Vermont Teddy Bear News

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company and Vermont Flannel announce retail expansion on  Church Street in Burlington, VT

October 22, 2024, Burlington, VT- Vermont Teddy Bear and Vermont Flannel are excited to announce the opening of a side-by-side retail store at 72 Church Street. At nearly 2,000 square feet, the new location will provide customers the finest selection of handcrafted Vermont Flannel clothing and accessories, the full Vermont Teddy Bear offering including a design studio where visitors can customize the perfect furry friend, as well as a curated selection of STEM toys from ECHO.    

Vermont Flannel currently operates in a smaller location on upper Church Street and the new Vermont Flannel space is expected to open later this year, while Vermont Teddy Bear will open its doors in early 2025. “The Vermont Teddy Bear Company first sold our teddy bears from a cart on Church Street, so this truly feels like coming home,” said Cassandra Clayton, Brand Director of Vermont Teddy Bear.   

“Vermont Flannel celebrated 10 years on Church St. last year,” explained Michelle Vincent, Director of Brand and Merchandising for Vermont Flannel. “We are so proud to continue to be a part of a vibrant marketplace and to partner with Vermont Teddy Bear and ECHO.”

With the shift to the Church Street location, ECHO is excited to refocus its retail energy at ECHO's Museum Toy & Gift Store at 1 College Street. The Tinkering Turtle, a collaborative retail space operated by ECHO and featuring a Vermont Teddy Bear design studio, will close its doors on December 31, 2024. Over the past year, ECHO and Vermont Teddy Bear have enjoyed connecting with our community and bringing imaginative toys and joy to families.  This collection of STEM-inspired toys will be available at the Tinkering Turtle through December 31st and at ECHO’s Museum Toy & Gift Store on an ongoing basis.  

In addition to the curated selection at the new Church Street location, The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, and ECHO are excited to continue our partnership and will announce details of what is next for our STEM-focused collaboration in the near future.  

About Vermont Teddy Bear Co.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company started in 1981 when our founder opened a cart on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont and began selling Teddy Bears that he made in his garage. Over forty years later, our Bears and Stuffed Animals continue to be best friends, a part of the family and beloved heirlooms. Each one of our meticulously-designed, artisan, handcrafted Bears and Stuffed Animals are guaranteed for a lifetime. To learn more about Vermont Teddy Bear visit: www.vermontteddybear.com 

About The Vermont Flannel Company

Vermont Flannel has remained committed to producing high-quality clothing in the United States since 1991. Our company is on a mission to fill the world with comfort and bring the finest flannel clothing to everyone. Yarn-dyed for lasting color, each product is hand cut and sewn to guarantee the finest craftsmanship. Tightly woven to minimize shrinkage, Vermont Flannel clothing looks great and offers the same comfortable fit, wash after wash. Learn more at vermontflannel.com.

About ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is Vermont’s science and nature museum on the Burlington waterfront. The Museum’s mission is to inspire and engage families in the joy of scientific discovery, wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain. Visitors can discover over 100 interactive family experiences, 70 live species, seasonal changing exhibits, and The Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater. ECHO aims to make the world accessible to developing minds in a way that children learn best, through hands-on science play, in Champ Lane, an early childhood exhibit. In Awesome Forces and Engineer It exhibits, visitors of all ages tackle daily engineering challenges at our tinkering bench as well as delight in discovering the forces that have shaped the Lake Champlain Basin. ECHO encourages visitors to view the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and to explore, learn about, and consider opportunities for stewardship. 2024 will mark ECHO’s 30 years of teaching more than 3 million visitors about the role of science in our culture and lives. To learn more about ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, visit: https://www.echovermont.org/

August 5, 2024, Shelburne, Vt. –At Vermont Teddy Bear, we are thrilled to be a part of a heartwarming initiative that has united Vermont’s business community in support of a local hero, young Henry. When For Henry AHC Inc., reached out to us with a heartfelt request to create a special “Henry Bear,” we were honored to contribute to this inspiring cause.

Henry, a courageous 4-year-old Vermonter, faces the daily challenges of a rare genetic neurological condition called Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC). This condition causes him severe seizures, breathing difficulties, and temporary paralysis. Despite the grim prognosis and the lack of a current treatment or cure, Henry’s parents have shown incredible determination by founding For Henry AHC Inc. to seek a groundbreaking treatment for their son and others with similar conditions.

At Vermont Teddy Bear, we recognize the power of community and the impact of hope. We were honored to create a special four-foot Henry Bear, which now proudly represents Henry’s Village. This cherished bear has been dressed in outfits by some of Vermont’s most iconic brands, including Vermont Flannel, Orvis, Johnson Woolen Mill, Skida, Darn Tough, Commando, Simon Pearce, Danforth, Field Company, Stephanie Grace Ceramics, Queen City Dry Goods, and Fourbital Factory. Together, these brands have united to celebrate Henry and support his cause.

