Not been around much lately but hoping to get back into the swing of things soon x
Not been around much lately but hoping to get back into the swing of things soon x
Member since:27.03.2004
Reviews:20
Members who trust:3
The Bear Factory is a great idea for a store but also a bit of a rip off at the same time. Saying that, i still am a proud owner of one of their bears!!! I do believe that if you are going to own a teddy bear, be it just one, then you should get a bear factory bear as they are the best. Upon entering the store you are greeted by loads of different stalls, each containing a teddy bear without its stuffing. There is quite a good selection to choose from ranging from dogs, monkeys, bears ect The prices of selecting your bears "skin", as it is refered to, ranges from £8.99 for a tiny one, up to £15.99. I chose a "skin" which was £12.99. After this selection you take it to the workshop at the back of the store to get made. The worker gives you three choices on how you want the bear to be stuffed ( soft, medium and hard). I chose the medium stuffing. The bear is then placed over a maching to be filled. While waiting for this, the worker presented me with a book of names to call my bear and a slip of paper to fill out. The paper included details such as height, wight, place of birth and name. After the bear was filled, it has to be stitched. The worker picked up a fabric heart and told me to kiss it. After doing so he placed this inside the bear and stitched it up. There is also an option to record a personal message and place inside the bear for an added £3.99. I didnt do this, but do know a girl who was proposed to this way!! Once the bear is stitched, there are extras such as giving the bear an outfit. There are loads of outfits and accessories to choose from ranging from passports, glasses, ballerina outfits, doctors, soldiers etc. I chose the outfit of a guardsman as that is what my husband is. The outfit cost another £11.99. You can then take the bear to the dressing tables at the back of the store and dress it. You even get to keep the coat hanger, as you can buy a wardrobe and drawers for your bear if you buy lots of clothes. After dressing the bear you take it to the till to pay for it and recieve your birth certificate, which details were filled out earlier. The bear can then be put insiside a plastic bag or placed inside a cardboard dog carrier!! I chose the latter for another £1.99. Altogether my bear cost me £27, which is rather steep considering its size. The main costs occur if you want to dress your bear, otherwise the bear would only have ended up costing me £13, which is reasonable for its size. The reason i chose to get the optional extras as i was only going to get one bear so i thought id make it special for me. The notion of this shop is very "girly" and is a great idea to see the bear created in front of you, but somewhat expensive if you fall for the optional extras. Great store altogether and good idea for kids, newborn babies and girlfriends.
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Sounds a great place for a special gift but could get very expensive with all the extras.
Lancashire_Angel 10.05.2004 20:03
I have had this recommended to me before although I am not really a bear kind of person and prefer cuddly animals. It sounds a really nice idea for special gifts although I do think £27 is a bit steep for a toy bear.
xalala 10.05.2004 16:22
These are expensive, but cute! I got one from San Diego, CA, when we were there a couple of years ago, and so did the other half! (Ballerina and Biggles Bear, they are).
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.
HannahBoo 21.02.2006 (21.02.2006)
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Review of West Quay - Southampton
May 10th, 2004
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