GUND teddy bears are well known for their high quality soft and plush designs. The company was founded by German immigrant Adolph Gund in 1898, and has had much success claiming the name as the oldest manufacturer of soft toys. When someone thinks about GUND products, they know each and every product has been designed with safety and quality in mind. The company is widely known for their unique technique of under-stuffing, producing a much more plush toy.
The company has had quite the history since it’s formation and production in the early 1900’s. In 1907, Russian immigrant Jacob Swedlin began working for GUND, and eventually acquired the business after the retirement of Adolph Gund in 1925. It was in 1969 when Swedlin passed the business down to his daughter Rita Raiffe. Eventually Bruce Raiffe, the son of Rita, became the president of GUND in 1993, and most recently became the chairman and CEO of the company in 2004. Bruce Raiffe’s senior adviser of 5 years, Jim Madonna, became president of GUND in 2004 after Raiffe advanced to CEO.
One of GUND’s most successful advertising slogan’s is “Gotta Getta Gund”, a slogan which earned the company high recognition throughout the 1980’s. Some of the company’s most famous productions include plush toys of Felix the Cat, Snuffles the Bear, Muttsy the Dog, and Mickey Mouse, manufactured under the GUND and babyGUND names.
The New Jersey based company proudly distributes products throughout the USA, as well as Europe, Canada, South America, Asia, and Australia.
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