Inside the Vermont Teddy Bear factory in Shelburne

The iconic company has started making bunnies, foxes, koala bears, elephants and other animals. Next year it’s making a sloth. But Vermont Teddy Bear still puts the bears out front.
vtdigger.org/2019/09/01/makin...

[@hollyridgley734]

I have slept with a teddy bear my whole childhood. My mom got it for me from a charity shop when I was a baby.. I love that teddy bear so much. And it is from Vermont teddy bear company. I loved watching them get made..

[@maxbjork7804]

I got one when i visited an ambulance garagde

[@yvesstarr3563]

Oh, I just had to make sure they didn't install cameras in it.

[@JoeLikesTrains]

Same

[@jewelrybobo]

Very impressed that the CEO is keeping the tradition alive!! He’s been giving back to the community, as the American Heart Bear gives profit proceeds back to the American Heart Association ❤️🧸 Can’t wait to visit the factory in person!

[@nancyhsu5565]

A fun job! If it were practical, I'd move to Vermont just to work there. The CEO looks like a great boss to work for!

[@grandfatherrabbit]

Just letting you know [from a previous employee who worked in all of the departments; excluding the call center] - all of the teddy bears, clothing and accessories, pajamagrams etc - are all made cheaply in China. None of the Vermont Teddybears are made in Vermont or America. I was a tour guide, worked in the retail, back in the art and embroidery department, pajamagrams returns and the preprocessing [fulfillment] area [the factory] for many years. We had to peel all of the 'made in China' stickers off of everything. Each bear you buy, costs about two to five bucks, each made in china. The bear tour you are given, is a staged area. Sure you see ladies and men sewing the bears; but these so-called bears are not completed [they are just redoing the same pattern over and over again]. So yeah, it's a shady-assed business. Use your head people; on average, for example; each major holiday The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. needs to ship out twenty-five-thousand bears [Mothers Day; their biggest seller] each day on that one three-month-block-season [in order to get all of the pre-ordered Mothers Day Teddy Bears shipped on time]. When you make an order online or over the phone; a factory in China is working on the bear's outfit, shoes, etc [bear too] for you. Only the chocolate bear food is made in Burlington, VT [ingredients, not from Vermont either]. Those handful of sewing machines you see on the tour, are only three to four people [who only 'work' off and on during the public store tour-guide hours] - that's it... So yeah, the only sewing machines on the factories premises is what you see in the tour.

[@grandfatherrabbit]

Any stuffed animal; from the Vermont Teddy Bear Co. [all of it's products] are made in China. I am ashamed as a Vermonter myself to learn of this over thirty years ago and found out the in-person evidence myself [with proof] working there. I am no longer scared to finally speak up after all of these years. The public needs to finally know the truth.. Sorry to all who were lied to, in thinking they're are made in Vermont. They used to be... but not when the factory couldn't keep up with the thousands of-bears-demand and money-greed.

[@norawimpenny8056]

Wow that's a lot of write chillllllllllllll

[@cloudyloudly2404]

Now talk about something that isn’t that surprising. That’s the reason why we choose Steiff, at least where their bears and toys are made is only two hours away [by flight] from where they say they are actually being made, Germany.

[@biggreen9845]

Vermont doesn’t claim that ALL their teddy bears are hand-made in the USA. Hand-made in the USA are for their special and limited editions with some non-special limited bears. Hence, the bigger price tag. Everything else is oversea partners either materials(I.e parts of the bear to be then be stuffed in Vermont) or assembled overseas. All you are describing is what they explain anyway in the description for their teddy bears and accessories(with the exception of accessories and outfits for their limited edition bears). If people want hand-made Teddy Bears, all one has to do is just select made in USA. It’s not rocket science. Even Steiff bears are not all made in Germany. The cheaper bears are assembled overseas.

