Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear. These simplistic names became synonymous with children’s literature back in the 1960’s when Stanley and Janice Berenstain wrote their first book featuring three bears. Bears were easy to draw and since they were both artists wanting to get into the children’s book market, they figured they’d start with a bear family and see where it took them

When it comes to mascots, most of the ones that come to mind right off the bat are those associated with North American sports teams or North American products. Think McDonald’s, M&M’s, the Philly Phanatic, the Energizer Bunny, the Kool Aid Man; the list goes on and on.

Why the Detroit Tigers are called the Tigers is open to a lot of speculation. It could have been that back in the day they wore orange striped socks with their uniforms, or it could be a tribute to a group of cavalrymen from the Detroit area who valiantly fought like tigers during the Civil War.

Perhaps the best known mascot of all time is McDonald’s Ronald McDonald, that clown that is as synonymous with the fast food chain as the Big Mac is. He is an instant link to the restaurant that has served billions across the world and his likeness can be found in comics, in books and in animated series’ alike.

Arguably one of the most recognizable sports mascots of all time is the big furry green creature that goes by the name The Philly Phanatic. He is large, he is green and he loves the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. You can find him at all home games where he entertains the crowd and also at community events where he works in public relations for the team.

Who has a red hat, a blue duffle coat and a battered old suitcase that is full of his favourite breakfast food, marmalade? Why, it’s Paddington bear of course and he, like so many other famous bears got his start in children’s books. He hails from ‘deepest, darkest Peru’ and is found by the Brown family at Paddington Station in London England when they are there to pick up their children from a train.

We all know Winnie the Pooh, that lovable yellow bear in the red shirt that has an affinity for ‘hunny’ and for getting into scrapes along with his band of friends. He, along with Tigger, Owl, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and of course Christopher Robin have many adventures that were first documented in books and later in movies and television shows.

You know Yogi bear, that brown guy with the green tie and cute little hat that goes around with a little bear cub named Boo Boo and tries to steal any ‘pic-a-nic’ basket he can get his hands on. Yes, that Yogi Bear not to be confused with the famous baseball player, Yogi Berra with the very similar name.

We have all seen the devastation that wildfires leave in their wake and footage of the thousands of firefighters that are out trying to fight them. That is today, but back in the era of World War II, able bodied men were out fighting in Europe, which didn’t leave many at home to take on firefighter roles. This is when the United States government knew they had to step in and do something.

When you think of mascots that are forever linked to a brand a few names come to mind. There’s the Kool Aid Man, Ronald McDonald, the Energizer Bunny, the M&M’s and oh yes, Mr. Clean. None of these mascots are real of course– although there have been a few actors over the years who have played Mr. Clean on television commercials—but we all know who they are, and most importantly what they represent.

Mascots are very popular in baseball where the likes of the Philly Phanatic, Mr. Met or Paws can be seen at each of their teams’ home games. Hockey teams have mascots too, though they sometimes aren’t as obvious especially when you think of the Detroit Red Wings and the fact that they have an octopus as a mascot.

Rupert Bear may not be one of the first famous bears that spring to mind, especially not to those of us who grew up in North America, but he is as famous as they come in Britain and has been since the 1920’s when he first appeared. Rupert started out as a comic strip in the Daily Express newspaper back in 1920 and it is still published daily in the same paper, although with different illustrators over the years who have taken to drawing the cute little guy.

Custom plush animals like teddy bears, keychains, pens, water bottles; what all of these have in common is that they can be used to promote your business. While some businesses use television, newspaper or online ads to get their product noticed, there have been many studies that show just how more effective it is to use a promotional product and there are many reasons why.

We are all familiar with the little blue creatures that wear white pants and have the cute little white hats perched on their blue heads. They are, of course Smurfs and although the United States and Canada didn’t embrace them as household names until the early 1980’s they have been around since the 1950’s.

Toys, like with anything are constantly changing to keep up with the times and trends. It is no surprise then that stuffed animals and toys in general are increasingly smarter and more interactive as toy makers are trying to tap in to the smartphone driven society that we live in.

Teddy bears have come a long way from the first renditions that looked like and in fact were modelled after real bears to the plush and cuddly ones that we know and love today. While they have changed in size, shape, plush-ness and personality, the first teddy bears have a certain charm and most certainly a history that make them something collectors all over the world clamour for.

In the olden days, long before the teddy bears and stuffed animals of today made an appearance, little girls played with dolls that were handmade by their parents. Mom would use fabric scraps or straw to stuff the body that she would craft of fabric and make little dresses with other odds of material so the doll could have clothes.

When you are creating a custom plush figure, whether it be a teddy bear, an iguana, a moose, a giraffe or just something completely out of your imagination, you get to choose colours and fabrics that will bring your idea to life. Why not go that extra step further and get your creation ‘dressed’ for the occasion with accessories?

You have your idea. On paper. Now all you need is for that idea to become a sample plush toy that you can hold, squeeze and inspect before you place your order. How does what you see in a picture turn into something tactile, soft and fun for all? Enter the Project Manager—the person that will see you through the entire process of creating a custom plush toy just how you envision it to be.

With all sorts of ready-made products just waiting to be bought in numerous stores, why create a custom plush for your next book launch or fundraising campaign? The answer lies in the word ‘custom’ by allowing you to create something unique, especially designed for your needs and built to your strict guidelines.