The Question That Saved My Company from Bankruptcy | Sharon Price John | TED (Level 1)

In 2013, the Build-A-Bear company was in big trouble. It was losing a lot of money, and many stores were not successful. A new boss named Sharon came to save the business. At first, she wanted to close stores and cut costs. However, the workers were unhappy and afraid. They thought she would destroy the special feeling of the company. Sharon realized that Build-A-Bear was not just a toy store. It was a place where children made memories. The most important part was the "heart ceremony," where kids made a wish on a small heart and put it inside their bear. Sharon decided to change her plan. She focused on the company's purpose: adding heart to life. This new idea worked very well. They opened stores in fun places like amusement parks and cruise ships. They also started selling bears to teenagers and adults. The company became profitable again. Sharon learned that to be successful in business, you must care about people and listen to your heart.