[@biggreen9845]

@@cloudyloudly2404 Except Steiff bears are not ALL hand-made in Germany. The only Steiff bears hand-made in Germany are the bears for collectors, meant to be kept in a box on a shelf, not for children play or cuddles. Everything else, the materials and assemble of the bears is done overseas.

[@robchan3668]

These are great bears, but they really didnt need to zoom in so close on this dudes face.

[@grandfatherrabbit]

Made in China, sadly.

[@CoopyKat]

@Rob Chan I think he's just another greedy person, he makes something that is impressive yes, but to sell it for 20-30 times more than it's worth is sickening. By his face you can tell he eats too well, from all those super over-priced pieces of cloth.

[@lalababy8907]

Omg !! I love Teddy bears .I heard about this place from Taylor's grand adventures. Hes from vermont and told me a out it. Great video

[@stefaniaponitz5738]

Great to see the process!

[@freakshowartz]

I find it amazing that they use plastic for stuffing, personally.

[@zazaegg]

Yeah it’s saving the environment really smart decision

[@stigyanblue1442]

Doll filling has always been made of polyester. Woodwool rots and cant be washed.

[@Brian-gx3rj]

I agree that it's hard to hear "made from plastic" anything but I think this is the other side of a double edged blade. Materials like the stuffing here is creating demand for recycled plastic. A moral conundrum but at least it's not virgin plastic...

[@grandfatherrabbit]

@@stigyanblue1442 How to properly clean a stuffed animal, is not to wash it. haha ... Oh, dear. You brush it with a soft brush and there is a stuffed animal solution you can brush into the fur, to remove any stains and grit that might of got on your teddy bear. :)

[@Rietto]

Nearly all the fake fur used in plush toys is made of plastic, not just the stuffing.

[@debbiesmith6293]

Love this video

[@sunflowercherries7330]

I was so happy when they came out with the Rainbow Pride Bear. Currently saving my money for one :)

[@CoopyKat]

@SunflowerCherries "Saving money" to buy a stuffed animal. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't read it. This is what happens when a greedy person sells super over-priced toys and people buy in to his greed.

[@razorm4527]

500 bucks for a stuff bear?

[@CoopyKat]

@razor m The owner needs that money to fill his pig trough several times a day!

[@sir_donut..]

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 CUTE BEARS :)

[@The_Ai_Studio]

How do I get a hold of the CEO?

[@thegamingdeerfox]

I have a teddy bear. I just noticed its painful for them to exist

[@Chiefab22]

Amazing thanks for sharing

[@shahmeermalik9872]

Amazing

[@thomasplouffe1363]

i remember going to one of those when i was no more then four or five, i still own my bear

[@malacoda_727]

Gyros teddy bear lore

[@finforrester4922]

7 million per week. 7 million *52 =364000000. That’s like 5% of the population

[@Rietto]

You think 100% of the population is in the market for a birthday bear, though?

[@stuffedanimalsdancing6608]

That's Great! I love this! Oh man do we love stuffed animals too! Wow! They are so soft and cuddly! Perfect! Stuffed Animals Dancing!

[@cowgirl9925]

I got my worlds softest teddy bear named teddy bear back from Vermont teddy bear on Wednesday she came by ups because I live in Texas I had to send her back to Vermont teddy bear factory 🏭 because her back got injured and they stitched her back up and sent her back home where she belongs she looks great 😊 I’m going to give her lots of snuggles 🥰 it took them awhile to fix her because it was so close to Christmas 🎄 when I sent her they did a great job with stitching her back up my mom had to call them because the first lost my teddy bear 🧸 my mom made sure they found it and fix her and they sent her home they told me next time before I sent her out I should call them first and make sure that they are not to busy to fix her I guess I will call them first next time I want to send her in to get fixed but she looks great and I’m glad she made it home okay

[@rogerlambert9316]

If I could, Monkey Boy would want to work there. Go, Red Sox!⚾️🧸

[@chaliboy-wf7ol]

let the bears arms and legs rotate

[@ahmatoutman7917]

il y a un truc bio Engels Caribbean, indice. Bert Bert, Johan, des suis un des People’s Pido tu pourras Spider Johannes quoi audio and Any and you and est carré période Rania allô Rania.

