Teddy Bear And Friends Magazine Celebrates Steiff Anniversaries

By: Jackie Stansbury

Teddy Bear and Friends magazine marked two significant milestones honoring Steiff, the venerable German manufacturer of high-quality bears and plush animals on its 125th anniversary. The creators of the Festival of Steiff, Beth and Ben Savino of The Toy Store, also were commended on the 20th consecutive festival. Boston, MA (PRWEB) October 28, 2005 -- Although every Steiff event is special to teddy bear collectors and enthusiasts around the world, this year%26#8217;s Festival of Steiff was particularly noteworthy. Teddy Bear and Friends magazine was honored to mark two significant milestones at the convention, which was held in Plymouth, Mass., on Sept. 23-25. The venerable German manufacturer of high-quality bears and plush animals is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. And the creators of the Festival of Steiff, Beth and Ben Savino of The Toy Store, marked the 20th consecutive year of the festival%26#8217;s existence. Teddy Bear and Friends Publisher Susan Fitzgerald and Editorial Director Joan Lynch presented two awards at the Saturday night gala dinner. Richard A. Hussmanns, Managing Director of The Steiff Holding Co. and Margarete Steiff GmbH, who traveled from the company%26#8217;s headquarters in Germany to attend this special convention, accepted the first commemorative plaque from Fitzgerald, who said, %26#8220;The teddy bear continues to be one of the most popular toys in the world today, due in no small part to the expertise and creativity that Steiff has always been famous for. We at Teddy Bear and Friends, along with the entire community of collectors and toy lovers, congratulate the Steiff company and wish them many more years of bringing joy to children and adults alike.%26#8221; Next, the Savinos, owners of the Toy Store in Toledo, Ohio, accepted a plaque for their dedication: %26#8220;We applaud the efforts of Beth and Ben Savino, who founded the Festival of Steiff and who, for 20 years, have worked tirelessly to bring together teddy bear lovers and collectors from around the world. We wish them many more years of continued success,%26#8221; said Fitzgerald. In addition to the Mr. Hussmanns, several other dignitaries from the German company were in attendance, including Dietmar Simon, Chief Design Director, who spoke eloquently about the aesthetics of bear design and signed autographs for collectors; Dick Frantz, Steiff archivist and historian, who appraised pieces and offered collecting advise; and Claire Steiff Meisel, granddaughter of Richard Steiff, the creator of the world%26#8217;s first teddy bear. Jim Pitocco, President Steiff NA, Rick Emerson, Marketing Director, Rebekah Kaufmann, Marketing Manager, Steiff North America, and Chuck Steffes, Steiff Consultant, Steiff North America, also made the trip to commemorate the landmarks. Teddy Bear and Friends magazine is published by Madavor Media, LLC, a market-leading, rapidly growing enthusiast publishing company with a strong base in crafts and collectibles titles and sports magazines. Other publications and electronic products include International Figure Skating, Volleyball, Women%26#8217;s Basketball, Doll Reader, and Dollhouse Miniatures. Visit www.teddybearandfriends.com and www.madavor.com for more information.