... Infact, I still have all of the stuffed animals I had when I was born! So you can imagine my delight at walking into the Hamley's store during the festive season a few years back and finding a factory full of bears! Yes, it is the unmistakable Bear Factory, which puts the fun back into buying ... Read review
Advantages: A cute cuddly friend, a great shopping experience Disadvantages: It can be expensive
...Yes, it is the unmistakable Bear Factory, which puts the fun back into buying stuffed toys! "It's just for kids" I can hear you scream, but you would be pleasantly surprised…
*** The Store ***
The first Bear Factory opened inside Hamley's in London, and they are now nationwide available on most large high streets. It's not like Clintons, or other retailers where you buy a bear 'off the rack', The Bear Factory ... ...bear you want, fill it with stuffing, give it a heart and voice, and then dress it in pretty clothes!
The shop itself is easy to find with a huge blue logo on the outside. Inside a huge gold noisy machine dominates the store, this being the stuffing machine. In this area you will also find members of staff stitching the bears, and helping customers. The rest of the store has a modern feel with wood paneling, several shelves and racks ... more
Being the big kid that I am, I love teddies. Infact, I still have all of the stuffed animals I had when I was born! So you can imagine my delight at walking into the Hamley's store during the festive season a few years back and finding a factory full of bears! Yes, it is the unmistakable Bear Factory, which puts the fun back into buying stuffed toys! "It's just for kids" I can hear you scream, but you would be pleasantly surprised…
*** The Store ***
The first Bear Factory opened inside Hamley's in London, and they are now nationwide available on most large high streets. It's not like Clintons, or other retailers where you buy a bear 'off the rack', The Bear Factory offers a truly unique experience in that you select the bear you want, fill it with stuffing, give it a heart and voice, and then dress it in pretty clothes!
The shop itself is easy to find with a huge blue logo on the outside. Inside a huge gold noisy machine dominates the store, this being the stuffing machine. In this area you will also find members of staff stitching the bears, and helping customers. The rest of the store has a modern feel with wood paneling, several shelves and racks filled with clothes and accessories for the bears.
~ Choosing a bear The bears are located around the front area of the store in baskets. There's a large selection, including the traditional kind, and other animals such as monkey's and sheep. They measure roughly one foot from head to toe, and prices range from £9.99 onwards. You can even get baby bears for £4.99! Once you have chosen your new friend, you head to the stuffing machine (if you have just the skin) to bring him or her to life. Before stuffing, you can add a voice box to your bear! They come in a bark, moo, meow, 'I Love you', etc or you can record your own voice with a message. I chose a moo just because I thought it was funny :) These are located next to the stuffing machine and cost £3.99.
~ Stuffing This is the best bit! The machine is operated by a member of staff who stuffs the bear for your personal needs; firm, cuddly, or soft. I chose cuddly, and the stuffing proceeded! White bits of fibre starts pumping around a large pipe, which runs around the shop, and into the bear. The sales assistant then asks you to pick a silky heart, give it a kiss, make a wish, and then sows the bear up, ready for you to take home. It's then time to give your bear a name! The friendly sales assistants direct you to a book of girls and boys names and make some suggestions if you're completely stuck, but more often than not you will most probably have a name already chosen. You then have to fill out a birth certificate which had mine and the bears name, and where your bear was born! My bear is called Carlos. He says hello to everyone!
~ Dressing It's about now that you'll realise your new bear is naked! So it's time to go shopping! As I mentioned earlier, it is just like a real clothes store with shorts, T-shirts, dresses, shoes, hats and even glasses! They are like babies clothes, maybe just a little smaller and each outfit will fit any bear. I have bought Carlos a dressing gown, a smart shirt, trousers, tie, bunny slippers, and a denim jacket. He's a funky bear! You can also buy the bears wedding/part outfits, even seasonal fancy dress such as a Santa Claus suit! The clothing varies in price but a full outfit can cost anything between £15 - £20 with accessories. I prefer to visit during the sale as you can purchase a t-shit for as little as £1.50. The clothes are of excellent quality, and can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle.
*** Payment process ***
So you have selected an entire new wardrobe for your bear, so now's the time to give the bank a shock and pay for it all. The sales assistant will offer you a pet carrier (it's not exactly Louis Vuitton, it's a cardboard box with a hole in the back and front to pop your bears' head through so they can breathe!) Cash, cheques and all major credit cards are accepted. You can also get a loyalty card, which is stamped with bear prints for every £10 you spend. When you fill the card you get a freebie!
