount is granted. In these transactions, the transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price. The standalone selling price for the points earned for the Company’s loyalty program is estimated using the net retail value of the merchandise purchased, adjusted for estimated breakage based on historical redemption patterns. The revenue associated with the initial merchandise purchased is recognized immediately and the value assigned to the points is deferred until the points are redeemed, forfeited or expired. The Company issues certificates daily to loyalty program members who have earned 100 or more points in North America and 50 points or more in the U.K. with certificates historically expiring in six months if not redeemed. The Company assesses the redemption rates of its certifications on a quarterly basis to update the rate at which loyalty program points turn into certifications and the rate that certifications are redeemed. In regard to the consolidated balance sheet, contract liabilities related to the loyalty program are classified as deferred revenue and other.

The Company’s commercial segment includes transactions with other businesses and is mainly comprised of licensing the Company’s intellectual properties for third-party use and wholesale sales of merchandise, including supplies and fixtures. Revenue for wholesale sales is recognized when control of the merchandise or fixtures is transferred to the customer, which generally occurs upon delivery to the customer. The license agreements provide the customer with highly interrelated rights that are not distinct in the context of the contract and therefore, have been accounted for as a single performance obligation and recognized as licensee sales occur. If the contract includes a guaranteed minimum, the minimum guarantee is recognized on a straight-line basis over the guarantee term until such time as royalties earned through licensee sales exceed the minimum guarantee. The Company classifies these guaranteed minimum contract liabilities as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company’s international franchising segment includes the activities with franchisees who operate store locations in certain countries and includes development fees, sales-based royalties and merchandise, including supplies and fixture sales. The Company's obligations under the franchise agreements are ongoing and include operations and product development support and training, generally concentrated around initial store openings. These obligations are highly interrelated rights that are not distinct in the context of the contract and, therefore, have been accounted for as a single performance obligation and recognized as franchisee sales occur. If the contract includes an initial, one-time nonrefundable development fee, this fee is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the franchise agreement, which may extend for periods up to 25 years. The Company classifies these initial, one-time nonrefundable franchise fee contract liabilities as deferred revenue on its consolidated balance sheet. Revenue from merchandise and fixture sales is recognized when control is transferred to the franchisee, which generally occurs upon delivery.

 

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvementsalso incurs expenses directly related to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, effective January 1, 2017. The Company made an accounting policy electionthe startup of new franchises, which may include finder’s fees, legal and travel costs, expenses related to account for forfeitures as they occur. The impact of this election, along with the adoptionits ongoing support of the franchises and employee compensation. Accordingly, the Company’s policy is to capitalize any finder’s fee, as an incremental cost, and expense all other provisions of the standard in the first quarter of 2017, was to increase deferred tax assets by $1.6 million, increase additional paid-in-capital by $0.3 million, increase retained earnings by $1.9 million and decrease taxes payable by $0.6 million.

costs as incurred. Additionally, the Company early adopted ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes – Intra-Entity Transfersamortizes these capitalized costs into expense in the same pattern as the development fee's recording of Assets Other Than Inventory, effective January 1, 2017. Usingrevenue as described previously. These capitalized costs for the modified retrospective method,thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 are not material to the impactfinancial statements. 

8

3. Leases

The majority of the adoptionCompany's leases relate to retail stores and corporate offices. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, the Company records the related asset and obligation at the present value of lease payments over the term. Most new retail store leases have an original term of a five to ten-year base period and may include renewal options to extend the lease term beyond the initial base period. The extension periods are typically much shorter than the original lease term given the Company's strategic decision to maintain a high level of lease optionality. Some leases also include early termination options, which can be exercised under specific conditions. Additionally, the Company may operate stores for a period of time on a month-to-month basis after the expiration of the standardlease term. The Company's lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Additionally, certain leases contain incentives, such as construction allowances from landlords and/or rent abatements subsequent to taking possession of the leased property.

The table below presents certain information related to the lease costs for operating leases for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 and October 29, 2022 (in thousands).

  

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

 
                 

Operating lease costs

 $9,261  $8,905  $27,357  $25,874 

Variable lease costs (1)

  2,134   2,039   6,374   6,228 

Short term lease costs

  34   19   74   46 

Total Operating Lease costs

 $11,429  $10,963  $33,805  $32,148 

(1)

Variable lease costs consist of leases with variable rent structures, which are intended to increase flexibility in an environment with expected high sales volatility and provide a natural hedge against potential sales declines.


Other information

The table below presents supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 and October 29, 2022 (in thousands).

  

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

 

Operating cash flows for operating leases

 $9,994  $9,497  $29,775  $27,772 

As of October 28, 2023 and October 29, 2022, the weighted-average remaining operating lease term was 4.0 years and 4.3 years, respectively, and the weighted-average discount rate was 6.5% and 5.7%, respectively, for operating leases recognized on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets.

For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 and the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022 the Company incurred no impairment charges against its right-of-use operating lease assets.

Undiscounted cash flows

The table below reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the firstfive years and total of the remaining years to the operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet (in thousands).

Operating Leases

   

2023

 $1,306 

2024

  31,110 

2025

  20,855 

2026

  12,765 

2027

  7,994 

Thereafter

  15,797 

Total minimum lease payments

  89,827 

Less: amount of lease payments representing interest

  (11,402)

Present value of future minimum lease payments

  78,425 

Less: current obligations under leases

  (26,002)

Long-term lease obligations

 $52,423 

As of October 28, 2023, the Company had additional executed leases that had not yet commenced with operating lease liabilities of $12.9 million. These leases are expected to commence in the firstfourth quarter of 2017 wasfiscal 2023 and the first quarter of fiscal 2024 with lease terms of five to increase deferred tax assets by $1.0 million, decrease other assets, net by $2.3 million and decrease retained earnings by $1.3 million.ten years.

 

9

2. Prepaid Expenses and4. OtherCurrent Assets

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

  

October 1,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2016

 

Prepaid rent

 $7,162  $7,191  $6,986 

Other

  6,203   5,546   6,766 

Total

 $13,365  $12,737  $13,752 
  

October 28,

  

January 28,

  

October 29,

 
  

2023

  

2023

  

2022

 

Prepaid occupancy (1)

 $2,414  $2,196  $2,630 

Prepaid merchandise (2)

  -   6,047   - 

Prepaid insurance

  550   1,221   213 

Prepaid gift card fees

  706   835   206 

Prepaid royalties

  540   301   1,202 

Prepaid taxes (3)

  4,092   73   493 

Other (4)

  5,290   8,701   5,635 

Total

 $13,592  $19,374  $10,379 

(1)

Prepaid occupancy consists of prepaid expenses related to variable non-lease components.

(2)Prepaid merchandise consists of prepaid purchase orders of inventory that are not in transit.
(3)Prepaid taxes consist of prepaid federal and state income tax. 
(4)Other consists primarily of prepaid expense related to information technology maintenance contracts and software as a service.

  

Other non-current assets consist of the following (in thousands):

  

October 28,

  

January 28,

  

October 29,

 
  

2023

  

2023

  

2022

 

Entertainment production asset (1)

 $6,057  $2,939  $2,126 

Deferred compensation

  875   853   544 

Other (2)

  341   429   435 

Total

 $7,273  $4,221  $3,105 

(1)Entertainment production asset includes the direct costs, production overhead and development costs in producing entertainment assets such as films or music.

(2)

Other consists primarily of deferred financing costs related to the Company's credit facility.

3.5. Accrued Expenses

 

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

September 30,

  

December 31,

  

October 1,

  

October 28,

 

January 28,

 

October 29,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2016

  

2023

  

2023

  

2022

 

Accrued wages, bonuses and related expenses

 $7,465  $5,596  $5,216  $17,470  $23,767  $17,174 

Sales tax payable

  2,105   5,075   2,027 

Sales and value added taxes payable

 2,466  4,561  2,209 

Accrued rent and related expenses(1)

  3,450   4,615   3,919  954  1,512  899 

Current income taxes payable

  35   611   756   329   3,418   1,382 

Accrued expense - other (2)

  4,100  4,100  4,100 

Total

 $13,055  $15,897  $11,918  $25,319  $37,358  $25,764 

(1)

Accrued rent and related expenses consist of accrued costs associated with non-lease components.

(2)

Accrued expense - other consists of accrued costs associated with a legal reserve accrual.

 


10

 

4.6. Stock-based Compensation

 

On March April 14, 2017,2020, the Company’s Board of Directors (the Board)“Board”) of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 20172020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020Incentive Plan)Plan”).  On MayJune 11, 2017, at the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Incentive Plan.   On April 11,2023, the Board adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Amended and Restated 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Restated 2020 Incentive Plan”).  On June 8, 2023, at the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), the Company’s stockholders approved the Restated 2020Incentive Plan. The Restated 2020 Incentive Plan, which is administered by the Compensation and Development Committee of the Board, permits the grant of stock options (including both incentive and non-qualified stock options), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, cash and other stock-based awards, some of which may be performance-basedincluding restricted stock and restricted stock units, cash-based awards, and performance awards pursuant to the terms of the Restated 2020Incentive Plan. The Board may amend, modify or terminate the Incentive Plan at any time, except as otherwise provided in the Incentive Plan. TheRestated 2020 Incentive Plan will terminate on March 14, 2027, April 11, 2033, unless earlier terminated by the Board. The total number of shares of the Company’s common stock authorized for issuance under the Restated 2020Incentive Plan is 1,000,000,increased by 800,000 to a maximum  of 1,800,000 since its inception as the 2020 Incentive Plan, subject to customary capitalization adjustments, substitutions of acquired company awards and certain additions of acquired company plan shares, plus shares of stockthat are subject to outstanding awards made under the Company’s Third Amended and Restated 2004 StockBuild-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) that on or after March 21, 2017 April 14, 2020 may be forfeited, expire or be settled for cash.

 

For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017,October 28, 2023 and October 29, 2022, selling, general and administrative expense includes $0.8included stock-based compensation expense of $0.7 million and $2.7$0.6 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense.respectively. For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016,28, 2023 and October 29, 2022 selling, general, and administrative expense includes $0.8included stock-based compensation expense of $2.5 million and $2.3$1.9 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense.respectively. As of September 30, 2017,October 28, 2023, there was $4.6$1.7 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock and option awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.51.7 years.

