Here we are in early August at the birthplace of the teddy bear in Giengen an der Brenz, in southern Germany. It was here that Margarete Steiff invented - by accident, as so often happens - the cuddly toy, and founded the eponymous brand in 1880 with her nephew, Richard, driven by the idea that 'only the best will do for our children'. A guiding principle that has enabled the brand to provide cuddly friends to girls and boys the world over, crafted with the utmost care. We were dying to meet the managers of this cult brand and discover the secret to its longstanding success and its future development plans. We were not disappointed!
Margarete Steiff invented the cuddly toy and founded the eponymous brand in 1880 with her nephew, Richard, driven by the idea that 'only the best will do for our children'.
Steiff is the oldest cuddly toy manufacturer in the world, enthralling children past and present. Many models are still crafted in the historic workshops we visited. Instantly recognisable by their softness and identifiable by the button in their ear - the famous 'Knopf im Ohr' - Steiff toys are made from high quality materials such as mohair and alpaca, with constant attention to quality, safety and durability. The fact that they are made almost entirely by hand, based on true craftsmanship, gives them their unique, personal expression, helping the child to adopt their new friend and form a lifelong bond.
How many models has the brand created in over 135 years? Difficult to say exactly, but we were amazed to visit the Steiff museum, opened in 2005, and get an idea of the vastness of the collection. The magical world of Steiff and the beautifully presented visit really brought out the little girls in us: we met the first ever Teddy, rode a giant unicorn and an elephant from the 1001 nights, and played on a snake slide (we really did!).
What a great way to start a working meeting! We can't wait to go back ;)