*** A word of warning ***
They may look like the perfect gift for young children, however, Bear Factory do not recommend the bears for under threes. And if the bear itself becomes a little grubby, it is not recommendable to wash it at all. I've had my bear for 3 years and it is still as good as new!
*** Customer Service ***
I am a strong believer in good customer service, and I can honestly say that Bear Factory staff have some of the best customer service staff on the highstreet. Everytime I have been in the store there has always been a member of staff on hand to greet me, and ask if I need assistance in due course.
*** Bear Factory online ***
Although I strongly recommend buying a bear from the shop, you can avoid the Christmas rush by purchasing online. Although I have never done this myself, it looks very straightforward, with charges being £3.50 per bear if sent into Europe or £6.50 if sent abroad. There are many outfits to chose from, some of which may not be available in your local store.
*** Summary ***
Buying a bear from the Bear Factory is more than just buying a cuddly toy…it is a complete interactive experience, made wonderful by the extremely helpful staff, where you select and create your own unique friend, by giving them a name, a voice, and some clothes. It is the perfect place to take a child and buy them a gift, or just to take yourself! While it can be expensive if you buy numerous outfits, I guarantee you will leave with a smile every time!
*** Contacts ***
Head Office Address: 2 Fouberts Place, Off Regent Street London W1F 7PA Telephone: 020 7479 7393 Fax: 020 7479 7319 Email: bfenquiries@bearfactory.co.uk
For your nearest store, please visit: www.bearfactory.co.uk
Advantages: Have just what you want made up there and then Disadvantages: Expensive
...the weekend – only the Bear Factory at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre that’s where! I did manage not to buy anything, as I do have a houseful of bears and they were quite expensive, but I just had to tell you about them!
This is an amazing shop where you get your very own bear made and dressed just for you.
There are eight stages to this procedure so here we go……
Stage one – Choose your furry friend.
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... ...living! The answer ‘I’m a bear stuffer and sewer up’ must be quite a conversation stopper!
Stage five – They fluff him for you.
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Now if the stuffing bit brought the tears to his little teddy eyes the fluffing bit will bring a big smile to his face! His fur is fluffed up with a warm blast from a hair dryer (ooer missus!) and there he is – your new friend.
Stage six – ...
SusanLesley 18.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bear Factory (Shop)
Advantages: Lovely personal gift! Disadvantages: None that I can think of..
The Bear Factory..
********************
My own experience of this amazing shop.. My daughter and I were visiting my mam one day and my auntie was there too.. She was telling us of her other niece who had been given a gift of a bear factory teddy bear, she went on to describe the various items of clothing you could get for the bear to wear, and also how you choose the bear and actually have It "stuffed" while you are at the shop.
Well we were curious, ... ...way..
We chose a bear that we liked; they have no stuffing in and a slit in their back ready for the body to be sorted. We then went to the machine to have him stuffed.. They asked If we wanted Him to be firm or cuddly, Robbie chose cuddly so that was what the lady did, The machine itself has a tube that runs all around the shop ad you can see the fibre flowing through the pipes as the operation takes place so to speak, You then take It to the next ...
cabsookie 03.10.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bear Factory (Shop)
Advantages: Novel, great ranges of clothing & bears, Genuinely sweet Disadvantages: Expensive, Stores are few and far between, Girl bears look like Trannies!!!
...you've never heard of the Bear Factory, then you're fortunate, as it's a very addictive thing. Although we had a store open in my local shopping centre a couple of years ago, I'd never really had occasion to purchase a teddy bear. Until my parents-in-law decided to leave the country to live in Spain and I wanted to get them something 'British' to take with them as a reminder of us - preferably something that looked like it cost a lot so they wouldn't ... ...sure I'd remembered seeing a bear in there with a Beefeater outfit on. As we walked into the store, I noticed that there were literally barrel upon barrel of unstuffed bears and things, kitties, pigs, at least two types of bear, two types of dog it was reminiscent of a scene from Noahs ark with two types of every animal..... There was also a display of ready-stuffed bears - same things, just ready if you're in a rush. (Although why you'd be in a ...
