History Teddy-Hermann

1 history

1.1 founding
1.2 years
1.3 move hirschaid
1.4 new leadership

history
founding

be-ha quality germany, later renamed teddy-hermann, founded in 1912 in sonneberg, germany, bernhard hermann, had spent several years working father johann in family business of crafting children’s violins , later toys. “be-ha” part of company name derived pronunciation of bernhard hermann’s initials. during first years of operation, company produced first plush toys.

early years

bernhard hermann’s wife ida managed be-ha quality germany when former conscripted german army fight in world war i. loss of labor , expertise company suffered result of bernhard hermann’s absence compounded shortage of materials during wartime. though bernhard hermann survived war , returned run company, be-ha quality germany continued face great adversity, in form of hyperinflation. while bernhard hermann’s company did not go out of business result of economic hardship, many other toy producers in sonneberg did. 1 reason persistence of be-ha quality germany commitment quality, craftsmanship of other companies’ products sank during period.

during 1920s, be-ha quality germany produced teddy bears , other plush toys such dogs. @ same time company made stuffed dolls typical of toy industry of sonneberg, so-called “mama dolls,” had porcelain heads. during 1920s bernhard hermann developed close business relations international toy retailers, including fao schwarz, woolworth, knickerbocker, , galeries lafayette. these contacts profited be-ha quality germany, making 1920s company’s “golden years.”

the golden years @ be-ha quality germany came decisive end great depression , start of world war ii. great depression bad company because of sharp decline in purchasing of toys , other such goods. bernhard hermann overcame in part contracting toy distributors in switzerland, had been less affected great depression other western countries, though sales continued suffer. rise of nazis , advent of world war ii led new restrictions on be-ha quality germany’s operations, though company able increase sales during late 1930s, selling products exclusively in foreign markets in accordance new german law.

in 1930s, be-ha quality germany began alter appearance of bears, employing so-called “sonneberger schnitt” (“sonneberg cut”), involved separation , reattaching of teddy bear snouts allow mixing , matching of snout , body fabrics. company began give teddy bears more childlike appearance, giving toys larger eyes , placing them closer center of face.

move hirschaid

after soviet occupation of eastern germany, bernhard hermann selected hirschaid in american occupied zone new site of company avoid dispossession east german communist provisional government. in 1948 bernhard hermann sent son werner hirschaid develop company’s presence @ new location. 1953 hermann family had managed flee west germany , completed company’s move, reconstituting “teddy plüschspielwarenfabrik gebr. hermann kg.”

from time after relocation until end of 1950s, teddy-hermann experienced enormous growth, owing in part so-called west german wirtschaftswunder, , adopted branding “hermann teddy original,” borne on newly introduced teddy-seal brand. during period company produced many 500,000 plush toys year , began introducing many new series of plush animals, including squirrels, dogs, rabbits, pandas, penguins, , horses. after bernhard hermann’s death in 1959 , sons helmut, arthur, , werner’s assumption of leadership, company continued grow , issue new series of toys throughout 1960s. throughout these 2 decades, importance of teddy-hermann’s domestic market overshadowed of international one. company’s growth stemmed in 1970s inflation , competition east asian imports, caused prices of teddy-hermann’s products rise , in turn decline in sales. in response decline, company reduced workforce , eliminated 1 of production facilities.

new leadership

in 1980s , 1990s company came under leadership of arthur , werner hermann’s daughters, margit drolshagen, marion mehling, , traudel mischner, , began develop current 3 lines of plush toys. growing market collectors in united states , united kingdom in 1980s led creation of gebrüder hermann fan club. collectors’ interest in teddy-hermann products remained high throughout 1990s in united states, @ peak of popularity there on 250 teddy-hermann dealers. in 1991 company became limited company, adopting name “gebr. hermann gmbh & co. kg”; later, company adopted name “teddy-hermann gmbh.” in order keep prices low children’s teddy bear market, teddy-hermann introduced in 1990 hermann teddy 2000 line, later renamed hermann teddy collection, products manufactured in east asia. in mid-1990s company introduced hermann teddy miniaturen line. in 2000 teddy-hermann introduced teddy-hermann collectors’ club.