 

The followingfollowing table is a summary of the balances and activity for stock options for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017:October 28, 2023:

 

 

Options

  

Options

 
 

Shares

  

Weighted Average Exercise Price

  

Shares

  Weighted Average Exercise Price 

Outstanding, December 31, 2016

  757,784  $9.91 

Outstanding, January 28, 2023

 177,519  $14.20 

Granted

  72,051   8.85  - - 

Exercised

  1,269   6.36  (143,115) 12.87 

Forfeited

  26,795   13.45  - - 

Canceled or expired

  10,204   12.51   -  - 

Outstanding, September 30, 2017

  791,567  $9.67 

Outstanding, October 28, 2023

  34,404 $19.73 

   

The following table is a summary of the balances and activity for the plan related to time-based and performance-based restricted stock for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017:October 28, 2023:

 

  

Restricted Stock

  

Performance Shares

 
  

Shares

  

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

  

Shares

  

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2016

  316,116  $13.30   241,141  $15.39 

Granted

  258,060   9.18   83,897   8.85 

Vested

  178,424   12.20   6,472   20.54 

Forfeited

  33,016   12.51   15,247   14.28 

Canceled or expired

        13,704   13.68 

Outstanding, September 30, 2017

  362,736  $10.98   289,615  $13.66 
  

Time-Based Restricted Stock

  

Performance-Based Restricted Stock

 
  

Shares

  

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

  

Shares

  

Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

 

Outstanding, January 28, 2023 (1)

  287,983  $8.78   295,048  $8.13 

Granted (1)

  65,759   23.52   65,254   24.75 

Vested

  (208,620)  7.20   -   - 

Adjustment for performance achievement

  -   -   57,756   2.87 

Earned and Vested

  -   -   (215,130)  2.78 

Forfeited (1)

  (4,838)  12.91   (3,466)  18.03 

Outstanding, October 28, 2023 (1)

  140,284  $17.89   199,462  $17.62 

(1)Performance-based restricted stock outstanding, granted, and forfeited are presented at 100% of target.

 

The total fair value of shares vested during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 October 28, 2023 and October 1, 201629, 2022 was $2.3$2.1 million and $1.7$2.0 million, respectively.

In March 2017, the Company awarded three-year performance-based restricted stock subject to the achievement of pre-established consolidated total pre-tax income goals for fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019. These shares have a payout opportunity ranging from 25% to 200% of the target number of shares. In 2016, the Company awarded one and three-year performance-based restricted stock subject to the achievement of pre-established net income objectives for fiscal 2016. In 2017, 13,704 of the one-year performance shares issued in fiscal 2016 were canceled as the pre-established pre-tax income objectives for 2016 were not achieved.


 

The outstanding performance shares as of September 30, 2017October 28, 2023 consist of the following:

 

  

Performance

Shares

Earned shares subject to time-based restrictions at actual

6,325 

Unearned shares subject to performance-based restrictions at target:

    

20152021 - 20172023 consolidated, total revenuescumulative earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) objectives

  50,00039,821 

20162021 - 20182023 consolidated total revenuesrevenue growth objectives

  149,39313,274 

20172022 - 20192024 consolidated, pre-tax incomeearnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) growth objectives

  83,89760,835

2022 - 2024 consolidated revenue growth objectives

20,278

2023 - 2025 consolidated pre-tax income growth objectives

42,415

2023 - 2025 consolidated revenue growth objectives

22,839 

Performance shares outstanding, September 30, 2017October 28, 2023

  289,615199,462

5.7. Income Taxes

 

The Company's effective tax rate was 33.4%26.7% and 35.5%24.0% for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017,October 28, 2023, respectively, compared to 34.2%24.6% and 42.0%23.1% for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016,29, 2022, respectively. The 20172023 and 2022 effective tax raterates differed from the statutory rate of 34%21% primarily due to the implementation of the new accounting standard related to the accounting forstate income tax expense partially offset by the tax impact of equity awards vesting and other discrete items. The fluctuationvesting. In addition, in the 2016 effective tax rate was due primarily tothird quarter of fiscal 2023 and 2022, the effect of permanent differences.Company remains in a full valuation allowance in certain foreign jurisdictions.

 

11

6. Stockholders8. Stockholders’ Equity

 

The following table sets forth the changes in stockholders’ equity (in thousands) for the thirty-ninethirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017 October 28, 2023 and October 1, 2016:29, 2022 (in thousands):

 

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

 
         
         

Beginning balance

 $99,112  $99,414 

Stock-based compensation

  2,681   2,259 

Shares issued under employee stock plans

  (465)  (513)

Adoption of new accounting standards

  822   - 

Share repurchase and retirement

  (998)  (1,469)

Other comprehensive income (loss)

  1,104   (2,023)

Net income

  2,673   1,058 
Other  1   (2)

Ending balance

 $104,930  $98,724 
  

For the thirteen weeks ended October 28, 2023

  

For the thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2022

 
                                         
  

Common

          

Retained

      

Common

          

Retained

     
  

stock

  

APIC (1)

  

AOCI (2)

  

earnings

  

Total

  

stock

  

APIC (1)

  

AOCI (2)

  

earnings

  

Total

 

Balance, beginning

 $145  $66,773  $(12,017) $52,965  $107,866  $150  $69,409  $(12,385) $36,690  $93,864 

Issuance of Restricted Stock

                  -                     

Shares issued under employee stock plans

     175         175      194         194 

Stock-based compensation

     363         363      368         368 

Shares withheld in lieu of tax withholdings

              -               - 

Share Repurchase

  (1)  (670)     (3,369)  (4,040)  (3)  (1,553)     (3,233)  (4,789)

Cash Dividends

              -               - 

Other

              -      4      (47)  (43)

Other comprehensive (loss) income

        (302)     (302)        49      49 

Net income

           7,586   7,586            7,455   7,455 

Balance, ending

 $144  $66,641  $(12,319) $57,182  $111,648  $147  $68,422  $(12,336) $40,865  $97,098 

 

On August 21, 2017,(1) Additional paid-in capital (“APIC”)

(2) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCI”)

The following table sets forth the Company’schanges in stockholders’ equity (in thousands) for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 and October 29, 2022 (in thousands):

  

For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023

  

For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022

 
                                         
  

Common

          

Retained

      

Common

          

Retained

     
  

stock

  

APIC (1)

  

AOCI (2)

  

earnings

  

Total

  

stock

  

APIC (1)

  

AOCI (2)

  earnings  

Total

 

Balance, beginning

 $148  $69,868  $(12,274) $61,375  $119,117  $162  $75,490  $(12,470) $30,501  $93,683 

Adoption of new accounting standard

           (785)                  

Subtotal

 $148  $69,868  $(12,274) $60,590  $118,332  $162  $75,490  $(12,470) $30,501  $93,683 

Issuance of Restricted Stock

                  -                     

Shares issued under employee stock plans

  4   2,436         2,440   2   1,004         1,006 

Stock-based compensation

     1,121         1,121      1,175         1,175 

Shares withheld in lieu of tax withholdings

  (2)  (3,638)        (3,640)  (1)  (2,178)        (2,179)

Share Repurchase

  (6)  (3,146)     (12,087)  (15,239)  (16)  (7,073)     (17,083)  (24,172)

Other

           196   196      4      (28)  (24)

Dividend

           (22,049)  (22,049)              - 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

        (45)     (45)        134      134 

Net income

           30,532   30,532            27,475   27,475 

Balance, ending

 $144  $66,641  $(12,319) $57,182  $111,648  $147  $68,422  $(12,336) $40,865  $97,098 

(1) Additional paid-in capital (“APIC”)

(2) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCI”)

For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023, the Company recorded credit impairment charges of $0.8 million on trade receivables into retained earnings as a result of the adoption of ASC 326 - Credit Impairment. 

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023, the Company utilized $4.0 million in cash to repurchase 146,028 shares and utilized $15.2 million in cash to repurchase 672,734 shares, respectively, under its $50.0 million program that was authorized by its Board of Directors on August 31, 2022. The Company's Board of Directors also authorized a share repurchase programspecial cash dividend of up to $20 million. Under this program, the Company repurchased $1.0 million of shares through September 30, 2017. Under this program, the Company repurchased 112,325 shares at an average price of $8.88$1.50 per share for an aggregate amountthat was paid on April 6, 2023, to all stockholders of $1.0 million.record as of March 23, 2023.

    


12


7. 9.Incomeper Share

 

The Company uses the two-class method to compute basic and diluted net income or loss per common share. In periods of net loss, no effect is given to the Company’s participating securities as they do not contractually participate in the losses of the Company. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

 

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

  

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
 

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

  

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

  

October 28,

 

October 29,

 

October 28,

 

October 29,

 
                 

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 
NUMERATOR:  

Net income before allocation of earnings to participating securities

 $1,441  $1,841  $2,673  $1,058 

Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities

  11   39   33   22 

Net income after allocation of earnings to participating securities

 $1,430  $1,802  $2,640  $1,036 

Net income

 $7,586  $7,455  $30,532  $27,475 
                 
DENOMINATOR:             

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

  15,633,290   15,518,115   15,600,184   15,471,759  14,362,702  14,542,947  14,413,308  15,097,816 

Dilutive effect of share-based awards:

  182,975   172,889   189,667   178,384   76,093   217,639   150,666   314,314 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - dilutive

  15,816,265   15,691,004   15,789,851   15,650,143   14,438,795   14,760,586   14,563,974   15,412,130 

Basic income per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. stockholders:

 $0.09  $0.12  $0.17  $0.07 

Diluted income per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. stockholders

 $0.09  $0.11  $0.17  $0.07 
 

Basic net income per common share

 $0.53  $0.51  $2.12  $1.82 

Diluted net income per common share

 $0.53  $0.51  $2.10  $1.78 

 

In calculating the diluted income per share for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods weeks ended September 30, 2017, options to purchase 382,317October 28, 2023, there were zero and 321,99843,673 shares of common stock, respectively, that were outstanding at the end of the period that were not included in the computation of diluted income per share due to their anti-dilutive effect. For the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods weeks ended October 1, 2016, the number29, 2022, there were 9,071 and 106,770 shares of options to purchase common sharesstock, respectively, that were excluded fromoutstanding at the calculation was 302,628 and 253,374 shares, respectively.end of the period that were not included in the computation of diluted income per share due to their anti-dilutive effect.

 

8.10. Comprehensive IncomeIncome (Loss)

 

The difference between comprehensive income or loss and net income or loss results fromis the result of foreign currency translation adjustments on the balance sheets of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar.U.S. dollar. The accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)loss balance at September 30, 2017 on October 28, 2023 and October 1, 201629, 2022 was comprised entirely of foreign currency translation. For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 October 28, 2023 and October 1, 2016, there were29, 2022, the Company had no reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss.

  

13

9.11. Segment Information

 

The Company’sCompany’s operations are conducted through three operating segments consisting of direct-to-consumer (DTC)(“DTC”), commercial and international franchising. The DTC segment includes the operating activities of company-owned stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Chinacorporately-operated locations and other retail delivery operations in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and the U.K., including the Company’s e-commerce sites and temporary stores. The international franchising segment includes the licensing activities of the Company’s franchise agreements with store locations in Europe (outside of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark), Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and Mexico. The commercial segment includes the Company’s transactions with other businesses, mainly comprised of licensing the Company’s intellectual properties for third party-party use and wholesale activities. The international franchising segment includes the licensing activities of the Company’s franchise agreements with store locations in select countries in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. The operating segments have discrete sources of revenue, different capital structures and different cost structures. These operating segments represent the basis on which the Company’s chief operating decision maker regularly evaluates the business in assessing performance, determining the allocation of resources and the pursuit of future growth opportunities. Accordingly, the Company has determined that each of its operating segments represent a reportable segment. The three reportable segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


 

Following is a summary of the financial information for the Company’s reportable segments (in thousands):

 

 

Direct-to-

      

International

      

Direct-to-

    

International

   
 

Consumer

  

Commercial

  

Franchising

  

Total

  

Consumer

  

Commercial

  

Franchising

  

Total

 
                

Thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017

             

Thirteen weeks ended October 28, 2023

 

Net sales to external customers

 $80,552  $1,304  $572  $82,428  $100,411  $6,020  $1,131  $107,562 

Income before income taxes

  1,098   563   503   2,164   7,233   2,740   375  10,348 

Capital expenditures

  4,607   -   157   4,764   4,986   -   -  4,986 

Depreciation and amortization

  4,185   1   15   4,201   3,152   79   -  3,231 

Thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016

                

Thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2022

 

Net sales to external customers

 $81,870  $1,322  $556  $83,748  $99,229  $4,125  $1,126  $104,480 

Income before income taxes

  1,881   667   248   2,796   7,771   2,009   108   9,888 

Capital expenditures

  6,321   -   10   6,331   2,685   -   -   2,685 

Depreciation and amortization

  3,935   1   18   3,954   2,924   95   -   3,019 

Thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017

             
 

Thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023

 

Net sales to external customers

 $243,559  $5,037  $1,689  $250,285  $315,972 $17,685 $3,180 $336,837 

Income before income taxes

  1,493   2,112   538   4,143  31,225 7,882 1,073 40,180 

Capital expenditures

  12,614   -   175   12,789  11,124 - - 11,124 

Depreciation and amortization

  12,034   2   48   12,084  9,266 274 - 9,540 

Thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016

             

Thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022

 

Net sales to external customers

 $249,854  $2,601  $1,407  $253,862  $308,001 $12,465 $2,361 $322,827 

Income before income taxes

  429   1,080   316   1,825  29,174 5,705 843 35,722 

Capital expenditures

  18,178   -   35   18,213  6,752 - - 6,752 

Depreciation and amortization

  11,506   2   65   11,573  8,888 407 - 9,295 

Total Assets as of:

                 

September 30, 2017

 $176,159  $5,998  $2,184  $184,341 

October 1, 2016

 $174,510  $5,968  $2,419  $182,897 

October 28, 2023

 $238,604 $10,753 $1,186 $250,543 

January 28, 2023

 272,221  7,466  1,107  280,794 

October 29, 2022

  253,595   5,045   1,161   259,801 

 

The Company’sCompany’s reportable segments are primarily determined by the types of products and services that each offers.they offer. Each reportable segment may operate in many geographic areas. The Company allocates revenues toRevenues are recognized in the geographic areas based on the location of the customer or franchisee. The following schedule is a summary of the Company’s sales to external customers and long-lived assets by geographic area (in thousands):

 

 

North

              

North

         
 

America (1)

  

Europe (2)

  

Other (3)

  

Total

  

America (1)

  

Europe (2)

  

Other (3)

  

Total

 

Thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017

             

Thirteen weeks ended October 28, 2023

 

Net sales to external customers

 $93,431  $13,037  $1,094  $107,562 

Thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2022

 

Net sales to external customers

 $90,515  $12,851  $1,114  $104,480 
 

Thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023

 

Net sales to external customers

 $67,036  $14,812  $580  $82,428  $297,631 $36,822 $2,384 $336,837 

Property and equipment, net

  67,073   9,612   33   76,718  48,631 3,283 0 51,914 

Thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016

                

Thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022

 

Net sales to external customers

 $68,227  $14,955  $566  $83,748  $282,706 $37,754 $2,367 $322,827 

Property and equipment, net

  62,377   8,385   1,222   71,984  43,898 2,366 0 46,264 

Thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017

             

Net sales to external customers

 $207,863  $40,905  $1,517  $250,285 

Property and equipment, net

  67,073   9,612   33   76,718 

Thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016

             

Net sales to external customers

 $209,105  $43,592  $1,165  $253,862 

Property and equipment, net

  62,377   8,385   1,222   71,984 

 

For purposes of this table only:

(1)(1)  North America includes corporately-operated locations in the United States Canada, Puerto Rico and franchise business in Mexico Canada.

(2)(2)  Europe includes corporately-operated locations in the United Kingdom,U.K. and Ireland Denmark and franchise businessessales to wholesale customers in Europe Europe.

(3)(3)  Other includes franchise businesses outside of North America and Europe and, beginning in 2016, a company-owned store in China Europe.

 

14

1012. Contingencies.Contingencies

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to regular examination by various taxing authorities for years not closed by the statute of limitations.legal proceedings, government inquiries and claims, and other commercial disputes. If one or more of these examinationsmatters has an unfavorable resolution, it is possible that the results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company could be materially affected in any particular period. The Company accrues a liability for this typethese types of contingencycontingencies when it believes that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and that it can reasonably estimate the amount of the loss. Gain contingencies are recorded when the underlying uncertainty has been settled.

Assessments made by the United KingdomU.K. customs authority in 2012 have been were appealed by the Company, which has paid the disputed duty, strictly under protest, pending the outcome of the continuing dispute, and this is included in receivables, net in the DTC segment. The United KingdomU.K. customs authority is contestingcontested the Company's appeal. Rulings by the First Tier Tribunal in November 2019 and Upper Tribunal in March 2021 held that duty was due on some, but not all, of the products at issue. The Company petitioned the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal certain elements of the Upper Tribunal decision and, in early November 2021, a judge granted the Company's petition for permission to appeal those elements of the Upper Tribunal decision on some, but not all, of the grounds of appeal that the Company had put forward. An appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal during the first quarter of fiscal 2022, and the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, the UK Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal. The Company is engaging with the customs authority to attempt to resolve all outstanding issues following the application of the determined principles. The case will return to the lower tribunal for a final ruling if outstanding issues cannot be resolved. The Company maintains a provision against the related receivable, based on a current evaluation of collectability, using the latest facts available in the dispute. As of September 30, 2017,October 28, 2023, the Company had a gross receivable balance of $3.5$4.5 million and a reserve of $2.8$3.5 million, leaving a net receivable of $0.7$1.0 million. However, theThe Company continues to vigorously dispute the customs audit findings and believes that the outcome of this dispute will not have a material adverse impact on the results of operations, liquidity, or financial position of the Company.


11. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014,August 2021, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., asserting claims under the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from ContractsTelephone Consumer Protection Act (the "TCPA") alleging that the Company continued to send marketing text messages to mobile phone numbers registered on the National Do Not Call Registry after allegedly opting-out of receiving them. Statutory damages under the TCPA are assessed at $500 per violation (i.e., per text message), and up to $1,500 per violation if the violation was knowing or willful. The Company has reached a settlement with Customers (ASU 2014-09),the Plaintiff and an insurance carrier which will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle ofhas been approved by the ASU is that an entity should recognize revenueCourt and did not result in a significant expense for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2018, and allows for both retrospective and modified retrospective methods of adoption. Early adoption beginning in fiscal 2017 is permitted. In 2016, the Company established a cross-functional team to use a bottom-up approach to assess the impact of the new standard. The team has reviewed current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the provisions of the new standard to our existing revenue contracts. To date, management has reviewed all of the Company’s revenue sources and contracts. Internal controls have been designed and an accounting policy has been developed. The Company expects the most significant impact to result from changes to the accounting for deferred revenue, specifically related to gift cards. The Company will adopt ASU 2014-09 effective the first day of fiscal 2018 using the modified retrospective method.Company.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (ASU 2016-02), which will replace most existing lease accounting guidance in U.S. GAAP. The core principle

15

,

 

12. Subsequent Event

On October 31, 2017, the Company drew $4.0 million on its line of credit. This balance is expected to fluctuate throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter and is expected to be repaid before the end of the year.