Henry Bear serves not only as a mascot but also as a beacon of inspiration, helping to drive local support for the crucial funds needed. To date, For Henry AHC has raised $1.5 million towards the $3 million goal required to develop a treatment for Henry at Boston Children's Hospital with Dr. Tim Yu’s team.

In collaboration with Henry’s Village, we invite the community to join For Henry AHC on August 10th for a special dinner at Snowfarm Vineyard in South Hero from 6-9 pm. This event, celebrating Henry and his village, will feature contributions from beloved Vermont food and beverage sponsors, including Snowfarm Vineyard, Zero Gravity, Whiskey Pig, Jasper Hill Farm, Ben and Jerry’s, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and Roll Away Cafe. The evening will also include an auction, a concert by Kat Wright and her band, flowers from June Farm, and professional photography by Colette Kulig.

We encourage everyone to support Henry’s Village through various means—raising awareness on social media or donating to For Henry AHC. The collective efforts of Henry’s Village are pivotal in advancing Henry’s treatment and making a profound difference in many lives.

For more information on how you can contribute, visit For Henry AHC Inc.'s website.

About Vermont Teddy Bear Company

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company started in 1981 when our founder opened a cart on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont and began selling Teddy Bears that he made in his garage. Forty years later, our Bears continue to be best friends, a part of the family and beloved heirlooms. Each one of our meticulously-designed, artisan, handcrafted Bears is guaranteed for a lifetime. Vermont Teddy Bears make the perfect gifts for men, women and children for any occasion, from Christmas to new babies and everything in between. Located in Shelburne, Vermont, Vermont Teddy Bear creates personalized gifts that have surprised and delighted for 40 years.

About Henry AHC Inc. 

For Henry AHC's mission is to fund research to develop a treatment for Henry and others with AHC.  current focus is funding research to design an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment for Henry and to forge a path for ASOs to be developed for all others with AHC and other similar rare genetic neurological diseases.

Shelburne, VT - April 3rd, 2024 - Owners of the Vermont Flannel Company, purveyors of the world’s coziest flannel shirts, pajama bottoms and accessories, announced today they have acquired the assets of Vermont Teddy Bear, the largest manufacturer of teddy bears in North America.

Shelburne-based Vermont Teddy Bear has delighted customers of all ages with fun, timeless, high-quality teddy bears and other stuffed animals for decades, the majority of which are made on site in Shelburne.

Vermont Flannel CEO, Joe Van Deman, commented, “I’ve been a fan of Vermont Teddy Bear for a long time. The experience here in Shelburne, the quality of the bears and the way the company gives back to the community are all truly amazing. It’s a really special place.”

Bill Shouldice, CEO of Vermont Teddy Bear, added, “I am so thrilled to bring these two iconic Vermont brands together. “Both companies have a rich history of creating warmth, comfort and wonderful memories for locals and visitors to Vermont alike. It makes so much sense for the next chapter of Vermont Teddy Bear.”

Vermont Teddy Bear operates both its factory and flagship retail store in Shelburne. The Vermont Flannel Company has six retail locations across the state of Vermont, two of which operate as production facilities as well, plus two additional retail locations in Maine. Vermont Flannel plans to open a ninth store in Waterbury, Vermont, this summer. The combined company will employ more than 70 in the state of Vermont, with several remote employees in other states.

“What is really fun about both of these companies is that they have created such memorable experiences of something that is uniquely Vermont,” said Van Deman. “You can’t come to Vermont without stopping at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory or taking home a piece of Vermont Flannel with you, and you can’t leave either company’s stores without a warm smile on your face.”

Both companies will continue to operate as standalone brands, but partner together in a variety of ways to expand on each other’s products and offerings. The companies launched two collaborative products this past year, including one of Vermont Teddy Bear’s classic 15” bears wearing a Vermont Flannel button-down shirt.

Simultaneously, the ownership group of Vermont Teddy Bear has also sold the assets of their apparel divisions: Pajamagram, Pajamajeans and the 1 for U to an affiliate of Lionel Capital.

About Vermont Flannel

Vermont Flannel has remained committed to producing high quality clothing in the United States since 1991. Our company is on a mission to fill the world with comfort and bring the finest flannel clothing to everyone. Yarn-dyed for lasting color, each product is hand cut and sewn to guarantee the finest craftsmanship. Tightly woven to minimize shrinkage, Vermont Flannel clothing looks great and offers the same comfortable fit, wash after wash. Learn more at vermontflannel.com.

About Vermont Teddy Bear

Since 1981, Vermont Teddy Bear Company has been producing premium, handmade teddy bears in their Vermont, USA facility. All Bears are guaranteed for life and are stuffed using 100% recycled materials. 

Contact Info

For more information about Vermont Flannel, please visit www.vermontflannel.com or call 800-232-7820.

For more information about Vermont Teddy Bear, please call (800) 829-2327 (BEAR).