One of the most loved interactive retailers in the world, Build-A-Bear Workshop®, is inviting guests to create a new outfit for their mascots, Bearemy® and Pawlette Coufur®. Build-A-Bear Workshop® will select the winners by inviting guests to participate in an online voting forum.

Guests can submit their drawings for the new contest called, The Furbulous Fashion Design Contest® between April 9 and May 3 by visiting any Build-A-Bear Workshop® store nationwide to pick up an entry kit or online. The online voting will begun may 31st and continue through June 14th.

Two grand prize winners will be picked, one for Bearemy’s outfit design and one for Pawlette’s outfit design. Each winner will get a trip to New York City to see their designs debut at the 2012 hanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 22, 2012 as Bearemy and Pawlette Coufur ride the Build-A-Bear Workshop float in their new outfits. The winners will also receive a $5,000 educational scholarship, a bear-sized version of their winning outfit, and a $50 Bear Buck$® gift card to use at the Build-A-Bear Workshop.

The contest is a part of a yearlong “Friends Count” celebration to thank guests for helping the company reach their 15th birthday and over 100 million friends made. The yearlong celebration will also include in-store events, charitable activities, and the launch of a brand new website, where guests can share and read stories about friends that have been created in the workshop.

Also a new song entitled “Friends Counter” has been written for the special celebration and is performed by Victoria Justice. The song is available to download when Guests make a $1 donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers, which Build-A-Bear Workshop® has supported since March 2011.

Maxine Clark, the Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and chief executive bear said,

“At Build-A-Bear Workshop, we have always been inspired by children. With the Furbulous Fashion Design Contest, we look forward to giving our Guests the opportunity to show their creativity and leave a lasting impression on Build-A-Bear Workshop!”

You can see more information about the fun and new activities to celebrate the milestone by visiting the website or visiting their social network sites: