PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS

Build-A-Bear Workshop
Dave Finnegan, director of inBearmation technology

"Our biggest solution drivers were growth, scalability, up-time, reliability and ease-of-management. From a technology perspective, Compaq solutions, far and away, outstrip the other server offerings in these areas."

Build-A-Bear Workshop is taking the retail world by storm with a successful business model for one-to-one merchandising. Through both its bricks-and-mortar and online business, the company enables children of all ages to make their own stuffed animals and then personalize them with fashions and accessories of all kinds. If you've ever dreamed of a bear in a spacesuit or a giant panda to match your favorite pajamas, Build-A-Bear Workshop, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is the place to let your imagination run wild. And, if mom or dad can't take you to the nearest Build-A-Bear Workshop for a visit, just pull up a chair and create your bear online!

Build-A-Bear Workshop is so successful that if it weren't for careful planning on the part of Dave Finnegan, director of inBearmation technology, and his team, the company's rapid growth rate would exert an "unbearable" load on the company's underlying IT systems. Fortunately, given the fast-paced growth, Finnegan chose to build their corporate information systems around highly scalable technology solutions from Compaq Computer Corporation.

"Our biggest solution drivers are growth, scalability, up time, reliability and ease-of-management," explains Finnegan. "From a technology perspective, Compaq far and away outstrips the other server offerings in these areas. We chose Compaq as our foundation because of its history as a technology innovator and its extensive e-business knowledge."

Business results:

• Incremental growth strategy preserves capital to launch the business
• Comprehensive management tools allow easy and centralized management of configuration
• Highly reliable and available systems keep e-business open and running 24x7