Item 2. Management’sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following Management’sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements except as required by the federal securities laws. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual reportour Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016,January 28, 2023, as filed with the SEC, and include the following:

 

 

any uncertainty or decline in general global economic conditions, may deteriorate, whichcaused by inflation, rising interest rates, geo-political conflicts, or other external factors, could lead to disproportionately reduced discretionary consumer spending and a corresponding reduction in demand for our products and have an adverse effect on our liquidity and profitability;

consumer interests can change rapidly, and our success depends on the ongoing effectiveness of our marketing and online initiatives to build consumer affinity for our brand and drive consumer demand for our products which represent relatively discretionary spending;

and services;
 

customer traffic may decrease inwe depend upon the shopping malls where weand tourist locations in which our stores are located on which we depend to attract guests toguests. Continued or further volatility in retail consumer traffic could adversely affect our stores;

financial performance and profitability;
 

weglobal or regional health pandemics or epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could negatively impact our business, financial position and results of operations;

our profitability could be adversely affected by fluctuations in petroleum products prices;
our business may be adversely impacted at any time by a variety of significant competitive threats;
if we are unable to generate interest in and demand for our interactive retail experience orand products, including being able to identify and respond to consumer preferences in a timely fashion;

manner, our marketingsales, financial condition and on-line initiatives may not be effective in generating sufficient levels of brand awareness and guest traffic;

the availability and costs of our productsprofitability could be adversely affected by risks associated with international manufacturing and trade, including foreign currency fluctuation;

affected;
 

we may suffer disruptions, failures or security breachesfailure to successfully execute our omnichannel and brand expansion strategy and the cost of our information technology infrastructure orinvestments in e-commerce and digital transformation may improperly obtain or bematerially adversely affect our financial condition and profitability;

if we are unable to adequately protect customer information in violation of privacy or security laws or customer expectations;

we may be unable to generate comparable sales growth;


we may be unable to effectively operate or manage the overall portfolio of our company-owned stores;

we may be unable to renew, renegotiate or replace our store leases or enter into leases for new stores on favorable terms, or in favorable locations, or mayif we violate any of the terms of our current leases;

leases, our revenue and profitability could be harmed;
 

we may not be able to operate our international Company-owned stores profitably;

we are subject to risks associated with technology and digital operations;

 

we may not be able to evolve our productsstore locations over time to align with market trends, successfully diversify our store formats and business models in accordance with our strategic goals or Build-A-Bear branded products sold byotherwise effectively manage our licensees could fail to meet current safety standards or become subject to recalls or product liability claims thatoverall portfolio of stores which could adversely impactaffect our financial performanceability to grow and could significantly harm our reputation among consumers;

profitability;
 

we may lose key personnel, be unable to hire qualified additional personnel, or experience turnoverour company-owned distribution center that services the majority of our management team;

stores in North America and our third-party distribution center providers used in the western U.S. and Europe may be required to close and operations may experience disruptions or may operate inefficiently;
 

we are susceptible to disruption in our inventory flow due to our reliancerely on a few vendors;

global supply chain vendors to supply substantially all of our materials and merchandise, and significant price increases or any disruption in their ability to deliver materials and merchandise could harm our ability to source products and supply inventory to our stores;
 

we may not be able to operate our international corporately-operated locations profitability;

our merchandise is manufactured by foreign manufacturers and we transact business in various foreign countries, and the availability and costs of our products, as well as our product pricing, may be negatively affected by risks associated with international manufacturing and trade and foreign currency fluctuations;
if we are unable to effectively manage our international franchises, attract new franchisees or if the laws relating to our international franchises change, our growth and profitability could be adversely affected, and we could be exposed to additional liability;
we are subject to a number of risks related to disruptions, failures or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure. If we improperly obtain or are unable to protect our data or violate privacy or security laws or expectations, we could be subject to liability as well as damage to our reputation;
we may fail to renew, register or otherwise protect our trademarks or other intellectual property and may be sued by third parties for infringement or misappropriation of their proprietary rights, which could be costly, distract our management and personnel and result in the diminution in value of our trademarks and other important intellectual property;

 

we may suffer negative publicity or be sued due to violations of labor laws or unethical practices byif the manufacturers of our merchandise;

merchandise or of Build-A-Bear branded merchandise sold by our licensees ship any products that do not meet current safety standards or production requirements or if such products are recalled or cause injuries;
 

we may be unable to operate our Company-owned distribution center efficiently or our third-party distribution center providers may perform poorly;

Increases in high petroleum products prices could increase our inventory transportation costs and adversely affect our profitability;

we may be unable to effectively manage our international franchises or laws relating to those franchises may change;

our plans to leverage the Build-A-Bear brand to drive strategic expansion may not be successful;

our market share could be adversely affected by a significant, or increased, number of competitors;

we may suffer negative publicity or negative salesbe sued if the non-proprietary toymanufacturers of our merchandise violate labor laws or engage in practices that consumers believe are unethical;

we may suffer negative publicity or a decrease in sales or profitability if the products from other companies that we sell in our stores do not meet our safety, quality standards or fail to achieve our sales expectations;

 

poor global economic conditions could havewe may suffer negative publicity and damage to our reputation if we do not continue to evolve environmental, social, and governance initiatives in a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources;

timely manner;
 

fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations could cause the price of our common stock to substantially decline; and

 

fluctuationsfluctuations in our operating results could reduce our cash flow, or trigger restrictions under our credit agreement, and we may be unable to repurchase shares at all or at the times or in the amounts we desire, or the results of theour share repurchase program may not be as beneficial as we would like.like; 

our relatively low market capitalization can cause the market price of our common stock to become volatile;
our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that may prevent or frustrate attempts to replace or remove our current management by our stockholders, even if such replacement or removal may be in our stockholders’ best interests;

we may not be able to operate successfully if we lose key personnel, are unable to hire qualified additional personnel, or experience turnover of our management team;

we may be unsuccessful in acquiring businesses or engaging in other strategic transactions, which may negatively affect our financial condition and profitability.

16

 

Overview

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed in 1997 as a mall-based, experiential specialty retailer where children and their families could create their own stuffed animals. Over the last 25 years, Build-A-Bear has become a brand with high consumer awareness and positive affinity with over 225 million furry friends made by guests. We are leveraging this brand strength to strategically evolve our brick-and-mortar retail footprint beyond traditional malls with a versatile range of formats and locations including tourist destinations, expand into international markets primarily via a franchise model, and broaden the only global companytotal addressable market beyond children by adding teens and adults with entertainment/sports licensing, collectible and gifting offerings. Build-A-Bear's pop-culture and multi-generational appeal have also played a key role in our digital transformation which includes a meaningful e-commerce/omni-channel business that offers an interactive “make your own stuffed animal”has delivered sustained growth, engaging consumer loyalty program and robust digital marketing and content capabilities with industry-leading partners. As of October 28, 2023, we had 356 corporately-operated stores globally and 3 seasonal locations, 85 partner-operated locations operating through our "third-party retail" model in which we sell our products on a wholesale basis to other companies that then, in turn, execute our retail entertainment experience, and 70 international franchised stores under the Build-A-Bear Workshop brand, in whichbrand. In addition to these stores, we sell products on our guests stuff, fluff, dress, accessorizecompany-owned e-commerce sites and name their own teddy bearsthird-party marketplace sites, our franchisees sell products through sites that they manage as well as other third-party marketplace sites and other stuffed animals. As of September 30, 2017, we operated 292 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico (collectively, North America), 60 stores in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark (collectively, Europe), and one store in China and had 90 franchised stores operating internationallyparties sell products on their sites under the Build-A-Bear Workshop brand.wholesale agreements.

 

On August 21, 2017, we announced that our Board of Directors completed the previously announced review of strategic alternatives. After an extensive analysis and careful consideration of a broad range of strategic alternatives by the Board of Directors in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $20 million through September 30, 2020.

Our Company has been executing a multi-year turnaround plan that was initiated in 2013 to improve both sales and profitability. We are evolving our strategic plan in 2017 to better align with shifts that have been occurring in consumer shopping trends which accelerated in the fourth quarter of 2016 while building on the actions that we have taken over the last few years to return the Company to sustained profitability and prepare for growth. Our focus in 2017 is concentrated in four key areas: channel evolution, product expansion, brand and experience amplification and profitability improvement. We operate in three segments that share the same infrastructure, including management, systems, merchandising and marketing, and generate revenues as follows:

 

Direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) – Company-owned retail stores located in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and China, as well as two e-commerce sites;

Commercial – Transactions with other businesses, mainly comprised of wholesale product sales and licensing our intellectual property, including entertainment properties, for third-party use; and

International Franchising – Royalties and other fees from other international stores operated under franchise agreements.

Direct-to-Consumer (“DTC”) – Corporately-operated retail stores located in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland and two e-commerce sites;

Commercial – Transactions with other businesses, mainly comprised of wholesale product sales to third-party retailers and licensing our intellectual property, including entertainment properties, for third-party use; and

International franchising – Royalties as well as products and fixtures sales from other international operations under franchise agreements.

 

Selected financial data attributable to each segment for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periodsweeks ended September 30, 2017October 28, 2023 and October 1, 201629, 2022 are set forth in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 


Business Update

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop offers interactive entertainment experiences via both physical and e-commerce engagement, targeting a range of consumer segments and purchasing occasions through digitally-driven, diversified omnichannel capabilities. We use comparable sales as oneoperate a vertical retail channel with stores that feature a unique combination of the performance measures for our business.  Comparable sales percentage changes are based on net retail salesexperience and exclude the impact of foreign exchange.  Stores are considered comparable beginningproduct in which guests can "make their thirteenth consecutive full month of operation. Not all stores are includedown stuffed animals" by participating in the calculation. The percentage changestuffing, fluffing, dressing, accessorizing, and naming of their teddy bears and other stuffed animals. We also operate e-commerce sites that focus on gift-giving, collectible merchandise and licensed products that appeal to consumers that have an affinity for characters from a range of licensed properties. Over the last 25 years, Build-A-Bear has become a brand with high consumer awareness and positive affinity. We believe there are opportunities to leverage this brand strength, pop-culture status and multi-generational appeal and generate incremental revenue and profits through licensing our intellectual properties through content and entertainment development for kids and adults while also offering products at wholesale and in consolidated comparable sales for the periods presented below is as follows:non-plush consumer categories through outbound licensing agreements with leading manufacturers.

 

  

Thirteen Weeks Ended

  

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

 
  

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

  

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

 

Comparable sales change (%)

             

North America

 (7.8)%  (1.6)%  (6.4)%  (2.0)% 

Europe & Asia

 (5.2)%  (4.8)%  (2.4)%  (5.5)% 

Consolidated

 (7.4)%  (2.2)%  (5.8)%  (2.6)% 
                 

Stores

 (6.9)%  (3.2)%  (5.8)%  (3.1)% 

E-commerce

 (18.2)%  25.2%  (4.9)%  11.9% 

Consolidated

 (7.4)%  (2.2)%  (5.8)%  (2.6)% 

We seek to provide outstanding guest service and experiences across all channels and touch points including our retail locations, our e-commerce sites, our mobile sites and apps as well as traditional, digital and social media. We believe the hands-on and interactive nature of our experience locations, our personal service model and engaging digital shopping experiences result in guests forming an emotional connection with our brand which has multi-generational appeal that captures today’s zeitgeist including desire for engaging experiences, personalization and “DIY” while being recognized as trusted, giving, and a part of pop culture.

