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In 2005 an new company was launched by bear enthusiasts Charlotte "Charlie" and William "Will" Morris. What began as a small dream, has now achieved international acclaim. In less then 4 years they had stormed the market with their lovable, fully jointed characterful bears. Now in 2012 it is a company with global domination in the bear market.

What makes this company so special, is the product that they produce. Each bear is made with as much love and attention to detail as is truly possible. Every bear is fully jointed with it's characteristic wobbly head, and so much charm in their endearing, open faces. They all have different names and are designed completely different from each other, ie size, plush length, texture, colour and pattern as well as type. They wear necklaces, some with buttons, beads and bells as well as the classic ribbon bow. A small selection are Limited Edition plush, making them a must have for the plush collector. They contain beans in their lower parts of their limbs as well as in their bellies not only to give a good "weight" but a good cuddly feel too. (This is the same of the Isabelle Collection too).

Charlie Bears produce not only a plush range but a well established mohair range too - The Isabelle Collection, who's delightful bears are designed by Isabelle Lee, is their Limited Edition mohair and alpaca range. Here you will find bears of enormous distinction and much character some in edition numbers as low as 150!, as well as the ever popular Minimo range, which consists of assorted sets, of between 4 and 7 pieces, that range from 7" - 8.5". Hence the name Minimo! As before, each bear has a different look and different name. This is what has made them very popular. Some collect names of their family and friends, others gift them to those that share the same name. Most just fall in love with them, then one just leads to another! Their popularity is just so overwhelming and continues to grow daily!

Deans Rag Book Company Limited, was founded in 1903 by Henry Samuel Dean, as an off - shoot from Dean & Son Publishing Firm, which specialised in children's books. Here, Henry launched his bright, colour printed, rag/cloth books for children, including in 1908, "Knockout" a printed cloth, cut out teddy bear and rag book. By 1915, he had diversed into producing soft toys and bears. During the 1920's and 30's Deans Rag Book Company Limited, was at the forefront of British Bear manufacturing and production.The company grew in strength and popularity, becoming Deans Childplay Toys Ltd in 1965. In 1972 a merger/buy out with Gwentoys, meant changing names again, to Deans/Gwentoy Group. In 1983 to celebrate Deans 80th anniversary, a commemorative bear was produced. But, by 1990 a name change occurred again, with change of ownership, from a management buy out, they now become, The Deans Company. In 1991 production began using the traditional old patterns of yesteryear, aimed directly at the collectors market. Each piece was produced with a cloth label, showing the Deans Rag Book trademark. This identification is still sewn onto the paw of each piece produced today. 1993 saw Deans celebrate a great triumph - their 100th anniversary, and still going strong! A special anniversary catalogue was produced to commemorate this. 1994 showed the launch of the long awaited Deans Collectors Club.

As is well known, Deans is the longest running British bear manufacturer. They produce some wonderful Limited Edition pieces using the talents of such designers as Chloe Wilson and Barbara Anne Cunningham. They have also ventured into collectable miniatures "Apple Pips" (4" - 5") and the even smaller "Diddly Pip" (3.5"), all named after the many varieties of apple.

Gund was founded in 1898 by Adolph Gund, and is the oldest manufacturer of soft toys in America. Gund is responsible for creating the industry safety standards and manufacturing processes that we still bide by today. 1925 saw Adolph retire and ownership was bought by Sweldin, who became the very first licensor of cartoon characters and produced those of the day - Mickey Mouse, Tigger, Popeye and Felix. The 1980's saw Gund really bloom, becoming one of the 50 most recognised brands in the U.S. Their brand slogan, Gotta Getta Gund, was born out of this time. It is also when they launched their most successful (and what turned them into a household name) polar - like bear "Snuffles". "Snuffles" was available in white, black, pink and tan. He had black eyes, a faux suede nose and a stitch mouth. The Platinum Edition "Snuffles" was white with silver effect. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of "Snuffles", one twice the normal size was produced. On July 1st 2008, Gund was sold to the gift company, Enesco.

Today they still produce and manufacture 1500 products, ranging from Gund Baby, Gund Animals, Gund Bears, Gund Snuffles, Gund Licence (character bears eg Sesame St.) and Gund Holiday (seasonal pieces commemorating Christmas and Easter). They are well known for "understuffing" their products in order to give them a more, squidgy and cuddly soft feel. Gund is also priced slightly higher in the market, due to it's exceptionally high quality, and has become the Gold Standard when compared with other manufacturers.

