The Beary Best History Ever Told
Let’s Start from the Beginning
Once upon a time in the cozy town of Burlington, Vermont, there lived a dad named John Sortino. One sunny day in 1981, John noticed something beary important—his son had thirty-eight stuffed animals, but not a single one was made in the USA!
“My son had 38 stuffed animals, not one of which was made in the U.S. So, I made him one…”
He stitched together the very first Vermont Teddy Bear right in his garage—and guess what? His son loved it. So did his family. And his neighbors. And pretty soon, everyone wanted a Bear just like it! That summer, John set up a little cart on Church Street and sold 200 handmade Bears. The first one ever? Inspired by John’s favorite comedian, his name was Bearcho—a Bear with a flair for making people smile.
Bear-Grams Take Over the USA
By 1984, Bearcho wasn’t alone. We introduced the Bear-Gram—a soft, snuggly Teddy Bear delivered in a special box, complete with a personalized card. Now anyone, anywhere in the country, could send a hug by mail!
We also made our Bears even better—jointed arms and legs, ultra-soft fur, and a closet full of cute outfits for birthdays, holidays, and just-because days. From a tiny cart to coast-to-coast cuddles, Vermont Teddy Bear kept growing—all thanks to you, the thoughtful gift-givers.
We didn’t stop with Bears. In 2010, we supersized the snuggles with giant Teddy Bears—3 to 4 feet of fluffy fun! By 2016, our crew grew even wilder...
...introducing all sorts of huggable creatures from far-off lands and cozy corners of the imagination.
Whether you’re gifting a giant cuddle buddy or an heirloom-quality treasure, there’s something magical (and huggable!) waiting for you.