 

We believe there are opportunities to extend the decrease in consolidated comparable sales for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017 is attributable to the continued overall decline in traditional mall traffic, anticipated fluctuation in base comparable sales linked to the evolutionreach and size of our diverse consumer segments through expanded products and licensing relationships, evolved experiences, and incremental occasions, partnerships, and marketing activities. We believe we can further develop our business by creating a continuous circle of engagement with expanded programs including outbound branded licensing and entertainment that drives retail footprint, the disruption caused by the planned transition to a new web platform,performance and unexpected weather impacts. This was partially offset by increasesleverages our brand equity which may in conversion, units per transaction and dollars per transaction during the quarter. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, we believe the decrease in consolidated comparable sales is primarily attributable to the continued decline in traditional mall traffic, unexpected events such as weather in North America and multiple terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom in the second quarter, again partially offset by increases in dollars per transaction and units per transaction. turn positively impact other channels of distribution. We remain focused on our strategic priorities which are centered on three key areas:

 

Strategy

We expect to improve consolidated sales through the following key initiatives:

 

Channel Evolution:Drive continued digital transformation and broaden our total addressable market while leveraging enhanced omni-channel capabilities. We expect to continuemore effectively use our expanded digital capabilities and platforms to evolve our aged store fleet intoinform and drive marketing and content campaigns and deliver personalized experiences and promotional messaging to both acquire new Discovery format stores, leveraging natural lease events. Overall, these locations continue to perform ahead of heritage locations in both salesguests and profitability.increase repeat purchases from existing consumers. We also expect to continue to diversify our real estate portfolio to include more non-traditional locations inclusive of our new retail model (Concourse Shop) which requires less capital, has shorter-term leases and offers a solution for a wide range of settings. Separately, we have now essentially completed the planned upgrade of our web platform and redesigned site ahead of the fourth quarter holiday season. The updates to the website platform and e-commerce processes are expected to enable our guests to experience Build-A-Bear online in new ways and allow usplan to leverage the macro trendexpansion of our total addressable market by reaching beyond the core kid base and continuing to acquire new tween, teen, and adult consumers online.

by offering unique affinity offerings, expanding gift-giving and adding new purchase occasions. We prepared for and launched the planned update to our e-commerce site with extended testing and algorithm refinements being made throughout the year on multiple points from the landing page to checkout. In addition, we plan to grow our core kids and family business with new product launches, incremental purchase occasions and engaging digital marketing content.

 

Product Expansion: To meet

Expand brand access with additional experience locations and increase brand engagement leveraging strategic partnerships, pop-culture status and digital media, content and entertainment. In fiscal 2023, we expect a net increase in the needsnumber of stores in North America inclusive of third-party retail sites and to have more corporately-operated locations in Europe compared to the end of fiscal 2022. Combined across geographies and business models, we plan to have more total locations at the end of fiscal 2023 compared to the end of fiscal 2022. We have made a concerted effort to shift to non-traditional locations including family-centric tourist and hospitality sites and now have approximately 35% of our core consumer base (boystotal retail locations in non-traditional settings. While tourist sites have been and girls ages 3will remain a critical part of our overarching location expansion strategy, recent research data supports our opportunity to 12) while systematically building secondary consumer segments (including affinity, gift-giverreengage in profitable expansion of our corporately-operated experience locations on a more localized level, particularly given the numerous and teen-plus),flexible models we have developed in the past few years. We also continue to develop innovative experiences to expand our brand reach. This includes Build-A-Bear vending machines, also known as ATMs or automatic teddy machines. In addition, we plan to continue to balance our offering of core products with a comprehensive program of key licensed properties including products with tie-insutilize digital media, content and entertainment as marketing and brand-building tools to major movie releases throughout 2017 while continuing to developengage consumers, create incremental value and expand offerings of our successful owned intellectual property stories, such as Promise Pets, Honey Girlsdrive in-person and the holiday-specific Merry Mission collections.

online traffic and demand. 

 

BrandOptimize our solid financial position including a strong balance sheet to support our business, make investments that drive sustained profitable growth and Experience Amplification: In additioncontinue to creating sharable, emotional content that more authentically communicates the heart of the brand, we are making adjustmentsdeliver value to marketing programs to create synergy across channels. These include shifts in media to better reach moms and kids while leveraging the competitive advantage of our entertainment retail experience by adding in-store events such as story readings, movie release celebrations and appearances by our iconic mascots.shareholders. We plan to maintain disciplined expense management particularly in light of changes in overall consumer shopping trends, recent inflationary pressures, wage increases and supply chain challenges. We are also focused on ongoing lease negotiations as we continue to develop entertainment content, including mobile apps, music videosevolve our real estate portfolio with new locations, formats and other opportunities that increase engagementbusiness models. In addition, we expect to continue to strategically manage our capital to support key initiatives and areinnovative developments designed to improve efficiency, drive trafficdeliver long-term profitable growth while returning value to shareholders through actions such as the dividends announced by our Board of Directors and lead to profitable sales growth.

Long-Term Profitability Improvement: We are focused on improving profitability through the execution of our stated strategies detailed abovepaid in fiscal 2021 and 2023 totaling $41.5 million as well as disciplined expense managementshare repurchase programs authorized by the Board of Directors in fiscal 2021 and on-going efforts in process and systems upgrades. While2022 where we continuehave utilized $43.7 million under both programs to monitor consolidated comparable sales as an important metric in our business, we believe that total revenue growth and profitability improvement are more indicativerepurchase nearly 2.5 million shares through the end of the progress in our business initiatives on a go forward basis.fiscal third quarter fiscal 2023.

During the last two weeks of our fiscal third quarter, revenues were negatively impacted simultaneous with the widely reported consumer spending softness. The effects of this decline in consumer spending persisted into November 2023, the beginning of our fiscal fourth quarter, continuing to negatively impact our revenues.

 


17

 

Retail StoresStores:

Corporately-Operated Locations::

 

The table below sets forth the number of Build-A-Bear Workshop company-ownedcorporately-operated stores in North America, and Europe and Asia for the periods presented:

 

 

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
 

September 30, 2017

  

October 1, 2016

  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

 
 

North

America

  

Europe

  

Asia

  

Total

  

North

America

  

Europe

  

Asia

  

Total

  

North America

  

Europe

  

Total

  

North America

  

Europe

  

Total

 

Beginning of period

  285   60   1   346   269   60   -   329  312  38  350  305  41  346 

Opened

  28   4   -   32   15   2   1   18  6  1  7  8  -  8 

Closed

  (21)  (4)  -   (25)  (13)  (4)  -   (17)  -   (1)  (1)  (1)  (6)  (7)

End of period

  292   60   1   353   271   58   1   330   318   38   356   312   35   347 

 

During 2017, we expect to continue to make improvements toAs of October 28, 2023, 47% of our corporately-operated stores were in an aged store fleet by leveraging the newupdated Discovery format in conjunction with select natural lease events.format. We also expect to close certain stores in accordance with natural lease events as an ongoing part of our real estate management and day-to-day operational plans. Current plansThe future of our retail store fleet may include expansion into more non-traditional locations, made possible including concourse format shops and by expansion in part by Concourse Shops. Concourse Shops are stand-aloneother locations outside of traditional malls.

Third-Party Retail Locations:

The number of third-party retail units that occupy approximately 200 square feet designed to be operatedlocations opened and closed for the periods presented below is summarized as follows:

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

 

Beginning of period

  70   61 

Opened

  15   6 

Closed

  -   (2)

End of period

  85   65 

Through our partner-operated third-party retail model, there were 85 stores in open, concourse areas of malls or other covered pedestrian areas. We currently expect to remodel approximately 20 locations into our Discovery format in 2017 and to have 20 to 25 new stores, inclusive of Concourse Shops, open byoperation at the end of the fiscal year. We ended the 2017 third quarter of fiscal 2023 with relationships that included Carnival Cruise Line, Great Wolf Lodge Resorts, Landry's, Beaches Family Resorts, and Kalahari. This model is capital light for us, with the partner company building out and operating the workshops including providing the real estate location and covering the cost of labor and inventory, which is purchased on a total of 100 Discovery format stores, including 23 Concourse Shops.wholesale basis. These locations are heavily weighted to the hospitality industry, which allow us to further advance our focus on experience location expansion in non-traditional and tourist areas, as well as shop-in-shop arrangements within other retailers’ stores.

 

International Franchise Stores:Revenue:

 

Our first franchisee location was opened in November 2003. All franchised stores have similar signage, store layout, merchandise characteristics and guest experience as our company-ownedcorporately-operated stores. As of September 30, 2017,October 28, 2023, we had eight5 master franchise agreements, which typically grant franchise rights for a particular country or group of countries, covering an aggregate of 148 countries.

 

The number of franchised stores opened and closed for the periods presented below are summarized as follows:

 

 

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
 

September 30,

2017

  

October 1,

2016

  October 28, 2023  October 29, 2022 

Beginning of period

  92   77  68  72 

Opened

  11   10  8 9 

Closed

  (13)  (7)  (6)  (15)

End of period

  90   80   70   66 

 

In the ordinary course of business, we anticipate signing additional master franchise agreements in the future and terminating other such agreements. For example, we signed a new franchising agreement granting territory rights inWe source fixtures and other supplies for our franchisees from China Hong Kongwhich significantly reduces the capital and Macau with planslowers the expenses required to open the first store in Beijing this December.franchises. We believe there is a market potential for approximately 300 international stores outside of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark. We continue to expect franchisees to leverage theare leveraging new formats that have been developed for our company-owned operationscorporately-operated locations such as concourses and sourcing changes that have significantly reduced the capital and expenses required to open stores. We expect to continue to develop market expansion through both new and existing franchisees in 2017 and beyond.shop-in-shops with our franchisees.