[@eileenstehr7680]

I bet these workers “ work differently” when the TV Cameras aren’t there!!

[@Spencer965]

Tomato

[@normandy1140]

I bought some bears for my younger family members, and they absolutely loved them. I am disappointed though that the bears are filled with shredded recycled plastic. Couldn't a more natural filler be used?

[@silentprayers728]

Recycling plastic is good for the environment!

[@normandy1140]

@@silentprayers728 I agree. But I still don't like them in teddy bears.

[@grandfatherrabbit]

The reason why they chose to use it as stuffing for the bears, is so then; One: it makes them look more-environmentally-cool to the public eye. It's a selling gimmick [go-green!] and second: it's cheaper [or just as bad/cheap] to use as stuffing and does not actually help the environment. The 'shredded recycled plastic' is from China [where the bears, accessories, etc are actually made] and a few other countries. -Zero plastic is the solution and organic cotton -stuffing to hemp-stuffing is actually better [for the environment, animals, people's health hugging the bear, etc].. Plus, they could of used a regenerative - sustainable option farm[s] to create their stuffing to boot. ... Just saying; it's pure laziness and greed. Plus, never wash your stuffed animal or place it into a dryer.. They are not designed for it. Simply hand brush it and use a stuffed animal cleaning solution [you gently brush into the fur] - to remove stains and dirt. :)

[@marneymutch390]

@@grandfatherrabbit where can I get such a cleaning solution? Is there a brand name? Tks.

[@CoopyKat]

I was impressed with this process until they announced the price. $600 for a Christmas bear. How many Americans can afford that? To have a business that only appeals to the rich is why our country has headed in the wrong direction for a looooong time!

[@Rietto]

Not like there aren't affordable bears out there, too, though. Variety of price points is not a bad thing.

[@CoopyKat]

@@Rietto GREED is a bad thing.

[@spencer6044]

That’s a limited edition one, which they only make 500 of them. There are also $40 bears

[@chaliboy-wf7ol]

this really killed my childhood

[@hannahm.3606]

Why??,

[@thegamingdeerfox]

My teddy bear can talk :/ Is this normal?

[@chaliboy-wf7ol]

@@thegamingdeerfox definitely not

[@Sasha32659]

I want my teddy bear to be cremated with me when I die 🤗🐻

[@frankl1955]

Over priced crap, seriously. My wife has been collecting for more 20 years and started out when this company was good but as of late I have found the quality vs price to pail in comparison to what is coming out of China. The shipping is atrocious, as of late they have been shipped in the box they come in without a protective box. The customer service is apathetic at best. I tried to a cancel an order 10 minutes after making it but all they could say was “Too bad”. I can’t wait until the company finally get shipped to China, the quality will go up, the price will go down , and if Amazon handles it they will come undamaged.

[@thegamingdeerfox]

AT LEAST THEY MAKE AN EFFORT

[@kkurova9345]

consumers like you are destroying this country

[@grandfatherrabbit]

I can second that as a previous employee, who worked there for years [in all departments; except the call center]. All of the Teddy Bears [everything from the Vermont Teddy Co.] is made in China. It's been this way for many-many-years. Even the chocolate bear food's ingredients [Lake Champlain Chocolates, in Burlington, VT] are not sourced in Vermont. For more than thirty-years and counting; The bears, etc have all been made in China.

[@CoopyKat]

@Frank L If the owner wasn't a greedy pig, they would be cute. But he says he doesn't want to sell $10 bears....meaning what? He wants to sell them for hundreds of dollars so he can have "nice stuff" -- he's gonna need that money for his heart operation if he keeps eating like that.

[@CoopyKat]

@@grandfatherrabbit What a surprise. This guy is a typical greedy American "business man" who is out for his own greedy needs.