Product Designer - Wholesale bei Build-A-Bear, Inc.

The Wholesale Product Designer plays a pivotal role in shaping and expanding our brand presence through wholesale channels. This highly creative role is responsible for developing innovative, commercially viable products that align with our brand’s aesthetic, storytelling themes, and market positioning. With a strong eye for design, elevated taste level, and deep knowledge of the toy & complimentary categories, the designer not only keeps a pulse on what’s trending now—but also helps set the direction for what’s coming next. Their ability to anticipate and influence emerging trends ensures our assortments remain fresh, relevant, and exciting. Working across multiple product lines simultaneously, this role translates ideas into consumer-centric designs that resonate with wholesale partners and support broader business goals.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and present innovative product concepts that reflect brand storytelling, commercial relevance, and appropriateness for wholesale partners.
• Creatively translate brand assets and style guides into product designs tailored to wholesale and commercial needs across plush, toy, and other product extensions to create clear cohesive statements at retail.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including wholesale, merchandising, sourcing, and licensing to ensure product feasibility and alignment with business objectives.
• Research and analyze market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive offerings to inform design direction while anticipating and influencing emerging trends.
• Create detailed sketches, mood boards, and technical drawings to communicate design intent and specifications, inclusive of brand-right mock-ups to inspire partners.
• Develop product style guides that inspire product development and align with business needs, acting as a creative and strategic resource for internal & external partners.
• Participate in product reviews and feedback sessions to refine designs and ensure alignment with brand and partner expectations.
• Support market success by joining commercial teams in partner visits to pitch product lines, gather insights, and deepen understanding of evolving partner needs.

Required Qualifications:

• 3-5 years experience in Toy Design, Product/Industrial Design
• Knowledge of consumer products industry (branding, packaging, design, marketing)
• Experience designing for wholesale or other consumer products categories
• Expert in Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
• Expert ability in rendering design concepts into art form
• Confident presenting creative concepts to internal stakeholders and external partners
• Proficiency with PLM systems & Microsoft Office
• Bachelor’s Degree in Toy Design, Product/Industrial Design, Fashion Design or Graphic Design

Preferred Qualifications:

• 6+ years of experience in related field
• Skilled in working with licensed product and translating brand assets into commercially appropriate designs
• Expert in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & proficient in other areas of Adobe Creative Suite
• Master’s Degree in Toy Design, Product/Industrial Design, Fashion Design or Graphic Design

Behavioral Traits for Success:

• Drive, determined, and self-disciplined approach to consistently achieve results
• Possess a high level of specialized expertise
• Values new ideas and concepts, carefully analyzing and testing them before communication and adoption
• Ensures quality is never compromised
• Thrives in a collaborative working environment with clear expectations
• Prefers a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Proactive and organized with strong time management skills and ability to self-prioritize
• Technical problem-solving and ingenuity while working within approved organizational systems and technology

Working Environment:

• Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs
• Corporate Office located St. Louis, MO
• Hybrid work schedule
• Domestic travel 15-20%

Your Performance Will Be Measured On:

Your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following:

• Consistently aligned designs with brand aesthetic, storytelling, and commercial strategy
• Leadership approval on presented concepts
• Strong wholesale adoption, reflected by line buys and assortment placements
• Effective communication & collaboration with internal cross-functional teams and external partners
• Ability to successfully translate design concepts into market-ready products for wholesale partners
• Creation of on-trend, consumer-centric, and innovative design concepts
• Clarity and accuracy in sketches, mood boards, and technical drawings
• Monitoring of industry and wholesale market trends to ensure product relevance and competitive positioning
• Align with partner expectations to drive market recognition and strengthen assortment strategy
• Wholesale product sales aligned to revenue goals
• Ability to receive and apply feedback
• Stakeholder Feedback

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent an expressed or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter your at-will employment, and Build-A-Bear, Inc. reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as may deem appropriate.