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected income statement data expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except where otherwise indicated. Percentages will not total due to cost of merchandise sold being expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, and commercial revenue, andinternational franchising, respectively, as well as immaterial rounding:

 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

  

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
 

September 30,

  

October 1,

  

September 30,

  

October 1,

  

October 28,

 

October 29,

 

October 28,

 

October 29,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2023

  

2022

  

2023

  

2022

 

Revenues:

                 

Net retail sales

  97.7%  97.8%  97.3%  98.4% 93.4% 95.0% 93.8% 95.4%

Commercial revenue

  1.6   1.6   2.0   1.0  5.6  3.9  5.3  3.9 

Franchise fees

  0.7   0.6   0.7   0.6 

International franchising

  1.0   1.1   0.9   0.7 

Total revenues

  100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0   100.0 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                 

Cost of merchandise sold - retail (1)

  55.8   56.7   54.9   55.1  47.4  47.7  46.3  48.5 

Cost of merchandise sold - commercial (1)

  45.2   40.5   53.8   46.6  44.4  46.8  47.8  46.7 

Cost of merchandise sold - international franchising (1)

  62.2   77.0   64.2   67.4 

Total cost of merchandise sold

  47.3   48.0   46.5   48.6 

Consolidated gross profit

  52.7   51.9   53.5   51.4 

Selling, general and administrative

  41.6   39.9   43.1   43.4  43.3  42.5  41.7  40.4 

Store preopening

  0.6   0.7   0.8   1.2 

Interest expense (income), net

  (0.0)  (0.0)  (0.0)  (0.0)

Total costs and expenses

  97.4   96.7   98.3   99.3 
                

Interest (income) expense, net

  (0.3)  0.0   (0.2)  0.0 

Income before income taxes

  2.6   3.3   1.7   0.7  9.6  9.5  11.9  11.1 

Income tax expense

  0.9   1.1   0.6   0.3   2.6   2.3   2.9   2.6 

Net income

  1.7   2.2   1.1   0.4   7.1   7.1   9.1   8.5 
                 
                

Retail Gross Margin % (2)

  44.2%  43.3%  45.1%  44.9%

Retail Gross Margin (2)

 52.6% 52.3% 53.7% 51.5%

 

(1)

Cost of merchandise sold – retail is expressed as a percentage of net retail sales. Cost of merchandise sold – commercial is expressed as a percentage of commercial revenue. Cost of merchandise sold – international franchising is expressed as a percentage of international franchising revenue.

(2)

Retail gross margin percentage represents net retail sales less cost of merchandise sold - retail; retail and is expressed as agross margin percentage ofrepresents retail gross margin divided by net retail sales.

Thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017October 28, 2023 compared to thirteen weeks ended October 1, 201629, 2022

 

Total revenues. Consolidated revenues. increased 2.9%, primarily fueled by growth in commercial segment revenues as well as increased retail revenue from increased retail transactions in North American brick-and-mortar stores driven by an increase in transaction volume and growth in international franchising revenue.    

Net retail sales for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017October 28, 2023 were $80.6  $100.4 million, compared to $99.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2022, an increase of $1.2 million, or 1.2%, compared to $81.9the prior year period. The components of this increase are as follows (dollars in thousands):

  

Thirteen weeks ended

 
  

October 28, 2023

 

Impact from:

    

Existing stores

 $(1,243)

Digital sales

  879 

New stores

  1,776 

Store closures

  (965)

Gift card breakage

  (124)

Foreign currency translation

  920 

Other

  (61)

Total Change

 $1,182 

The retail revenue increase was primarily the result of an increase in sales from corporately-operated retail locations through growth in the number of transactions through the majority of the quarter, including from the opening of a net five corporately-managed locations in the quarter, an increase in digital demand, and the strengthening of the British Pound compared to the same period in the prior year. Our retail revenue during the quarter was negatively impacted by a decline in our dollars per transaction during the period and consumer spending softness during the last two weeks of the period. 

Commercial revenue was $6.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 1.6%. The components of this decrease are as follows:

  

Thirteen weeks ended

 
  

September 30,

 
  

2017

 
  

(dollars in millions)

 

Increase from new stores

 $6.1 

Impact of store closures

  (1.7)

Impact of foreign currency translation

  0.2 

Decrease in consolidated comparable sales

  (5.6)

Decrease in non-comparable stores, primarily remodels and relocations

  (0.4)

Increase from other retail

  0.1 

Change in deferred revenue estimates, including gift card breakage

  - 
  $(1.3)


We believe the decrease in consolidated comparable sales for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017 is attributable to the continued overall decline in traditional mall traffic, anticipated fluctuation in base comparable sales linked to the evolution of our retail footprint, the disruption caused by the planned transition to a new web platform, and unexpected weather impacts. This was partially offset by increases in conversion, units per transaction and dollars per transaction during the quarter.

Commercial revenue was $1.3 million for both the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017 and October 1, 2016. Revenue from franchise fees was $0.6 million for both the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017 and October 1, 2016.

Retail gross margin. Retail gross margin was $35.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 201728, 2023 compared to $35.4$4.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016, an29, 2022. The $1.9 million increase is primarily the result of $0.2increased sales volume from our commercial accounts through our partner-operated third-party retail model.

International franchising revenue was $1.1 million or 0.6%. As a percentage of net retail sales, retail gross margin was 44.2% for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017 compared to 43.3% for the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016. This 90 basis-point28, 2023 compared to $1.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2022. The lack of change is the result of decreased transactions offset by increased location count.

Retail gross margin. Retail gross margin increase wasdollars increased $1.0 million to $52.9 million from $51.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2022. The retail gross margin rate increased 30 basis points compared to the prior year primarily driven by a 220 basis-point improvement in merchandise margin, and largely offset by deleveragelower freight costs compared to the fiscal 2022 third quarter.

 

Selling, general and administrative. Selling, general and administrativeSG&A expenses were $34.3$46.6 million, for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $33.4 millionor 43.3% of consolidated revenue, for the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016, an increase of $0.928, 2023, compared to $44.4 million, or 2.7%. As a percentage42.5% of total revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 41.6% for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017, as compared to 39.9%consolidated revenue, for the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016, an increase of 170 basis-points.29, 2022. The increase in selling, general and administrativeoverall expense was primarilydriven by higher store-level wages due to higher performance-based compensation expenseinflation, the planned addition of talent, marketing, and additional expenses relatedother investments to the higher store count.support future growth.

 

Store preopeningInterest (income) expense, net. . Store preopening expenses were $0.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $0.6 millionInterest income was $281,000 for the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease28, 2023 compared to interest expense of $0.1 million.

Interest expense (income), net. Interest expense (income) was less than $0.1 million$6,000 for both the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017 and October 1, 2016, respectively.29, 2022. The increase in interest income compared to expense in the prior year is the result of the Company's cash management strategy to invest cash on-hand in short-term, highly liquid investments.

 

Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense was $0.7$2.8 million with a tax rate of 33.4%26.7% for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2017,October 28, 2023 as compared to income tax expense of $1.0$2.4 million with a tax rate of 34.2%24.6% for the thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2016.

Thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017compared to thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016

Total revenues. Net retail sales were $243.6 million for29, 2022. In the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, compared to $249.9 million forthird quarter of 2023 and 2022, the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $6.3 million, or 2.5%. The components of this decrease are as follows:

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

September 30,

 
  

2017

 
  

(dollars in millions)

 

Increase from new stores

 $15.7 

Impact of store closures

  (5.5)

Impact of foreign currency translation

  (3.2)

Decrease in consolidated comparable sales

  (13.2)

Decrease in non-comparable stores, primarily remodels and relocations

  (1.2)

Increase from other retail

  0.4 

Change in deferred revenue estimates, including gift card breakage

  0.7 
  $(6.3)

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, we believe the decrease in consolidated comparable sales is primarily attributable to the continued decline in shopper traffic particularly in traditional malls, unexpected events such as weather in North America and multiple terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom in the second quarter, again partially offset by increases in dollars per transaction and units per transaction. 

Commercial revenue was $5.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, compared to $2.6 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, an increase of $2.4 million. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in wholesale activities as a part of our initiatives to expand locations through an “experiential wholesale” model including the relationship with Carnival Cruise Lines and ongoing outbound licensing agreements that leverage the strength of the Build-A-Bear brand. Revenue from franchise fees was $1.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, compared to $1.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, an increase of $0.3 million.


Retail gross margin. Retail gross margin was $109.9 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, compared to $112.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $2.2 million due to the decrease in total net retail sales. As a percentage of net retail sales, retail gross margin increased to 45.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 from 44.9% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016. This 20 basis-point increase was primarily driven by the expansion of merchandise margin offset by the deleverage of fixed occupancy costs.

Selling, general and administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $107.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, compared to $110.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $2.3 million, or 2.1%. As a percentage of total revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses were 43.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, as compared to 43.4% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of 30 basis-points. The decrease was primarily due to lower marketing costs, a portion of which will shift into the fourth quarter, as well as a benefit of foreign currency, offset by an increase in lower incentive compensation expense in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017.

Store preopening. Store preopening expenses were $2.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $3.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $1.0 million. Store preopening expenses for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 were predominantly associated with openings of new and remodeled Discovery format stores through September 30, 2017 along with a portion of planned fourth quarter openings. For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, preopening expenses included costs related to the opening of our flagship China location.

Interest expense (income), net. Interest income, net of interest expense, was less than $0.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 and October 1, 2016, respectively.

Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense was $1.5 million with a tax rate of 35.5% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, as compared to income tax expense of $0.8 million with a tax rate of 42.0% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016. The 2017 effective tax rate differed from the statutory rate of 34%21% primarily due to the implementation of the new accounting standard related to the accounting forstate income tax expense partially offset by the tax impact of equity awards vestingvesting. In addition, the Company remains in a full valuation allowance in certain foreign jurisdictions.

Thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 compared to thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022

Total revenues. Consolidated revenues increased 4.3%, primarily driven by a 5.3% increase in North America and partially offset by a 2.5% decrease in Europe. The overall revenue growth was primarily fueled by increased retail transactions in North American brick-and-mortar stores driven by an increase in consumer traffic, as well as growth in the commercial and international franchising segments' revenue.    

