Toy Information » Stuffed Animals

Gund Contributions to the Stuffed toy Industry

ToyBusiness — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:01:36 +0000

Gund Incorporated has been making stuffed toys since the 1800s. It has grown into a host of related companies. The conglomerate includes All Plush, Inc, Teddy Bears USA, Hugg-A-Planet and Got Bears. Today Gund sells over 1500 products including Gund, Baby Gund, Gund Bear, Gund Snuffles teddy bears, and Gund Holiday. Gund is known for under-stuffing their products to make them softer than competing teddy bears.

The company became extremely successful with the launch of Snuffles, a polar like bear with black eyes, suede nose and a sewn thread mouth. It has been 25 years in the market and this was celebrated with the introduction of a giant Snuffles, twice the size of the original. Although Gund products are more expensive than competition, they are patronized for their quality. After all, Gund created many of the industry standards in the manufacture of soft toys. Especially important are safety standards in the manufacturing process.

Remembering Departed Loved Ones in a Special Way

ToyBusiness — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 23:24:00 +0000

Some teddy bears are special in that they are made from a person’s personal clothing or personal effects. Memory bears have been known to be made from a departed loved one’s clothing. Some are made from antique blankets handed down by grandparents to a grandchild. These items are special to the people left behind. They serve as reminder of times when they were still enjoying their company.

Memory bears may not look like any you will find in the stores. But every time you see it, you will be reminded of your lost loved one. If you have someone that you miss so much, look for something that belonged to her – a pair of jeans, a sweater or a shawl. Bring it to someone who makes customized bears. You will be glad that you did. You will be glad that there is something to remember her by.

The Joy with a Teddy Bear

ToyBusiness — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:32:27 +0000

Teddy bears have been around for a long time. They have become a staple of childhood toys and they hold a spot in all of our hearts. The beauty of it is that teddy bears have come in all shapes and sizes, various colors and personalities. Books have been written about various teddy bears and stories have been told. Some teddy bears have even made it onto the movie and TV screen.

But perhaps the teddy bears that deserve the most recognition are those that live with us. A teddy bear can bring comfort to a sick or scared child and they can bring a smile to our day. If you do not have a special teddy bear in your life you are missing out on a comforting friend that wants nothing more than to see you happy.

Huggable, Customized Gifts

ToyBusiness — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:00:40 +0000

Personalized teddy bears are great for gift giving. You can order custom teddy bear to fit the personality of the person you are giving it to. There are many ways to do it. Order a bear designed according to his occupation. Is he a doctor, a pilot or a truck driver? You can also request for a design that will celebrate his favorite sport. Is he into boxing, karate or horseback riding? The recipient will be happy that you took the time and effort to look for something that is truly him.

No matter what the theme, customized bears are always soft and cuddly. Because they are made of high quality materials, they make long lasting gifts. They are so easy to order. Choose from the catalogue or make your own specifications. Whichever way you choose, your gift will arrive lying in tissue paper in a signature box, ready to be hugged.

Choose Quality Teddy Bears

ToyBusiness — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:41:27 +0000

There is no doubt that this is the best loved stuffed toy ever. They are soft and cuddly; it is not surprising that kids easily fall in love with the teddy bear. Also, they have different personalities so that kids can have lots of them and still want more. Children give their teddy bear names, talk to them and consider them as their very best friend. No wonder, it is so difficult to part with teddy bears, no matter how shabby and ugly they have become.

That is why it is always a good idea to buy quality stuffed toys. Look for names such as Gund, Russ, Wild Republic, and Steiff. They are names associated with quality stuffed toys including teddy bears. With these names on the label you can be sure that the materials used are safe. The craftsmanship will be superior. It will be a stuffed teddy bear that will outlive the owner’s childhood.

The Most Cuddly Toy of All

ToyBusiness — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:08:05 +0000

Working in a toy store should be fun. You get to play the latest toys and you deal with kids. However not everyone is cut out to handle kids. Working in a toy store isn’t all about playing and having fun. You might be in charge of inventory and therefore will wind up keeping track of all the stuffed animals.

If you’re familiar with stuffed animals then you know that there are tons of them in toy stores. Kids love stuffed animals. They play with them. Grab them, squeeze them, hug them and even throw them. Stuffed animals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some are soft and cuddly while others are stiff and heavy.

Hansa toys

ToyBusiness — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:40:40 +0000

Hansa animals are not your regular stuffed animals that you pick out from the shelves of Wal-Mart. They are a collection of individually hand-crafted animals. Each has a unique personality that is patterned after portraits of real animals. This gives them an extremely realistic look. Hansa is known for their close to nature reproduction of animals from all over the world.

Hansa toys are crafted from exclusively manufactured fabrics for use in their custom designs. They create animal toys for children with the special feature of teaching about the habitat, lifestyle and habits of the particular animal. They also manufacture life-sized pieces that are suitable as mascots for sport teams, special events and schools. Hansa animals are great collector’s items. They are also sought after by designers and decorators.

plush cat

ToyBusiness — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:32:19 +0000

Toy manufacturers continuously find new ideas to create for items that children will enjoy. Stuffed animals are always the top priority on the list, and right now, plush cats are making a wave. With real looking whiskers and adorable expressions, children find a plush cat one of the favorite choices. These stuffed toys come close to the colors of their real counterparts and even more. And toy manufacturers make it a point that their fur has the same look and feel as those of a real cat.

Like all plush toys, some parents find these as safer companions for small children compared to the real animal. Plush cats may start as an introduction to the real cat or other animals so as to eliminate fear. It will also help eliminate any possible introduction of allergens to very young children. Toys like these plush animals will always be a staple in any child’s room. Their ability to become companions when real pets cannot be possible, make them more non-expendable.

custom teddy bear

ToyBusiness — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:14:52 +0000

Teddy bears have been very popular to kids and adults since the early 1900s. Its name was taken after Theodore Roosevelt who’s had a famous incident on a bear hunt. These toys have gone through several transformations and improvements and custom teddy bear is now considered very popular. This is typically hand-made making each piece unique. Its design is patterned after your specification.

Custom teddy bear is so personalized that you can even express your own personality through this. You can even have your name on its back and probably a date for a special occasion on his foot. Your sister’s facial expression can also be reflected if that’s what you prefer. You may also request that it be made out of your high school uniform so you could remember your younger years. Truly, your imagination is the limit when it comes to designs!

plush animals

ToyBusiness — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:19:47 +0000

Many kids love to play with stuffed toys. These things are, after all, made to be hugged and cuddled which inevitably leads to them becoming dirty. There are several ways of cleaning stuffed toys and plush animals. First, start by checking the tag from the manufacturer as it may have cleaning instructions.

If no instructions are attached, remove all accessories and clothes which you can wash separately, if needed. Place the plush toy in a lingerie bag and use cold or warm water setting on your washing machine. Put in one or two clean towels to balance the load during the spin cycles and provide cushioning. Add a little detergent. After washing, place the stuffed toy in the drier using one of the cooler temperature settings. The purpose is to dry the toy fast enough so it doesn’t develop mildew but slow enough so it doesn’t get damaged by too much heat and motion.