How did a former Payless Shoes president turn a failed hunt for Beanie Babies into Build-A-Bear, a $500M+ global empire? Maxine Clark left her Fortune 500 executive role to launch a make-your-own stuffed animal experience that became the reason families visit malls—surviving the mall decline, financial crisis, and proving kids crave participation over possession. Maxine drew on 20+ years of retail experience and vendor relationships from her May Company career to launch Build-A-Bear, proving that deep industry knowledge accelerates entrepreneurship even in unconventional ventures.