Net retail sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 were $316.0 million, compared to $308.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022, an increase of $8.0 million, or 2.6%, compared to the prior year period. The components of this increase are as follows (dollars in thousands):

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28, 2023

 

Impact from:

    

Existing stores

 $6,294 

Digital sales

  202 

New stores

  5,511 

Store closures

  (3,672)

Gift card breakage

  (276)

Foreign currency translation

  (75)

Other

  (13)

Total Change

 $7,971 

The retail revenue increase was primarily the result of an increase in sales from corporately-operated retail locations through growth in the number of transactions, as our traffic outpaced national retail traffic data, and the opening of a net six new corporately-managed locations in the fiscal year.

Commercial revenue was $17.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 compared to $12.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. The $5.2 million increase is primarily the result of increased sales volume from our commercial accounts through our partner-operated third-party retail model.

International franchising revenue was $3.2 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 compared to $2.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. The $0.8 million increase is primarily due to an overall increase in sales from franchisees.

Retail gross margin. Retail gross margin dollars increased $11.1 million to $169.8 million from $158.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. The retail gross margin rate increased 220 basis points compared to the prior year primarily driven by lower freight costs, as expected, and leverage of warehouse costs compared to the same period in 2022.

Selling, general and administrative. SG&A expenses were $140.5 million, or 41.7% of consolidated revenue, for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023, compared to $130.3 million, or 40.4% of consolidated revenue, for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. The increase in overall expense was driven by higher wages due to inflation, the planned addition of talent, marketing, and other discrete items.investments to support future growth.

Interest (income) expense, net. Interest income was $524,000 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 compared to interest expense of $27,000 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. The fluctuationincrease in interest income compared to expense in the 2016prior year is the result of the Company's cash management strategy to invest cash on-hand in short-term, highly liquid investments.

Provision for income taxes. Income tax expense was $9.6 million with an effective tax rate wasof 24.0% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 as compared to $8.2 million with an effective tax rate of 23.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. In the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and 2022, the effective tax rate differed from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to state income tax expense partially offset by the effecttax impact of permanent differences andequity awards vesting. In addition, the Company remains in a discrete item.full valuation allowance in certain foreign jurisdictions.

 

Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization 

We believe that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") provides meaningful information about our operational efficiency by excluding the impact of differences in tax jurisdictions and structures, debt levels, and capital investment. Additionally, this measure is the metric used for portions of the Company's incentive compensation structure. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is income before income taxes, or pre-tax income. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate EBIT and EBITDA differently, limiting the usefulness of the measures for comparisons with other companies. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the components of EBITDA (dollars in millions):

  

Thirteen weeks ended

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

  

October 28, 2023

  

October 29, 2022

 

Income before income taxes (pre-tax)

 $10,348  $9,888  $40,180  $35,722 

Interest (income) expense, net

  (281)  6   (524)  27 

Depreciation and amortization expense

  3,231   3,017   9,540   9,295 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization

 $13,298  $12,911  $49,196  $45,044 

EBITDA for the thirteen weeks ended October 28, 2023 increased $0.4 million to $13.3 million from $12.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2022. The slight increase in EBITDA is driven by a decrease in freight costs offset by higher store-level wages due to inflation, the planned addition of talent, marketing, and other investments to support future growth.

EBITDA for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 increased $4.2 million from $45.0 million from the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022 The increase in EBITDA is primarily driven by a decrease in freight costs coupled with an increase in consolidated revenues, allowing for leverage of merchandise and distribution costs compared to the prior period, partially offset by higher wages due to inflation, the planned addition of talent, marketing, and other investments to support future growth.

Seasonality and Quarterly Results

 

Our operating results for one period may not be indicative of results for other periods, and may fluctuate significantly because of a variety of factors, including,, but not limited to: (1) changes in general economic conditions (including as a result of the pandemic) and consumer spending patterns; (2) changes in store operations in response to the pandemic apart from its effect on the general economy, including temporary store closures required by local governments; (3) increases or decreases in our comparableexisting store and e-commerce sales; (3)(4) fluctuations in the profitability of our stores; (4) changes in foreign currency exchange rates; (5) the timing and frequency of the sales of licensed products tied to major theatrical releases (including the cancellation or delay of such releases due to the pandemic or other external factors) and our marketing initiatives, including national media and other public relations events; (6) changes in foreign currency exchange rates; (7) the timing of ournew store openings, closings, relocations and closingsremodeling and related expenses; (7)(8) changes in consumer preferences; (8)(9) the effectiveness of our inventory management; (9)(10) the actions of our competitors or mall anchors and co-tenants; (10)(11) seasonal shopping patterns and holiday and vacation schedules; (12) disruptions in store operations due to civil unrest; and (11)(13) weather conditions.

 

The timing of store closures, relocations, remodels, openings and openingsre-openings may result in fluctuations in quarterly results based on the revenues and expenses associatedassociated with each store location. Expenses related to store closings are typically incurred in stages: when the decision is made to close the store typically associated with a lease event such as an expiration or lease triggered clause; when the closure is communicated to store associates; and at the time of closure. We typically incur most preopening costs for a new store in the three months immediately preceding the store’s opening.

 

As a retailerBecause our retail operations include toy products which have sales that has toy productshistorically peak in relation to the holiday season as part of our revenue model, our sales arehave historically been highest in our fourth quarter, followed by the first quarter. The timing of holidays and school vacations can impact our quarterly results. We cannot ensureprovide assurance that this will continue to be the case. In addition, for accounting purposes, the quarters of each fiscal year consist of 13 weeks, although we will have a 14-week quarter approximately once every six years. For example, the 20142023 fiscal fourth quarter hadwill have 14 weeks.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

OurAs of October 28, 2023, we had a consolidated cash balance of $24.8 million, 80% of which was domiciled within the U.S. Historically, our cash requirements arehave been primarily for the relocation and remodeling of existing stores in our new design, opening of new stores, investments in information systemstechnology infrastructure and workingworking capital. Over the past several years, we have met these requirements through capital generated from cash flow provided by operations. WeAdditionally, during 2023 we have accessused cash on-hand to additional cash through our revolving lineinvest in short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of credit that has beenthree months or less resulting in place since 2000.interest income of $0.5 million during the fiscal year.

 


A summary of our operating, investing and financing activities is shown in the following table (dollars in thousands):

  

Thirty-nine weeks ended

 
  

October 28,

  

October 29,

 
  

2023

  

2022

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 $32,740  $11,247 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (11,124)  (6,752)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (39,134)  (26,135)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

  120   818 

Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 $(17,398) $(20,822)

   

Operating Activities.Cash used inprovided by operating activities was $7.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, compared to $14.3increased $21.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $7.3 million. Generally, changes28, 2023, as compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. This increase in cash from operating activities arewas primarily driven by changes in net income and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Thisa decrease in cash from operating activities overspent on inventory purchases, as in the prior year, ago period was primarily due towe proactively and strategically accelerated the timing of inventory and capital expenditure payments.our order placement to mitigate the inflationary pressures experienced in the first half of fiscal 2022, coupled with increased sales volume, resulting in higher net income. 

 

Investing Activities.Cash used in investing activities was $12.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $16.8increased $4.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $4.3 million. Cash used in investing activities during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 primarily related28, 2023 as compared to store construction and upgrades and purchases of information technology infrastructure. Cash used in investing activities during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 201629, 2022. This increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily driven by an increase in spending on capital expenditures related to store construction and upgrades and purchases of information technology infrastructure, partially offset by the maturity of short-term investments.projects and new store openings.

 

Financing Activities. Financing Cash used in financing activities used cash of $1.5increased $13.0 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017, as purchases of our common stock used cash of $1.0 million and exercises of employee stock options, net of shares used for withholding tax payments used $0.5 million. In the thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2016,28, 2023, as compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2022. This increase in cash used in financing activities usedwas driven primarily by the payment of the special cash dividend of $2.0$22.1 million as purchasesand was partially offset by a decrease in repurchases of our common stock used cash of $1.5 million and exercises of employee stock options, net of shares used for withholding tax payments used $0.5 million. No borrowings were made under our line of credit in either during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 or October 1, 2016.28, 2023.

 

Capital Resources. Resources: We have a revolving credit and security agreement with PNC Bank, as agent, that provides for a secured revolving loan in aggregate principal of up to $25.0 million, subject to a borrowing base formula. As of September 30, 2017, we hadOctober 28, 2023, borrowings under the agreement would bear interest at (a) a consolidated cash balancebase rate determined under the agreement, or (b) the borrower's option, at a rate based on SOFR, plus in either case a margin based on average undrawn availability as determined in accordance with the agreement. As of $10.9 million, approximatelyOctober 28, 2023, our borrowing base was $25.0 million. As a thirdresult of which was domiciled outside of the United States. We also have a line$250,000 letter of credit which we can use to finance capital expenditures and working capital needs throughout the year. On May 4, 2017, we amended the credit agreement extending the expiration date to December 31, 2018 and increasing the amount of permitted lease and rental payments for personal property from $100,000 to $1.0 million. The bank line provides availability of $35.0 million. Borrowings under the credit agreement are secured by our assets and a pledge of 65% of our ownership interest in certain of our foreign subsidiaries. The credit agreement contains various restrictions on indebtedness, liens, guarantees, redemptions, mergers, acquisitions or sale of assets, loans, transactions with affiliates and investments. It also prohibits us from declaring dividends without the bank’s prior consent, unless such payment of dividends would not violate any terms of the credit agreement. We are also prohibited from repurchasing shares of our common stock unless such repurchase of shares would not violate any terms of the credit agreement; we may not use the proceeds ofoutstanding against the line of credit, to repurchase shares. Borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.8%. Financial covenants include maintaining a minimum tangible net worth, maintaining a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) and not exceeding a maximum funded debt to earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization ratio. As of September 30, 2017: (i) we were in compliance with all covenants; (ii) there were no borrowings under our line of credit; and (iii) thereapproximately $24.7 million was approximately $35.0 million available for borrowing as of October 28, 2023. We had no outstanding borrowings as of October 28, 2023. 

