Shelburne, VT—February 3, 2005—The Vermont Teddy Bear Company today announced that its Crazy for You Bear has sold out, and that it will stand by its original plan to discontinue the Valentine's Day bear. The Company committed weeks ago, when the controversy first broke, that it would no longer manufacture the bear, but would continue to sell inventory prepared in advance for this year’s holiday. The Company also took steps to minimize promotion of the teddy bear and removed it from its Valentine’s Day radio advertising campaign that is scheduled to continue through February 12th.
Vermont Teddy Bear Company President and CEO, Elisabeth Robert stated, "The Crazy Bear campaign has come to its conclusion. This bear was not intended to diminish the serious nature of mental illness in any way and was meant to convey the sentiment of love at Valentine’s Day".
Robert met with the Vermont chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and other local mental health advocates on Tuesday evening. Robert stated, "We sat around a Vermont kitchen table and talked. From the respectful, human discourse I learned a lot about the significance of stigma in the mental health community and the plight of real people who suffer from mental illness. Again, we are truly sorry if we hurt anyone with this bear. We sincerely hope that the dialog with the mental health advocates can progress so that we can all continue to learn."
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is the largest hand-crafter of teddy bears in North America. A creative alternative to sending flowers, each Bear-Gram gift includes a customized hand crafted teddy bear with a personal greeting card and candy treat, all packaged in a colorful gift box with air hole and game printed on the inside.
Ordering a Bear-Gram is fast and easy. Customers can order with a five-minute phone call to 1-800-829-BEAR where a friendly Bear Counselor® assists with the selection and personalization, or on the Internet at www.VermontTeddyBear.com. Bear-Gram orders received by 5 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time) or 4 P.M. on the Internet can be delivered to the doorstep within 24 hours if requested.
