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Does anyone offer a stuff a bear add on party option. I am considering adding this. I have found serveral suppliers but not sure if the kids would enjoy stuffing the bear themselves with a hand tool or using a automatic stuffing machine like they do at a build a bear. I was thinking it would be a more fulling experience for the kids stuffing them by hand, but not sure if this program would actually work. Is it a profitable business, using the stuffing machines. These stuffing machine run between 6,0000-9,000. Is anyone getting alot of sales on this additional party option and which method are you using (hand stuff or machine stuff).
Thanks for you r valued input.

who(MFG) have you talked to about stuffing machines?

We're adding it to our indoor play center next week, and I'm planning on putting the machine on rollers so I can take it to our events. Several of our larger bookings have indicated interest in it.

There are two suppliers. www.thebearmill.com and www.teddybearstuffers.com. From what I have read it sounds like the the bear mil has a better product. There are other suppliers like animal land, ect. these are just two that I like because you are not required to buy skins from them also.

We opened a second facility that does the bear stuffing, makeover parties, and WEBKINZ. I wish I had done this before my inflatable place! Less headache, less operating overhead, fewer employees, lower insurance cost, and most importantly...more net profit!

We went with a rainforest/jungle theme in a 2000 sq. ft. retail space (open air mall). This business works best in a retail space due to the high number of walk-in customers. Additionally the gross party revenue is much higher than our inflatable place due to the add-on sales (outfits and accessories).

There are a ton of vendors: Animaland, Teddy Bear Stuffers, Wacky Bear, The Bear Mill, The Bear Factory, etc.

Don't do hand stuffing, it sucks. The kids like the machine and it helps legitimize the $20 retail price of some of our animals ($3.75-$4.50 wholesale).

TBHM , What do you do with webkinz? do you stuff them or just sell them for the kids to take home & sign up?

We sell them. It follows our "Animal" theme. We move about 150 - 200 a week. The only problem is that supply is short and shipping takes forever. Plus, the parent company (Ganz) is starting to force dealers to buy "other" product categories besides WEBKINZ.

Like our stuffable animals, we also sell a full line of clothing and accessories for the WEBKINZ. If someone wants to register their animal in the store, we can do that at our birth certificate computer stations.

I have a party package setup to host WEBKINZ parties, however, the inventory is so scarce, I can't book anything until supply catches up. I've got backorders dating back to December that I'm still waiting for!

[quote:0799c8ffa4="TBHM1"]Don't do hand stuffing, it sucks. The kids like the machine and it helps legitimize the $20 retail price of some of our animals ($3.75-$4.50 wholesale).[/quote:0799c8ffa4]


I'm curious as to if you do any home parties...I haven't purchased a machine...don't have a retail store...but I've done rather well with taking the items to an individual's home for parties...

But I sell it also...I normally sell the idea that its not stuffing your own bear if someone else is doing it and using a machine at that...The kids seem to enjoy making the animals...and it offers an activity for the children at the party to do...

We don't do home parties.

I'm not saying hand stuffing doesn't work, it just isn't as "exciting" for a kid as helping work a big stuffing machine. The kids DO get to help stuff their own animal. They press the pedal to activate the machine and handle putting the wishing star inside of the animal. It's all part of the experience. You can go to any craft store and buy an animal skin and some stuffing. The machine is what sets the concept apart and takes it to another level.

We're getting $200 for a 9 child party then $15 per child above package. The package includes guests choice of any animal, Birth Certificates (done on PC), Carry Home box, make-up & nails for the girls, and a Capri Sun. Outfits add another $12 per guest. Our biggest party yet was 35 kids - Animals and outfits. The final tally was around $1100. Our average party size is 15 guests and they typically last 1.5 hrs.

There are some inflatable centers that have incorporated the animal stuffing concept into their location. I don't have a layout that allows me to add that to our current inflatable facility. The cool thing is that the separate location allows me to be my own competition.

FYI- be careful about operating bear stuffing in a retail location. Two local companies were sued and closed by Build-a-Bear for copyright infringement.

I'm not sure of the exact terms, but I know both tried to fight it and lost.

[quote:8a1a269f6a="Scottie"]FYI- be careful about operating bear stuffing in a retail location. Two local companies were sued and closed by Build-a-Bear for copyright infringement.

I'm not sure of the exact terms, but I know both tried to fight it and lost.[/quote:8a1a269f6a]

Was the name close? If just because they went retail, I mean you can have more than one grocery store....

TBHM1 which stuffer did you go with?