Most of our corporately-operated retail stores are located within shopping malls and all are operated under the lineleases classified as operating leases. Our leases in North America have shifted to shorter term leases to provide flexibility in aligning stores with market trends. Our leases typically require us to pay personal property taxes, our pro rata share of credit. On October 31, 2017, we drew $4.0 million on our line of credit. This balance is expected to fluctuate throughout the remainderreal property taxes of the fourth quartershopping mall, our own utilities, repairs and is expectedmaintenance in our store, a pro rata share of the malls’ common area maintenance and, in some instances, merchant association fees and media fund contributions. Many leases contain incentives to help defray the cost of construction of a new store. Typically, a portion of the incentive must be repaid beforeto the landlord if we choose to terminate the lease prior to its contracted term. In addition, some of these leases contain various restrictions relating to change in control of our company. Our leases also subject us to risks relating to compliance with changing mall rules and the exercise of discretion by our landlords on various matters, including rights of termination in some cases. Rents are invoiced monthly and paid in advance.

Our leases in the U.K. and Ireland typically have terms of ten years and generally contain a provision whereby every fifth year the rental rate can be adjusted to reflect the current market rates. The leases typically provide the lessee with the first right for renewal at the end of the year.lease. We may also be required to make deposits and rent guarantees to secure new leases as we expand. Business rates also change according to government time schedules to reflect current market rental rates for the locations we lease. Rents are invoiced monthly or quarterly and paid in advance.

 

In fiscal 2017,

Capital spending through the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 totaled $11.1 million for information technology projects and new store openings, and we expect to spend a total of $20approximately $16 to $23$18 million on capital expenditures. Capital spending through the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2017 totaled $12.8 million, on track with our full year plans. Capital spendingexpenditures in fiscal 2017 is expected to primarily support2023.

Total inventory at quarter end was $64.5 million, a decrease of $23.9 million or 37% from the end of the fiscal 2022 third quarter. We are comfortable with the level and composition of our store activity, including both remodels and new stores and investments in information technology infrastructure.inventory.

 

We have various contractual or other obligations, including operating lease commitments and obligations under deferred compensation plans. As of October 28, 2023, we had purchase obligations totaling approximately $79.4 million, of which $26.0 million are due in the next 12 months. We believe thatour operating cash generated from operations and borrowings under our credit agreement will beflows are sufficient to fundmeet our working capital and othermaterial cash flow requirementsrequirements for at least the near future. Our credit agreement expires on December 31, 2018.next 12 months.

 

In August 2017, our Board of Directors authorized a shareWe utilized $4.0 million in cash to repurchase 146,028 shares during the thirteen weeks ended October 28, 2023 and fiscal year-to-date through December 6, 2023, the Company has utilized $17.3 million to repurchase 760,205 shares. As of December 6, 2023, we have $29.2 millionavailable under the current $50.0 million stock repurchase program of up to $20 million. This program authorized us to purchase up to $20 million of our common stock in the open market (including through 10b5-1 trading plans), or through privately negotiated transactions. The primary source of funding for the program is expected to be cashadopted on hand. The timing and amount of share repurchases, if any, will depend on price, market conditions, applicable regulatory requirements, and other factors. The program authorizes us to repurchase shares through September 30, 2020, and does not require us to repurchase any specific number of shares, and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice. Shares repurchased under the program will be subsequently retired. Under this program through September 30, 2017, we repurchased 112,325 shares at an average price of $8.88 per share for an aggregate amount of $1.0 million.August 31, 2022.

   

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

NoneNone.


 

Inflation

 

Global inflation is well above recent levels and global interest rates have risen in an effort to curb inflation. The impact of inflation on the Company's business operations was seen throughout fiscal 2022 and continued to adversely affect our business in fiscal 2023, mainly through rising store labor costs. However, we continue to take mitigating actions, such as select strategic price increases on highly sought-after products, and leveraging distribution costs. We do not believe thatexpect the inflationary pressures experienced thus far in fiscal 2023 to continue throughout the rest of fiscal 2023, specifically through wage increases. We continue to monitor the impact of inflation has had a material adverse impact on our business operations on an ongoing basis and may need to adjust our prices further to mitigate the impacts of changes to the rate of inflation during 2023 or operating results duringin future years. Future volatility of general price inflation and the periods presented.impact of inflation on costs and availability of materials, costs for shipping and warehousing and other operational overhead could adversely affect our financial results. Inflationary pressures may be exacerbated by higher transportation costs due to war and other geopolitical conflicts, such as the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, tension between China and Taiwan, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. We cannot provide assurance, however,an estimate or range of impact that such inflation may have on our future results of operations. However, if we are unable to recover the impact of these costs through price increases to our guests, or if consumer spending decreases as a result of inflation, our business, will notresults of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be affected byadversely affected. In addition, ongoing inflation in the future.product costs may result in lower gross margin rates if we elect to maintain higher inventory reserves to mitigate anticipated higher costs.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, which require us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in our financial statements and related notes.notes. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from our estimates. Such differences could be material to the financial statements.

 

We believe our application of accounting policies, and the estimates inherently requiredrequired therein, are reasonable. These accounting policies and estimates, including those related to inventory, long-lived assets, leases, revenue recognition and income taxes, are reevaluated on an ongoing basis, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change.

Historically, we have found our application of accounting policies to be appropriate, and actual results have not differed materially from those determined using necessary estimates.

Our critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed in and should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)SEC on March 16, 2017,April 13, 2023, which includes audited consolidated financial statements for our 2016, 20152022 and 20142021 fiscal years. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting estimates disclosed in the 20162022 Form 10-K. 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 11 – Recently Issued1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements — Basis of Presentation — Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Adopted in the Current Year as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023 as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

There have been no material changes to our Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016January 28, 2023 as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017.April 13, 2023.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Our management, with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management, including our certifying officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the foregoing evaluation, our management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2017,October 28, 2023, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.

 

It should be noted that our management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.


 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) to determine whether any changes occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. BasedDuring the third quarter fiscal 2023, the Company finished its implementation of new software and control processes to manage inventory at its corporately-operated retail stores within its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The transition of this inventory management from the legacy system to the ERP system occurred in phases and was completed by the end of the third quarter fiscal 2023. This implementation has had and is expected to continue to have minimal effects on that evaluation, there has beenthe Company's controls and processes over accounting for corporately-operated retail store inventory. Except for the changes to our inventory management process, no such changeother changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the periodquarter covered by this report.report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATIONItem 1A. Risk Factors

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Except as set forth below, thereThere have been no material changes to our Risk Factorsrisk factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016January 28, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC on March 16, 2017.

On August 21, 2017, we announced that our Board of Directors completed the previously announced review of strategic alternatives. After an extensive analysis and careful consideration of a broad range of strategic alternatives by the Board of Directors in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $20 million. Accordingly, the following Risk Factor disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 is deleted:April 13, 2023.

 

The outcome of the strategic alternatives evaluation process announced on May 3, 2016 is uncertain and the process may or may not result in any changes to the Company’s business plan or lead to a specific action or transaction.

In addition, the following Risk Factor is added:

Fluctuations in our operating results could reduce our cash flow and we may be unable to repurchase shares at all or at the times or in the amounts we desire or the results of the share repurchase program may not be as beneficial as we would like.

In August 2017, our Board of Directors authorized a $20 million share repurchase program. The program does not require the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares, and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice. Shares repurchased under the program will be subsequently retired. If our cash flow decreases as a result of decreased sales, increased expenses or capital expenditures or other uses of cash, we may not be able to repurchase shares of our common stock at all or at times or in the amounts we desire. As a result, the results of the share repurchase program may not be as beneficial as we would like.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period

 

(a)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
(1)

  

(b) Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)

  

(c)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
(2)

  

(d)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
(2)

 

Jul. 1, 2017 – Jul. 29, 2017

  278  $10.25   -  $- 

Aug. 1, 2017 – Aug. 26, 2017

  800  $9.10   -  $20,000,000 

Aug. 27, 2017 – Sep. 30, 2017

  112,475  $8.88   112,325  $19,002,247 

Total

  113,553  $8.89   112,325     

Period

 

(a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased (1)

  

(b) Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)

  

(c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs

  

(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs

 

July 30, 2023 - August 26, 2023

  -  $-   -  $35,322,335 

August 27, 2023 - September 30, 2023

  68,911   29.04   2,001,362   33,320,973 

October 1, 2023 - October 28, 2023

  77,117   25.95   2,001,470   31,319,503 

Total

  146,028  $27.41   4,002,832  $31,319,503 

 

(1)

Includes shares of our common stock delivered to us in satisfaction of the tax withholding obligation of holders of restricted shares which vested during the quarter. Our equity incentive plans provide that the value of shares delivered to us to pay the withholding tax obligations is calculated at the closing trading price of our common stock on the date the relevant transaction occurs.

transactions occur.

(2)

In August 2017, the Board of Directors adopted a share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $20 million of our common stock. This program authorizes the Company to repurchase shares through September 30, 2020 and does not require the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares, and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice. Shares repurchased under the program will be subsequently retired.

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

The following is a list of exhibits filed as a part of the quarterly report on Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibit No.

Description

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 3, 2000 between Build-A-Bear Workshop, L.L.C. and the Registrant (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on August 12, 2004, Registration No. 333-118142)

3.1

Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 11, 2004)

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws,, as amended through February 23, 2016 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 24, 2016)

  

4.1

 

Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on October 1, 2004, Registration No. 333-118142)333-118142)

31.1

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification (pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by the President and Chief Executive Officer)

31.2

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification (pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by the Chief Financial Officer)

32.1

Section 1350 Certification (pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by the President and Chief Executive Officer)

   

32.2

Section 1350 Certification (pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by the Chief Financial Officer)

   

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

   

101.SCH

104
 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL Extension Schema

and contained in Exhibit 101)

101.CAL

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

XBRL Extension Calculation

101.DEF

XBRL Extension Definition

101.LAB

XBRL Extension Label

101.PRE

XBRL Extension Presentation

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 9, 2017Date: December 7, 2023

 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

(Registrant)

  

  

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

(Registrant)

 

By:

/s/ Sharon John

 

Sharon John

 

President and Chief Executive Officer (on behalf of

the registrant and as principal executive officer)

  

  

By:

/s/ Voin Todorovic

 

Voin Todorovic

 

Chief Financial Officer

(on behalf of the registrant and as principal

financial officer)

 

 

22

27