 |
 The
New Bear Era: Stuff it Yourself and Prosper
By Timothy Dickey
July 2002
Bear
Factory's Bear House |
Imagine
how fun this would be if you were eight: It’s your birthday party,
and you’re all wound up on cake and soda, running around and having
a ball. Then a handsome gent dressed up like a cowboy walks into
the yard, pulling a brightly colored little house with a teddy bear
on top.
Kids start to gather around. You notice the cowboy has a little
display rack of what looks like deflated teddy bears, and another
display of little bear clothes and things.
You’re first, so he calls you up and asks you to pick out one
of the “bear skins”. You get to choose what characteristics
you want your bear to possess-courage, loyalty, curiosity--and then
wave a wand over everything to make it stick.
The cowboy says, “Grab the stuffing for your bear, pardner,
and put it into that there space.” When that’s done, he
starts the machine up and holds your bear skin gently over a slender
metal nozzle.
Teddy
Bear Stuffer's Stuffer |
The
little bear on top of the house busily turns his tiny crank, making
all the colored gears on the side spin around. This, of course,
makes the stuffing move through the machine, and soon your bear
skin begins to fill up
In no time, your new little friend comes to life. A brand new teddy
bear made just for you! Kids clamor around, each wanting to be next
as the cowboy zips teddy up in back, and you pick out some clothes
from the mini-wardrobe…
Teddy Evolves
Bye-bye ball pits, and so long Castle Bounce-a-Lot. The hot
new birthday novelty--and mall stand--may be a teddy bear-stuffing
machine in the shape of a mini train or cute little bear house.
Manned
by some enterprising person who knows how to turn about $5 of materials
into $15 of profit, a new, lighter breed of stuffing machine has
moved out of the inline mall store and into fairgrounds, flea markets
and backyard parties. (cont.)
Next
A
Stuff-Your-Own Retailer tells his story: Click
Here...
Want
to see more Teddy Bear Products? Click
Here...
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