Build A Bear owns several copyrights (the name, some of their signage/slogans, the use of 'hearts' inside the bear). That has nothing to do with running a retail store where you build a stuffed animal. They are also not the only company that is in the biz. Wacky Bear (one of our vendors) in addition to selling you just the inventory, will actually sell you a complete store. Start up ranges from about $40K for a kiosk type location to $100-$140K for a full 2000 sq ft retail store. www.wackybear.com

We use an Animaland stuffer and sell most of their animals/outfits. To broaden our mix, we also buy from every vendor I mentioned in the previous post. Our store's theme is sort of a "Rainforest Cafe" look. i.e. you go into our "jungle" to pick out your animal. There are several other types of stores out there. One of the coolest ones I've seen is teddy town circus in Myrtle Beach www.teddytown.com

I don't know the details, but I do know one of them changed their name from "building buddies" to "Animal Stuffers" and still ended up on the wrong end of the legal battle. But... I don't know the details of what exactly the dispute was, so that's probably not a lot of help.

[quote:082a463906="TBHM1"]Build A Bear owns several copyrights (the name, some of their signage/slogans, the use of 'hearts' inside the bear). That has nothing to do with running a retail store where you build a stuffed animal. They are also not the only company that is in the biz. Wacky Bear (one of our vendors) in addition to selling you just the inventory, will actually sell you a complete store. Start up ranges from about $40K for a kiosk type location to $100-$140K for a full 2000 sq ft retail store. www.wackybear.com

We use an Animaland stuffer and sell most of their animals/outfits. To broaden our mix, we also buy from every vendor I mentioned in the previous post. Our store's theme is sort of a "Rainforest Cafe" look. i.e. you go into our "jungle" to pick out your animal. There are several other types of stores out there. One of the coolest ones I've seen is teddy town circus in Myrtle Beach www.teddytown.com[/quote:082a463906]


I was wondering...do you have a website for your animal party store? do you only offer the stuff your own animal option as a party? It said you do makeup parties also...is that another entire option? It sounds really interesting!

Our bounce facility was our first place, opened in May 05. We opened the animal stuffing store in May of 06 at a separate location across town (small town). We recently remodeled the back half of our store for glamour girl parties (think Libby Lu) and added PC stations for WEBKINZ parties. We also purchased a limo that we use to pick up and drop off the party groups on our premium party packages. The total booking breakdown for each party type is fairly even over the three types.

The animal parties use a stuffing machine. The hand stuffing is WEAK! I charge a lot for our parties. We start at $199 for 8 guests for animals only, drinks, and paper goods but most party tickets end up at around $400-$500 (some have been over $1000 with the outfit add-on sales, limo, catering, and extra guest charges for larger groups). We couldn't get that sort of $$$ if we just sat the kids down at a table full of fluff and put them to work. We also have a custom made light up stage with Guitar Hero and American Idol Karaoke on Playstation set up for all the parties as well as an air hockey table and Fun House mirrors.

Buy the stuffing machine. Otherwise, the party parents can simply go to a craft store and buy some skins and polyfill and do it themselves. You need to give them a full service party that they can't duplicate!

There are a ton of machines to pick from made by several manufacturers. You may even want to go to IAAPA or Fun Expo to see them in person and try them out.

Our website is down as we are changing servers and updating party info/pics over the next few weeks so I don't have a way to direct you thereat the present, sorry.

[quote:c78f9b1e04="TBHM1"]Our bounce facility was our first place, opened in May 05. We opened the animal stuffing store in May of 06 at a separate location across town (small town). We recently remodeled the back half of our store for glamour girl parties (think Libby Lu) and added PC stations for WEBKINZ parties. We also purchased a limo that we use to pick up and drop off the party groups on our premium party packages. The total booking breakdown for each party type is fairly even over the three types.

The animal parties use a stuffing machine. The hand stuffing is WEAK! I charge a lot for our parties. We start at $199 for 8 guests for animals only, drinks, and paper goods but most party tickets end up at around $400-$500 (some have been over $1000 with the outfit add-on sales, limo, catering, and extra guest charges for larger groups). We couldn't get that sort of $$$ if we just sat the kids down at a table full of fluff and put them to work. We also have a custom made light up stage with Guitar Hero and American Idol Karaoke on Playstation set up for all the parties as well as an air hockey table and Fun House mirrors.

Buy the stuffing machine. Otherwise, the party parents can simply go to a craft store and buy some skins and polyfill and do it themselves. You need to give them a full service party that they can't duplicate!

There are a ton of machines to pick from made by several manufacturers. You may even want to go to IAAPA or Fun Expo to see them in person and try them out.

Our website is down as we are changing servers and updating party info/pics over the next few weeks so I don't have a way to direct you thereat the present, sorry.[/quote:c78f9b1e04]

[quote:c78f9b1e04="TBHM1"]Our bounce facility was our first place, opened in May 05. We opened the animal stuffing store in May of 06 at a separate location across town (small town). We recently remodeled the back half of our store for glamour girl parties (think Libby Lu) and added PC stations for WEBKINZ parties. We also purchased a limo that we use to pick up and drop off the party groups on our premium party packages. The total booking breakdown for each party type is fairly even over the three types.