Fishbulb 02.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bear Factory (Shop)
Advantages: You are able to create the soft toy of you dreams Disadvantages: No Elephants
...the chance. Just visit the Bear Factory. It allows the customer to create their very own bears or cat or dog... oh just come along for a look. The shop in Peterborough Queens Gate Centre is fun. This is my local store. The assistants are friendly and helpful and there is even a guest book by the door, so you can even write your own opinion! The Bear Factory is a unique shop, which allows the customer to create his or her own soft toy. The assistants ... ...a guided tour of the bear making process. I prefer to visit the store during the week, simply because it is quieter and there are fewer children there too. This is a handy tip if you are planning to give a toy for a child
The Toy Factory has outlets in Hamley’s of Regent Street, Milton Keynes, Southampton and Bristol. The Toy Factory has recently purchased the Toy Stack group of shops, so eight more outlets are also opening very soon. **What makes ...
wulise 23.05.2001 (03.03.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bear Factory (Shop)
Advantages: Great gifts that will never be forgotten Disadvantages: Might be a little pricey.
...live in Nottingham.
The bear factory......A speciality store where you can buy all kinds of teddybears and soft toys.....Oh, but it is so much more than that.Let me give you a guided tour.
I have to tell you first of all that I collect teddybears and so this store is a delight for me, but even if these furry little cuddlies are not your thing there is plenty of fun to be had in this shop.
In the doorway to the shop is a huge great big bear,man ... ...and I pull out the bear that I have decided to buy.
Typical. Trust me to pull out the only broken teddy in the box. This one is no good it has no stuffing. I put it back and delve for another.Another reject. I am getting annoyed now, all these bears and I can't find one that works.
"Excuse me madam, is everything ok?"
A store assistant, dressed the same as the huge teddy that greeted us at the door of the shop, is standing beside me with a really ...
MandyMinx 17.04.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bear Factory (Shop)
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Advantages: Cute furry friend, Great gift. Disadvantages: Cna get expensive.
The Reason i am writing this review is because this shop (Build a bear) Has taken over all stores from the BearFactory and i felt i should point this out in case anyone was wondering where the Bearfactory had gone or not gone if you know what i mean.
Build a bear is similar to The bearfactory which sold Bears that you could buy in the shop, stuff and dress. Bear a bearshops now have a wider selection of bears/Animals to buy these include Teddy's, Pooh Bear, Hello Kitty, puppies, cats, koala, bunny's, monkeys, cow giraffe (These are all the ones i remember seeing on my visit last week). Build a bear is always bringing out new ones so keep an eye out. You can also get some limited editions. Our collection includes limited edition pudsey bear, Giraffe, Dog and Teddy. I am waiting to see if they will get a piggy one, going to make ...
Advantages: Undercover shopping, Modern, Mix of Designer Shops and High-Street Fashion. Disadvantages: Can Get Very Crowded on Weekends, You Have to Walk a Long Way Round to Go Up or Down to Next Level, Can get Quite Hot in Shops.
shops such as:
Gap
Waterstones (books)
Waitrose (supermarket)
Habitat
Natural World
Pumpkin Patch (children clothes)
French Connection
Karen Millen
Oasis
Kew
Gamleys (toy shop)
BearFactory (you can chose a bear to be made for you)
Of course there are many more shops in West Quay, please take a look at there website www.west-quay.co.uk
***GOOD POINTS***
Undercover shopping so you don't get wet in bad weather.
A good selection of shops.
There are more shops outside West Quay on the highstreet such as Topshop, Primark, Miss Selfridge, TK Maxx (about 5 minute walk). Plus there are two other undercover shopping centres within minutes of West Quay....(Marlands and Bargate). Marlands contains shops such as West One, Mark One and Bay Trading. Bargate contains more unusual shops and a place where you can have your ...
Advantages: Good Fun, Origional Disadvantages: Expencive, The workers look like idiots
A build a bear recently opened in my local shopping centre I already have 3 bears from the bearfactory and I enjoy dressing them up once in a while.
When I first went into the bearfactory I found the uniforms to be horrible and I dont work there so god knows how the workers go on its a blue butten up shirt with some wierd material and brown trousers yes they stand out but only because you have been laughing about them the whole way arounf the store.
So the genral idea of the build a bear is that you buy a unstuffed bear (The bears range from prices of £8 to £18) and you can stuff it put a sound in it (optional and annoying) put a heart in it, stitch it up and buy items for it.
Personally I think dressing them is the best bit Build a Bear defernatly has a bigger range of chlothing for the bears and chlothing ranges from a skirt ...
