All About Merrythoguht Bears
With a Merrythought bear, you are not just getting your standard crafted toy. You are getting a piece of British design heritage. This is a company who stand out from the rest: they really are like time capsule, left entirely preserved as the world around them changes. It is for this reason that they have been much written about and reported on, they featured in the a few ITV series including Ade in Britain.
Merrythought famously still uses traditional methods and materials in its teddy bear craft. They only produce a limited range of hand crafted bears every year, and so these bears are much sought after. This has been the way since 1930, when the company was founded. They have a following all over the world, with there being for instance a passionate cult following for the brand in Japan.
Regarding their place in British society, Merrythought have been given many prestigious contracts, making commemorative bears for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, for the London Olympics, and for the Queen's Diamond and Platinum Jubilees. Not only that, but they have also won many awards for their unparalleled level of quality. These acclamations include the Supplier Award from the famous department store Fortnum & Mason, and the prestigious National Red Ribbon Family Business Award for Innovation. Indicated by that award, one of the things that makes the company stand out is not just its longevity and its high standards but the fact that it has remained a family business.
Where are Merrythought bears made?
Merrythought was founded in Ironbridge, Shropshire in 1930, and they remain there to this day. Starting out just in the way that they have proceeded till today, Merrythought began in 1930 making beautiful handmade teddy bears. This was a time when it was more common for handmade toy business to thrive, and so they did. However, When in the 1970s competition from overseas meant that handmade production in the UK was being undercut by mass production elsewhere, many of these British toy companies folded.
Merrythought were one of the few to make it through, and this comes down to the fact they did not try to change their operation to mirror the developments of mass production, but instead stuck to their high end, handmade, artisanal craft. If you visit their HQ in Ironbridge today, you will see the same scene that you would have seen at their foundation, with minimal signs of modernised change.
This is why the Merrythought premises are so much a part of the company's allure, with many people visiting the workshop today to get a sense of this slice of history in the present day. This is the site where each iconic bear is handmade from scratch using traditional materials such as natural mohair and alpaca plush. The handmade process means that no two bears are the same. What you will get is a unique piece of craft just for you. This handcrafted toymaking takes place in their original HQ in Ironbridge to this day, a fact which seems to fly in the face of all the forces of mass production which have meant that so many companies have had to shift from their roots. Merrythought's company headquarters is the oldest and last remaining teddy bear factory in operation in Britain.
How to identify Merrythought bears
Merrythought, then, are the quintessential English toymaking company, and their bears are extremely valuable because of that. The range today consists of traditional bears which come in a wide range of shades, from coffee and caramel to gold and chocolate. Although the range has expanded, there is not much different about the way that the bears are crafted now in comparison to 100 years ago, aside from the addition of a mechanised stuffing machine! As well as the traditional teddy style, you will now also see Merrythought teddies come in panda costumes, royal garb, Christmassy outfits, and many other styles.
There are also lots of animals to choose from, including bunnies, foxes, monkeys and more. Plus, you can even purchase mini Merrythought teddy bear keyrings to keep a slice of their magic and charm with you at all times! With that said, despite the growing range, there are certain key characteristics which make the Merrythought bear inimitable, such as the wishbone style logo. The label tends to be embroidered onto the bottom of one of the feet, but can also appear on the leg. Thankfully, when you are purchasing one from us, you will have the assurance that you have the real deal!
How much are Merrythought bears worth?
Merrythought bears, for all the reasons above, tend to be very valuable. Vintage bears from their 1930s ranges, if still in good condition, have been known to go for up to thousands of pounds. Of course, not many people will be likely to be in possession of one of the bears from the 1930s. However, if you purchase a Merrythought bear now, you can be pretty confident that the value will only increase. These bears are therefore a great investment for collectors as well as beautiful pieces of toymaking art to be cherished.
Do Merrythought bears increase in value?
If you think about it, the historical significance of this company is only going to heighten. If it is already pretty incredible that there is a 100 year old toymaking workshop operating in a completely authentic and preserved fashion today, then this will only be more incredible in twenty years, thirty years, fifties years and onwards. The fact that Merrythought have made it through many difficult periods and remained the same esteemed high-end company as they always were is also a sign that they have a strong future, no matter what changes in the market happen. If you consider all the changes to production and selling that have been seen from 1930 to today, there is a strong argument to be made that Merrythought can make it through anything. The great thing about these products too is that each bear is made to exacting standards and so it will be quite achievable to keep your bear in good condition for decades. This of course is not just a benefit for its monetary value, but also for the fact that it means that the bear can be passed down a family for generations.