Hansa was founded some 40 years ago by a German and Austrian management team. Their idea was to help educate the children and people of the world, by introducing them to life-like plush animals, that had as much realistic detail, as artistically possible. "Toys That Teach" was, and still is, the company motto. Since 1972 when this motto came to the fore, Hansa have continued to create what they refer to as "educational teaching products", and now produce some 6000 different species and breeds of animal. Hansa is the only company in the world who is able to do this. Each product is beautifully hand made, using plush that resembles the fur or down of that named animal or bird. Hand painted detail, and artistically applied airbrush enhancement, brings each of these pieces to life independently. No two are the same - just like their real counterparts. Some pieces are formed around a structure giving more stability, poise and the genuine illusion of movement. Each piece comes complete with a mini tag book, that tells you all about your animal of choice, giving informative facts. It is Hansa's hope that in producing these wonderful pieces, it will highlight the need for Animal Conservation, leaning toward Ecological Responsibility, in order to teach the next generation to cherish and care for our fragile, beautiful environment.

The 2nd largest Teddy Bear Company in Germany - Teddy Hermann, was founded in 1907 by Johann Hermann, with his son Bernhard as the foundation, for the now 4th generation run company. Teddy Hermann, is renown for their trademark red seals for their mohair creations. For mohair bears smaller than 20cm, a die cast, brass coloured "medallion" is inserted to either the back of the head or chest. Plush products wear a printed red seal tag.

Teddy Hermann strives for quality and distinction in their products, by keeping to the traditional values that prior generations upheld to, they are still achieving just that. Teddy Hermann is a name synonymous with tradition, reliability, quality and above all - values.

The much coverted Mohair and Alpaca range from Charlie Bears - The Isabelle Collection. These beautifully, enchanting bears have personalities of their own. Each piece is a Limited Edition, some are as low as only 150 available worldwide! Every bear has that comfortable, soft, almost worn in feel, with a good "weight" to them, making them extremely huggable. Only the finest quality alpaca and mohair, has been used, with delicate scissor sculpture, to create that perfect face and muzzle. Artistically applied airbrush enhancement brings individuality, making highlights and emphasising features, in order to create that very personable bear. Firm favourites have proved very popular and tend to sell out before they even reach the shelves! A few names from the past include the phenomenal Cheesecake, Chocolate Fondue, Liberty, Symphony, Furnakerpan and Jolene. Do you think you could pick out the next must-have bear?

JellyCat was first established in 1999, in London. They design, high quality plush animals and bears, in what can only be described, as innovative and on trend. Fans range from birth to the established adult, who will have nothing less!

Their products are in touch with the latest fashions. For example, their Special Edition, collectable, Bashful Bunny Range. Each bunny has a different name and is made from a different type of fabric, colour, pattern and design - mimicking the latest trend of the moment.

Their many ranges include MerryDay, Truffles, and Chimboo to name just a very small few. Their most popular range is the Bashful, with the bunnies being the most purchased thanks to their tactile, silky, smooth ears.

Jelly Kitten is the name of JellyCat's baby range, which is specifically designed with baby in mind. Here you will find, colourful, fun and cheerful designs. Some will jingle, others chirp and even crinkle.

One thing you can be sure of, is that JellyCat will definitely become a firm favourite, and a must-have!

Kelsey Cunningham is the designer and creator of Kaycee Bears. All of her designs are hand - made, with much love and care, exclusively in the UK. All materials sourced, are also exclusively found in the UK.

Each new creation, whether it is a Luxury Plush, Limited Edition Luxury Plush or Limited Edition, High Quality Mohair, is made by hand, with much care and attention to detail, included being finished of with hand painted enhancement, and emphasis on their endearing, soulful eyes. Every creation also has cashmere inner ears and paws, with a coloured round crystal fitted into every left paw.

Kaycee Bears are known for their fabulous, long eared bunnies, characterful and unique bears as well as different animal teddies, such as cats and mice, dogs and elephants.

These artist bears, have certainly found, their very special niche in the market. With a definitive "Kaycee Bears" look!

Established in 1930 in Ironbridge, Shropshire by two spinning mill owners W.G. Holmes and G.H. Laxton, with the assistance of C.J.Rendell (then Production Chief at Chad Valley) and A.C. Janisch (then Head of Sales at J.K. Farnell), Merrythought was born. Here, they had the talent, of two established and experienced business men in the soft toy industry plus the experience and the know-how to weave and create the highest quality mohair for these soft toys.

They were also joined at this time by a designer from Chad Valley, a truly remarkable woman called Florence Upton. (Florence was a deaf - mute and had attended school with the daughter of C.J. Rendell). Using her talent she was able to translate artists drawings into patterns and single handedly designed all 32 patterns for Merrythougts Premier line in 1930. Up until her death in 1949, she was still Chief Designer, and some of her original patterns are still in use today.

