The bear Factory is definitely a novelty, whch first time I saw it about 7 years ago, I was amazed and thought it wwas the coolest thing ever. But as I have grown up I lost interest in the store. It really is a fantastic toy shop though that sells strictly teddy bears, or should I say the components of what might become a bear. You get the skin of a bear, or a horse, a cow, a dragon and even a tiger, then you choose a filling, Your next ted then gets fluffed up, and you need to pick some clothes. You can even get it a heart! And a little voice box that you can leave a message on. Great gift just for the ability to personalise that bit more than anything else gives you the option to do.
Steph T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 North Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
Don’t know what to get your wee cousin for Xmas? Your big sister on her graduation? A get well gift for a friend in hospital? New baby? Build a bear is what you want! You can stuff the bear, or animal, of your choice with fluff from this big fluff churning machine, and even put a wee voice or noise inside of it. You can even record a personal message! After that, you can choose to dress it in anything you want, and there is loads! I got a brown bear and dressed it in a wee red t shirt and slippers for a friend’s little girl at Xmas. She loved it! You have to go through the rigmarole of registering it and stuff at a computer in the shop, which is a hassle but cute when the wee bear certificate pops out. Great for a gift for all occasions, and a good wee experience to make it even more special.
Steven B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Glasgow, United Kingdom
It’s awesome that places like this exist when you have big name stores like Borders and Woolworths disappearing. It sells one thing and one thing only. and it’s not bears. it’s PERSONALISED bears. That’s the selling point, you can make them from scratch. It’s also a fun experience to be fair, which almost justifies the cost. It could be an obese Teddy called Agnes or a size zero model Teddy called Taylor or whatever you want. Finite, yet seemingly boundless potential. Even if someone turned around with the same size bear with the same clothes and everything, you could say ‘Mines is called Toodles though’ or Trevor, Ian, Nigel, whatever. There’s different clothing you can buy as well in much the same way as with Barbie. Teddie’s need to stay trendy as well y’know.
Adele R.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Glasgow, United Kingdom
Your first encounter with this place will probably be the overexcited smiley staff trying to tempt you inside by waving at you manically with a teddy bear. Despite the incredibly cheerful and annoying staff, this place is actually pretty good for novelty gifts that you can have customized to your specifications. Fun for kids and big kids alike, you get to choose which bear you want, plus a little outfit to dress it up with. You then watch it being stuffed and they put its very own wee red heart inside which is a nice touch. An excellent place to go for gifts that you can personalise to suit the receiver, which often makes for some comical results.
Nicola B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Glasgow, United Kingdom
Build a Bear — formerly known as The Bear Factory — has been a Buchanan Galleries staple for several years now. It’s not exactly aimed at my age group, but is an absolute riot when handled with care. I’m sure you all understand the premise by now — choose a furry companion, maybe dress him/her up with a wee costume, record a message to put in its voicebox, have ‘em stuffed, and voila! My friends and I ventured in here and purchased a rather fetching purple-clad zebra for a friend of ours. Our message of choice was a rendition of the Creedence Clearwater Revival(but, more importantly, covered by Tina Turner). Needless to say, we probably made quite a show of ourselves, but it was fun while it lasted! Bears may be for kids, but this place is even more fun for adults.
Darryl R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Glasgow, United Kingdom
There’s not really much else to say about ‘Build a Bear’ that Liz hasn’t already covered, so I’ll try and sum it all up. You build a bear. Literally from scratch(bar the making of the clothes, stuffing, and animal, obviously). You can put a voicebox in it(with a pre, or own recorded message). You can choose the animal. You can even choose which outfit you want. Then you take it home and love it(oh yes, you will love your bear). Example? My friend built a charming bear and named it ‘Cecil’. ‘Cecil’ was chosen a lovely outfit, which scarily reminded me of the biker character out of the Village People(hat included). Cecil, unbeknownst to me, had been given a voicebox which, when activated yowled«Ooooo not so rough!» in the campest voice I have ever heard. A good choice for a bear? Yes. Sadly, Cecil belongs to my friend so I can only go and visit every so often. Sad, sad times people.
Liz K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Glasgow, United Kingdom
I’m sure most of you know the idea here. You choose a wee bear and build it up from scratch. You can put a voicebox and record your message. Personally, I’d go for a really gruff, neddy«YERMAW» at volume. Then you take it to the quite terrifying stuffing machine, where it is manhandled into place and blasted with stuffing. Now here’s the really cute bit: you pick a wee heart, make a wish and put it in the bear to «bring it to life». Then he’s sewn up and you get to make his birth certificate. A name along the lines of «Senga» might be one suggestion. Finally you dress it in a combination of expensive clothes and accessories, anything from a simple dress, to a Superman costume. The whole shop smacks of money-grabbing, but it honestly is cute and great for little kids. It warms my ickle heart until I get to the till.