Jan 25 2008
Gund Teddy Bears
The leading soft toy manufacturer in America is also the oldest. GUND was founded in 1898 in Norwalk, Connecticut by Adolph Gund. GUND was one of the first companies to design and produce teddy bears in the early 1900’s. A young Russian immigrant, Jacob Swedlin, took a modest job at GUND in 1907. Swedlin bought the business in 1925 when Adolph Gund retired. The business was sold to Swedlin for a token sum with the understanding the name would always remain GUND. Jacob passed the company on to his daughter Rita Raiffe and her husband Herbert in 1969.
The Raiffes continued producing high quality plush toys. Under their direction the company began using its under-stuffing technique, the heart of the world’s most huggable plush toys. Bruce Raiffe, Herbert and Rita’s son, joined GUND in 1977, became President in 1993 and Chairman and Chief CEO in 2004. Jim Madison, the first non-founding GUND member, became President in 2004.
GUND has been responsible for the beginning of many innovations, safety standards and manufacturing processes in the toy industry. Swedlin introduced the concept of industry licensing with cartoon characters like Felix the Cat, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Popeye, among others. GUND was also the first to manufacture a musical toy that was modestly priced. GUND has always been devoted to product safety and set an important industry standard by devising a way to attach eyes securely to stuffed animals to prevent them from being pulled out and swallowed by small children.
The famous GOTTA GETTA GUND advertising campaign in the early 80’s made GUND a leading consumer brand. Today the company produces an extensive collection of unique characters and licensed plush toys under the GUND and BABYGUND brands.
25 YEARS OF SNUFFLES.
In 2006 GUND created the 25th Anniversary Snuffles. Snuffles has always been a part of the GUND collection coming in various sizes and colors. The 25th Anniversary edition was created in a pale blush soft fabric with a white crescent moon on his chest. A faux leather tag declaring that he is a 25th Anniversary edition with the words “Celebrate Love With Snuffles” makes this a special gift to give and receive. In addition to the Snuffles Anniversary edition, this cuddly bear is also available in a traditional color of white with a brown embroidered nose and warm deep brown button eyes in four adorable sizes: 6 1/2″, 8″, 10″ and 13 1/2″.
You see the name of GUND on teddy bears everywhere. GUND is the most popular name when it comes to plush, stuffed teddy bears. They have some very unique and interesting teddy bears you can find anywhere. Although you are unable to order teddy bears directly from the factory their web site will direct you to the nearest store or site offering GUND teddy bears for sale
Visit, www.gund.com to see the many teddy bears and teddy bear collections they have to offer. You can find a GUND distributor near you on this website. You just GOTTA GET A GUND!
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Adolph Gund was the founder of Gund. It has been a reputed soft toy manufacturer in America, and has produced teddy bears since the early 1900s. These are also the most common and loved by everyone. On my 20th birthday, I wanted to do something special. So, I got some teddy bears from the wide range at Stuffed Animal Box and distributed them among the children in an orphanage. I was satisfied to have those special teddy bears for the children. Stuffed Animal Box (http://stuffedanimalbox.com/teddybears.html) has a wide collection of teddy bears. I suggest you to visit it, if you are looking for some amazing teddy bears.