TEDDY bears are bringing in the big bucks at a Rhos-on-Sea business.

Soft toy company Be My Bear has been nominated for two top national awards for their concept of customisable Make A Bear cuddly toys and children’s party activities based around the idea.

The company was set up by journalist Pippa Thomas and teacher Jane Weaver in 2001, and has grown into a major  distribution chain with more than 300 outlets selling their wares across the UK.

It has been shorlisted as one of 50 out of 200,000 businesses eligible for the Fast Growth 50 awards and has been nominated as one of the best children’s party businesses in the country by parenting website Netmums.com.

Pippa said: “Children make their own bears and we give them lots of things to personalise and customise them the way they want to.

“It was an idea that was around in the US in about 2001 and we realised that it hadn’t been picked up here.

“We literally started out working from a kitchen table at home and now we’ve expanded to where we are now, so we’ve developed ourselves quite quickly.”

The Be My Bear essentials kit gives kids cuddly toy skin, stuffing, accessories, birth certificate and a carry bag to bring their creations to life.

The company’s two unrelated nominations arrived within a few weeks of one another.

The Fast Growth 50 award recognises the company’s rapid growth from a two-person enterprise in Rhos on Sea, and the Netmums nomination, voted for by the public, was in recognition of its appeal with children across the UK.

Jane said: “It was when we started selling bear kits on the Internet that things really took off and revolutionised our business.

“It’s been absolutely incredible; e-commerce has been a turning point for us – the website is our shop front, our window to the market.”

To vote for be my bear, visit www.Netmums.com.
Voting closes on August 23.