The Vermont Teddy Bear Company has been in business for over twenty years, making the most adorable stuffed teddies. It was in 1981 that a man named John Sortino had the idea to start up his own teddy bear company. He had been playing with his son's bears, and he noticed that they were not made in the USA. He was surprised by that, since teddy bears originated in America. Teddy bears got their name when Teddy Roosevelt chose not to shoot a bear cub on a hunting trip, even though he had a perfect shot since his comrades had tied the bear up to a tree for him. Sortino started his venture in his wife's sewing room, where he birthed the first four bears: Bearcho, Buffy, Bearazar, and Fuzzy Wuzzy. He began pounding the pavement soon thereafter, peddling a cart at an open-air market in Burlington, Vermont. The business didn’t take off right away, but Sortino persevered because he really believed in his product.
Bear-Grams are a staple of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, and they are what propelled the company into its success. The concept came about when a customer requested that Sortino send her one of the teddy bears. He realized that he could ship the teddy bears. All he needed to do was add shipping and some extras. Today, Bear-Grams are shipped in a decorative box that has an air hole in the side, and a gourmet candy is included along with your bear of choice. Bear-Grams have put the Vermont Teddy Bear Company on the map as a major player in the direct response gift delivery business. The Bear-Grams began in 1984.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company gained its popularity through word of mouth and radio endorsements. They are such an adorable product that it is easy to see why they have been growing ever since their introduction. In 1990, Z-100, a New York City radio station, was the first to endorse the bears on the air, but today over 500 stations in all 50 states endorse the Vermont Bears and Bear-Grams.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company has a factory in Vermont where customers can visit and see the teddy bears being made, from stitch to stuffing to outfitting. They also allow customers to build their own custom teddy bears, or they can go to the Bear Shop and pick out an already-made teddy. There are so many possibilities for teddy bears! You can dress them in a wedding gown, a nurse outfit, a wizard's costume... there are over 100 outfits and accessories to pick from! Whatever the occasion, these make a great gift, and they allow you to add a personal touch, which is always desirable. The bears stand between 15 and 36 inches tall, and most are available in four fur colors: dark chocolate, honey, buttercream, and vanilla!
There is an unconditional lifetime-guarantee on your Vermont Teddy, too! If your teddy bear gets into some trouble, you can send him to the Teddy Bear Hospital to be nursed back to health. If, in the rare but tragic case, your bear is too weak and wounded to recover, they will send you a new teddy bear. This is a company that believes in its product, and once you see the fine craftsmanship and love that goes into each bear, you will understand why. Teddy Bears last longer than flowers or cookies, so they make a great gift for families, and friends, and even corporations.
In 2002, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company began their Big Hero Little Hero Program. The Big Hero Little Hero Program helps police, fireman, and emergency workers to comfort children who have gone through a frightening or traumatic event by providing the child with a Vermont Little Heroes Teddy Bear. The program is funded by the Vermont Teddy Bear Company itself and by donations, and then the teddies are provided to emergency service groups nationwide. The Little Hero Bear is 13" tall, dressed in a Friends-for-Life Little Hero t-shirt.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company also has three sister companies: PajamaGram Company, Calyx and Corolla Flowers, and TastyGram Company. They are all fabulous companies, just like the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, and they all offer excellent quality and customer service.
