How to Start a Personalized Teddy Bear Business

Personalized teddy bears make fun cuddle buddies.

Personalized teddy bears never seem to go out of style. Whether the recipient is a little girl, a college grad or a mom, a personalized teddy bear brings out the warm fuzzies in everyone. A personalized teddy bear business opens a wide range of possible clients. Corporate funded employee baskets, holiday gifts, mail order and teddy bear assembly parties for youngsters are all markets waiting to be tapped. With careful planning and some business know-how, your personalized teddy bear business can thrive.

Things You'll Need

• Inventory
• Location
• Telephone
• Vendors

Instructions

1. Lease or buy a business location. While your Internet business could be done from home, your teddy bear parties will need a professional atmosphere that is decorated to entertain children. Choose a property that is easily accessible by parents, in a safe area.

2. Name the business something that reflects your mission. Examples of a personalized teddy bear business name include; "Stuffed With Love," "Squeezable Buddies," and "Buddy Bears." Do an Internet search to be sure the name you choose is not already in use by a similar business. There are legal ramifications about using a name already claimed by a similar business. Once you have a unique, teddy bear driven name have stationery, business cards and fliers printed up.

3. Prepare the site. Divide the shop into two areas; one for walk in customers and parties, the other for preparing prepaid baskets and Internet orders. The area where the teddy bear birthday parties will be held should be decorated in whimsical colors with lots of windows for natural lighting. The other area can be a desk, chair, phone and work table as long as it is partitioned off from view by customers and children.

4. Develop business relationships with teddy bear vendors that provide a wide array of different bears. Each bear should have a patch on it that can be personalized with permanent marker. Sign on with a vendor for disassembled bears. These will be for the parties. The party guests will be able to choose their bear, choose an outfit, stuff the bear, dress the bear and use colorful magic markers to personalize the bear on the provided patch. Purchase plenty of colored markers and stuffing. Your inventory will be your biggest draw. Be sure to have a wide selection of bears dressed in different vocational outfits, representing different cities, sports teams and states, and bears that are different colors. Set a delivery schedule for inventory to arrive on a weekly basis.

5. Set up the party area with tables, chairs and access to the inventory. This makes it easy for the party guests to select their bears, outfits and accessories. Set up the work area with a long work table and a desk. This is where you will assemble the Internet ordered bears, corporate bear baskets and hospital gifts. Maintain inventory for adults near the workstation. For example, you may have nurse bears, police bears, fire fighter bears, teacher bears and new mother and baby bears. The larger selection you have, the more customers you will be able to service.

6. Advertise your business to preschools, pediatricians, other businesses, corporations and individuals. Build a website that showcases your products, parties and prices. Clearly state the phone number, address and hours of operation on the site and brochures.

References

• Business.gov: 10 Steps to Starting a Business