Shops where to buy collector bears

[lapousmor]

I suggest we can all post there about selling collector teddy bears...

We could use this thread:
- to report about some shops we visited and we really loved.
- to give addresses and full details of shops where to buy collector teddy bears in our countries.
- ??? please suggest more if you wish...

Not all country have many good teddy bear shops for collectors.
For example, in France we do not have many.

Sugs,
Sophie.

[lapousmor]

I was lucky to spend one full year in England for a job between july 2003 and july 2004.

Before that, i did not know anything about teddy bear collecting and collector bears.

First thing i noticed : English people love teddy bears.
Second thing I noticed : In England, teddy bears are everywhere.

One day in the bus, i noticed a couple of people with a huge box with a teddy bear inside. On the bow it was written "Teddy Bears of Witney shop&museum". So I search on internet and found their website. Then I search their postal address so i could go and visit it.

I invited a friend to come with me and there we went to Witney.
As soon as we saw the shop's window, the magic began.

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6803/dsc001901ab6.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7594/dsc001891hu0.jpg

Once inside, we were hooked by the magic of teddy bears. Teddy bears were everywhere in the shop : old ones as well as new ones. Artist bears were sitting together with fabric bears like Merrythought, Steiff, and so much more.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3062/dscf00291ho7.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7109/dsc001941ou5.jpg

Not only the bears themselves were great, but the staff of the shop was so welcoming! We were offered a cup of tea plus big smiles. Ian Pout, the owner of the shop, is the kindest man ever. He was wearing the greatest ties (with teddy bears on). In that shop, I felt like home, really. The only difference was that i had no teddy bears at home. That day, a little voice told me I finally found what was missing at home. So I went back with my first collector bear.
Then I could not help coming back a few times to that shop and each time I was welcome with a cup of tea and big smiles, and each time I went back with new bears!:p

In addition, they post me their new catalog each year, plus each year they send me a Christmas card signed by the whole staff plus their mascott bear : the great Alfonso himself (I saw him in their shop-museum).

Once back in France, i kept buying my Cheeky bears from them. Merrythought makes exclusive bears for them.

Witney is a lovely little village in Oxfordshire. It has a beautiful market place plus lots of typical old houses.
Plus it has got a few antique shops.
Plus you can find there the most surprising clock workshop : the man in that workshop repares old clocks plus makes very modern/contemporary ones, which he shows/sells in his workshop.

Here is the website link for the teddy bear shop in Witney :
http://www.teddybears.co.uk/

Beary hugs,
Sophie.

[lapousmor]

More photos :

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/1049/dsc001931nb8.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4231/dsc004451nr2.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1031/dscf00261ri7.jpg

Beary hugs,
Sophie.

[gizmobears]

Thanks a Mil for the lovely pictures Sophie...brings back memories when I visited there!
Hugs
Di

[elize]

Sophie , I think it is a great idea if everyone can tell us about a special bear shop that they have visited. Teddy Bears of Witney sounds like one of those wonderful shops with a lot of magic. Sadly, in South-Africa, we do not have such a shop full of magic. Thanks, Elize

[lapousmor]

Thanks a Mil for the lovely pictures Sophie...brings back memories when I visited there!
Hugs
Di


Di, I am so glad i could bring you pleasant memories....

Sophie , I think it is a great idea if everyone can tell us about a special bear shop that they have visited. Teddy Bears of Witney sounds like one of those wonderful shops with a lot of magic. Sadly, in South-Africa, we do not have such a shop full of magic. Thanks, Elize


Elize, I am glad you enjoy the idea!

Plus I am pleased to share with you all these pictures, specialy if you do not have such shop in your country/area.

Elize, if you cannot get magic in your area, we are there to bring it to you! :happy3:

I still have a lot to share on this forum, but not all together! :p

Beary hugs,
Sophie.

[LadyEva]

Thanks for all the pictures of the shop. We don't have a shop like that in my area even though I know there are shops in other areas of the country. I enjoyed looking at all the pictures.

[kitty]

Wow what wonderful pics! I will surely be checking out that shop when we visit England. :)

When I was in India, I used to buy my bears from toy shops and baby shops only. There are tons of shops, even little ones, that sell bears. Gift shops also carry a wide selection of teddy bears. But unfortunately I am yet to find international artist bears there.

Here in UAE, it is pretty much the same as in India - I can find bears from malls and gift shops. But mostly they are manufactured bears. I do not know of a place here that sells artist bears.

I went shopping for a Halloween special teddy bear the other day but was disappointed. But we will go searching for that teddy again next weekend, and hopefully I would get lucky then!

[bobbybaer]

:ashamed: I'm not really sure if shops are the best for someone who looks for artist bears.
Having sold that way and knowing other bearmakers who still do business with stores I think you would be happier to look at bear makers home pages.
OK - it might happen you visit a store and fall in love with a bear but to adopt directely from the artist is another situation.
There are so many HP's and so many lovable artists who are more than pleased to be in contact with their customers.
Often it brings more advantage and fun to be in contact with an artist.:Winking:

[kitty]

I have visited several artist homepages, and everytime I do, I seem to be falling in love with tons of bears! :cute: But usually when shipping is added to the price tag, the bear becomes unaffordable. :( :(

Still, I would very much love to buy direct from an artist. I am in awe of people with such skilled fingers and their creations. If an artist ever decides to be in frequent contact with me, I would be thrilled!

I very much want to visit Europe and come to the various bear fairs. How amazing it would be to meet the artist in person and see all the bears in fur! I am saving up some bear money specially towards a bear fair buying spree!

Love,
Kitty.