Today is a day that represents friendship, smiles, and fun. This is because it's National Teddy Bear Day. Did you have a favorite teddy bear as a child? Do you think teddy bears help sell products? Which famous teddy bears can you name?
Teddy bears were first manufactured in Europe and America in the early 1900s. American toy bears were named Teddy, in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who, as the story goes, refused to shoot a small captured bear on a hunting trip in 1902. Morris Michtom, a New York toy shop owner, heard the story and gave stuffed toy bear toys the name "Teddy" in honor of Roosevelt, and the name stuck. Simultaneously in 1902, Richard Steiff of German toymaker Steiff designed the first jointed teddy bear, and in 1903, he introduced a mohair bear that was shown at the Leipzig Toy Fair, which helped launch the teddy bear as an international toy phenomenon. In the early 1900s, businesses used the teddy bear's popularity in ads for soap and food, boosting sales by associating with the toy's charm. And in 1997, Maxine Clark opened the first Build-A-Bear Workshop in Missouri in the St. Louis Galleria by pioneering a retail experience where guests design and build personalized teddy bears.
Many teddy bears have become famous over the years, including Paddington Bear, Fozzie Bear from the Muppets, and Winnie-the-Pooh. On September 9th, we pay tribute to this amazing childhood toy, which has stood the test of time.
According to Kim Utlaut, Chief Brand Officer of Build-A-Bear, "The love for a teddy bear is truly universal. Across generations and life experiences, childhood furry friends continue to hold deep meaning well into adulthood. National Teddy Bear Day is the perfect moment to celebrate the feeling that only a furry friend can provide."
In 2025, Build-A-Bear conducted a survey of over 3,500 participants on its Instagram channel, "Despite today's increasingly tech-focused world, teddy bears remain a source of comfort, connection, and lasting memories even as we grow older. Nearly 100 percent of respondents believe teddy bears are for all ages, not just kids, and an overwhelming 92 percent still own their favorite childhood stuffed animal."
SHARE THIS: In a world where everyone seems to be larger and louder, it's very comforting to have a small, quiet companion. ~Peter Gray #NationalTeddyBearDay #Friendship #DebbieLaskeysBlog
And now, let's pivot to marketing and check out some other famous teddy bear brands:
VERMONT TEDDY BEAR COMPANY
Many companies design and sell teddy bears, but how many also provide a lifetime guarantee? Well, Vermont Teddy Bear Company not only provides a lifetime guarantee but also staffs a teddy bear hospital for repairs, also referred to as "health check-ups." According to the brand's website, "Our story started in 1981 when our founder opened a cart on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont, and began selling Teddy Bears that he made in his garage. Over 40 years later, our Bears continue to be best friends, a part of the family and beloved heirlooms. Each one of our meticulously-designed, artisan, handcrafted Bears is guaranteed for a lifetime. Vermont Teddy Bears make the perfect gifts for men, women, and children for any occasion. From our highly-skilled Stichers to our Bear Ambassadors in the Bear shop to our Marketing team — everyone here knows that a Bear is so much more than a Bear, it's a way to say 'I Love You.'"
PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL
The Guardian reported, "Marmalade bagels at the ready: London's Paddington Bear musical is to open on Broadway next spring. The phenomenally successful show, which won seven prizes at the Olivier awards, will begin performances on 30 March (2027) at the Al Hirschfeld theatre in New York, currently home to Moulin Rouge! The Musical. It's a long way from 32 Windsor Gardens, where the clumsy but lovable bear from Peru is taken in by the Brown family and (eventually) wins over the whole neighbourhood. The show, based on Michael Bond's 1958 book "A Bear Called Paddington" and the 2014 film adaptation, opened in London at the end of last year to many five-star reviews."
CARE BEARS
According to Wikipedia, "Care Bears are a group of colorful, magical bear characters created in 1981 by Elena Kucharik for American Greetings, best known for their unique belly badges and the iconic Care Bear Stare."
A special collaboration between Care Bears and Universal Products & Experiences celebrated the movie "WICKED" with the release of a special-edition collection available for a limited time at major retailers including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. The "Care Bears x Wicked 2-Pack" included "Love-a-Lot Bear" dressed as Glinda with crown and dress and "Good Luck Bear" dressed as Elphaba with hat and cape.
GUND
GUND is the oldest manufacturer of soft toys in America and one of the first companies to produce a teddy bear in the early 1900s. Here's an interesting fact about the company: In 1972, Herbert Raiffe led GUND during the 1970s by expanding product offerings to include exotic animals. His vision had GUND selling panda bears as President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972, igniting Panda-mania across the USA.
WINNIE-THE-POOH'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY
The BBC reported, "Winnie-the-Pooh was first featured in the short story "The Wrong Sort of Bees" published in the London Evening News on December 24th, 1925. The bear soon became loved world-wide, alongside Tigger and Christopher Robin." On December 22nd, 2025, The Walt Disney Company unveiled the official Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary logo to kick off celebrations for 2026. This milestone marked 100 years since the character's debut on December 24th, 1925. The anniversary logo features Pooh Bear alongside an iconic red balloon with "100 Years" text. As part of the year-long celebration, Winnie-the-Pooh received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 11th, 2026.
SHARE THIS: Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon. ~Winnie-the-Pooh #NationalTeddyBearDay #WinniethePooh100Years #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog
TEDDY BEAR THIEVES AT THE LOUVRE?
Following the surprising news of the Louvre break-in and robbery in October 2025, the Cafe Saint Honore (in Paris, France) shared a post on Instagram of two teddy bears wearing red French beret hats climbing on the Louvre Museum's triangle as if THEY were the thieves. Then in a second post, they shared a cover page of Le Parisien newspaper with the following story, "Breaking News: The Heist of the Century? Priceless pieces stolen from the world's most famous museum. The suspects were seen yesterday, their whereabouts are still unknown. Some people claim to have seen them drinking tea at Cafe Saint Honore and acting suspicious. We're sure the bears at Cafe Saint Honore could only steal smiles."
SHARE THIS: A person who loves or collects teddy bears is an ARCTOPHILE, which is derived from the Greek words for "arcto" (bear) and "phile" (lover). #FunFact #NationalTeddyBearDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog
And did you know that there are other teddy bear holidays?
(1) July 10th is Teddy Bear Picnic Day: This holiday is based on a song entitled, "The Teddy Bears' Picnic," that was first written in 1907 with lyrics added in 1930. Different artists have recorded the song including Henry Hall in 1932; Bing Crosby in 1950; and Anne Murray in 1977.
(2) October 14th is Bring Your Teddy Bear to School and Work Day: This holiday was designed so that children and adults have the opportunity to bring their much-loved cuddly friend to school or work with them.
(3) November 14th is National American Teddy Bear Day: This holiday was established in honor of American President Theodore Roosevelt and his impact on the toy that "bears" his name.
As these brands and holidays demonstrate, a teddy bear can definitely be a bestie. Happy National Teddy Bear Day!
Image Credits: Toy Insider (Care Bears) and Cafe Saint Honore (Paris, France).
Read Build-A-Bear's press release about its survey:
Check out the histories of some teddy bear brands:
https://corporate.steiff.com/en/steiff-teddy/history/
and
https://beargarden.co.uk/pages/history-of-steiff-bears
and
https://gund.com/pages/history
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