After creating the London Gold Range, The Cheekies and the Punkies, and 74 years after first opening their doors, Merrythought closed in 2006. Due to public demand they re-opened again in 2007, albeit on a smaller scale. Focusing on both traditional and collectable teddy bears.

Today Merrythought remains a 4th generation run company, that for 80 years has been hand making toys in England, and is still responsible, for some of "Britain's finest soft toys"

A baby in the soft toys industry, Posh Paws International Ltd, have only been trading for 4 years, yet in this time have achieved much. They specialise in the licensed soft toy production and design. They work with some of the major, influential licence companies in the world including, Disney, Warner Bros and Sony.

They develop ranges and products exclusively for companies such as Tesco, Toys R Us and Clintons to name a few.

A licensed product for those of you who are unsure, is a true manufactured representation (resin figure, doll, character soft toy, poster) of a well known tv or book character (Paddington Bear, The Wombles, Spiderman etc) created by an author, cartoonist, film maker and so on, who has claimed ownership of their fabricated image, by "licensing" it. Therefore, you cannot just use this image without paying a fee, and consulting the licensor.

Rainbow Designs was established in 1971. Based in Hampshire, they specialise in the production and distribution of licensed children's gifts. These range from soft, toy characters, to resin character figures, to pictorial character images on clocks and mugs, to traditional wooden toys, which also sport the same character images. The characters used, are taken from children's books and tv. They produce both traditional Beatrix Potter, through to modern day, Wallace and Gromit.

A licensed product for those of you who are unsure, is a true manufactured representation (resin figure, doll, character soft toy, poster) of a well known tv or book character (Paddington Bear, The Wombles, Spiderman etc) created by an author, cartoonist, film maker and so on, who has claimed ownership of their fabricated image, by "licensing" it. Therefore, you cannot just use this image without paying a fee, and consulting the licensor.

Rainbow Designs continues to grow, and has a large character portfolio.

In 1963, using the market knowledge he gained as a toy sales representative, Russ Berrie begin designing his own products, the first "plush Fuzzy Wuzzies"`reached retailers in 1964. Smiles are guaranteed with every product. Each Russ Berrie Teddy bear and animal preserve memories of life’s milestones.

Born in 1880 in Germany, Steiff is a name synonymous with quality, excellence and high expectation. Founded by polio victim, Apollonia Margarete Steiff, with her head for business and up to any challenge, developed from owning a sewing machine to purchasing and running a Dress Making Factory called the Mail Order Felt Co. It is thanks to her interest in the world around her, and the fact that she was confined to a wheel chair, that magazines were her way of finding new ideas. She copied a fabric pattern form a German magazine, of an elephant pin cushion. This item would become the basis of her new product - soft toys. Business just bloomed, and by 1892 their first catalogue was printed. Family also played a pivotal role, with the help of Margrete's nephews who all worked for the family business at some point, with Richard being the most involved.

Richard began working on what he described as an "irresistible plush bear". This bear was later shipped to the States, intended as a gift for the then President, Theodore Roosevelt, known as Teddy - this is how the name "Teddy Bear" first came about.

Over the years, Steiff have been responsible for producing some of the most beautiful, and converted plush and mohair, animals and bears. Their ranges include Organic Baby to Studio pieces, to Limited Edition Mohair, to plush "Best for Kids". Each piece wears Steiff's trademark "button in the ear" with tag, their proof of standard and achievement. Every piece made by hand, using the same traditions and methods as years before, with the talented artisans passing their talent down through the generations. To some, Steiff is the premier Teddy Bear maker in the World.

In 1986 business man Ty Warner, poured his life savings and mortgaged his home to fund his new business idea - Ty Inc, manufacturing and producing soft toys filled with beans. In 1993 "Beanie Babies" were launched and caused a worldwide phenomenon. The craze was on, with an ever changing range of differing character designs and limited availability. These smooth plush cuddlies were approx 6" tall, with a tummy filled with small beans and came in all sorts of guises. From teddies to horses, to dragons to pigs.

Due to the Limited availability of some of these pieces (especially the first nine), the more popular designs were being sold to individuals for thousands of pounds. It is said that at the height of this craze, Ty earned over £700 million in profits a year.

Although a very private man, Ty Warner is active in financial donations and sponsorships for worthwhile causes.

In 1999, as a marketing ploy that backfired, Ty claimed to be retiring the Beanies. Interest dwindled, causing sales to drop. Thanks to some die-hard fans, it is said that he had a change of heart.

Although the Beanie Babies are not as popular today, some of his new products are. Here are some of Ty's ranges, Beanie Ballz, Licensed Products (Snoopy, Scooby Doo, Spongebob, Dora. etc), Classic Beanie, Beanie Boos, Beanie Buddies, Beanie Eraserz and Baby Ty including Pluffies.