The animal parties use a stuffing machine. The hand stuffing is WEAK! I charge a lot for our parties. We start at $199 for 8 guests for animals only, drinks, and paper goods but most party tickets end up at around $400-$500 (some have been over $1000 with the outfit add-on sales, limo, catering, and extra guest charges for larger groups). We couldn't get that sort of $$$ if we just sat the kids down at a table full of fluff and put them to work. We also have a custom made light up stage with Guitar Hero and American Idol Karaoke on Playstation set up for all the parties as well as an air hockey table and Fun House mirrors.

Buy the stuffing machine. Otherwise, the party parents can simply go to a craft store and buy some skins and polyfill and do it themselves. You need to give them a full service party that they can't duplicate!







Do you like the animal land stuffing machine that you have? I saw several companies that you mentioned sell the machines and I was wondering if you were OK with the animalland one.
There are a ton of machines to pick from made by several manufacturers. You may even want to go to IAAPA or Fun Expo to see them in person and try them out.

Our website is down as we are changing servers and updating party info/pics over the next few weeks so I don't have a way to direct you thereat the present, sorry.[/quote:c78f9b1e04]

I have a machine for sale. We have been doing bears for 5 years and have done will. WE had 2 machines and now only want to offer it using 1 machine. We do good with schools, fall festivals etc.

If you are interested email me and i will send you the details. It is a Teddy Bear Stuffers Machine.

Gregharkins(at)bringingfuntoyou.com

Here is the machine we have for sale.

2001 Teddy Bear Stuffer Machine
52"Lx22"Wx76"H(without deco wheel and bear) 84"H(with deco wheel and bear)
Unit is in Excellent Condition
Paide $14,000.00 new.

This unit fits though all standard doorway and is on high quality wheels.

We have 2 and no longer need them both as we no longer do the fair and arts and crafts shows with them.

I have additional picture if you are interested. Make a reasonable offer and we can discuss it. Looking to move this unit out for new equipment from IAAPA.

[quote:99f9bc274d="GREGHARKINS"]Here is the machine we have for sale.

2001 Teddy Bear Stuffer Machine
52"Lx22"Wx76"H(without deco wheel and bear) 84"H(with deco wheel and bear)
Unit is in Excellent Condition
Paide $14,000.00 new.

This unit fits though all standard doorway and is on high quality wheels.

We have 2 and no longer need them both as we no longer do the fair and arts and crafts shows with them.

I have additional picture if you are interested. Make a reasonable offer and we can discuss it. Looking to move this unit out for new equipment from IAAPA.[/quote:99f9bc274d]


I am not at the point of buying a machine quite yet but when I am I will see if you still have one to sell. thanks for the info!
New Jumper

Do you have a asking price for the machine?

8500.00 is the asking price. But dont hesitate to make and offer.

[quote:64d62c760e="TBHM1"]Our bounce facility was our first place, opened in May 05. We opened the animal stuffing store in May of 06 at a separate location across town (small town). We recently remodeled the back half of our store for glamour girl parties (think Libby Lu) and added PC stations for WEBKINZ parties. We also purchased a limo that we use to pick up and drop off the party groups on our premium party packages. The total booking breakdown for each party type is fairly even over the three types.

The animal parties use a stuffing machine. The hand stuffing is WEAK! I charge a lot for our parties. We start at $199 for 8 guests for animals only, drinks, and paper goods but most party tickets end up at around $400-$500 (some have been over $1000 with the outfit add-on sales, limo, catering, and extra guest charges for larger groups). We couldn't get that sort of $$$ if we just sat the kids down at a table full of fluff and put them to work. We also have a custom made light up stage with Guitar Hero and American Idol Karaoke on Playstation set up for all the parties as well as an air hockey table and Fun House mirrors.

Buy the stuffing machine. Otherwise, the party parents can simply go to a craft store and buy some skins and polyfill and do it themselves. You need to give them a full service party that they can't duplicate!


I was wondering...if you use the animaland animals & machine...are you using their software for birth certificates printed out on the computer? In other words are the birth certificates animaland specific or are you just using a generic birth certificate? I know a lot of the companies sell the software for the certificates but I was not sure if I wanted to go that route or just buy them and the kids fill them out. Guess I was not wanting to buy the computer...are you using one of their computer stations also?
thanks
new jumper

There are a ton of machines to pick from made by several manufacturers. You may even want to go to IAAPA or Fun Expo to see them in person and try them out.

Our website is down as we are changing servers and updating party info/pics over the next few weeks so I don't have a way to direct you thereat the present, sorry.[/quote:64d62c760e]

Are you using a animaland specific birth certificate or just a generic one you made yourself? I know some of the companies sell the software for the birth certificates but I did not know if I wanted to get a computer and all that or just let the kids fill out the certificate themselves. If you have the computer is a station from the company?
New jumper

We have just done a complete inventory on our supplies and I have attached alist of supplies that will be included with the sale of this machine

The retail on these supplies is over 4000.00 so that makes this machine a great deal.

GIve me a call or email me if you are interested, so we can work out a deal.