Bean There. Done That   

Boyds' Chief Designer, CEO, and "Head Bean" was born in New York City in 1949, the son of a poor Jewish German Immigrant Butcher. (Not so poor). He attended Alfred University in upstate New York to earn his B.S. (how appropriate) and an M.S. in Biology. Being a self-described "true Child of the Sixties", G.M. then joined the U.S. Peace Corps and "split" for the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific, where he did his part for World Peace teaching the islanders how to use Tupperware. Then, for reasons still unknown (Masochism?), he returned to New York to embark upon a seven year career at that Mecca of Merchandising ... Bloomingdales. At "Bloomies", G.M. worked in purchasing, designing, and merchandising, which exposed him to some of the fashion industry's top Clothing Designers ... and also allowed him to take his next Bold Step. Instead of continuing his successful Bloomie's career, in 1979 G.M. moved to rural Boyds, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., to open an antiques shop ... the beginning of The Boyds Collection Ltd.®

Antiques to Ducks to Teddy Bears?

The Boyds Collection Ltd.® began as an antique shop in the home of G.M. Lowenthal and his partner (now wife), Justina Unger. Their love of antiques outweighed their ability to purchase many of the rare items, so the team shifted its focus. Instead of the "true antiques" that carried heavy costs, G.M. and Tina began to search out and sell "Antique Reproductions," with the look and feel of true antiques at more affordable prices. This retail venture proved to be so successful that by 1982 they began to wholesale some of these top-selling antique reproductions to other stores.

Some of their most successful wholesale items were Antique Reproduction Duck Decoys that ranged from a 9" stained teal to a giant 3' Whistling Swan. The wholesale part of The Boyds Collection began to flourish as G.M. designed, painted, antiqued, boxed, and sold the decoys and Tina handled the customer service, billing, shipping, and accounting aspects of their business. G.M. added a new line when he found a group of 100% Merino Wool Bears from China. In 1984 G.M. designed a 12" fully joint-ed wool bear and named it after his latest "joint venture" with ....... their newborn son, Matthew. Also in 1984, G.M. - tired of painting 20,000 duck decoys until 3 am.- turned to resin sculpting to produce "The Gnomes Homes," extremely detailed miniature houses based on American architecture and his own fertile imagination.

Growing and Relocating

The company expanded from their home into an 1880s-era Sunday School building down the street. The Lowenthals added a secretary and a warehouse man and continued to wholesale duck decoys, wool teddy bears, Gnomes Homes, and some antique-style brassware. In 1987, G.M. and Tina moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and moved the warehouse and office to Littlestown, Pennsylvania, ten miles east of Gettysburg.

The Boyds Collection Ltd.® has continued to grow by leaps and bounds over the years, but as G.M. says, "We're a lot bigger than when we were a 'mom and pop' shop, but, for better or worse, we still run it like a 'mom and pop' shop, only on steroids. We're still a little disorganized and a little off-center, and slightly eccentric.., just like our bears!"

GARY SELLS OUT TO GIGANTIC NY BASED INVESTMENT COMPANY,KKR. ENTERS AMERICAN FARMING IN McSHERRYTOWN PA.

A New Handsome French guy is now in charge. Disorganization is gone. The Era of Jean Andre Rougeot begins.  ends 2003 Jan Marley begins  as CEO..

How Did the Boyds Bear Line Come About?

G.M. Lowenthal noted the success of the 100% Merino Wool Bears that he had developed and imported to sell in the antique shop and whole-sale business. He then licensed the rights to a design that incorporated "poseable" characteristics with a plush bear's body. Through G.M'S designs and through the licensing of other teddy bear artists' designs, the Boyds Bear family continued to grow.

The Hairy Truth

Most Boyds Resin Bears are intended for the Gift and Collectibles Market. What differentiates a "toy" from a "Collectible," in our eyes? The look and feel of the bear and its appeal to adults, of course! Unfortunately, many believe that, because Boyds Bears are inexpensive, they are not "collectible." Mr. Lowenthal disagrees. The Head Bean is a pretty smart cookie who knows the value of a dollar and, further, that an item's cost doesn't always reflect its true value! He's seen to it that Boyds Bears, through design and craftsmanship, offer true value weather as a gift or a collectible..

Describing Boyds plush animals is like trying to describe your own kids.. . each one is unique, irresistible, and slightly off-center. From a single wool bear in 1984 to the entire collection today ... here's the line!

J.B. Bean & Associates ™.. .comprised of fully joint-ed, pellet-filled animals that can flop, bend, and pose in a thousand and one positions.

Recent History. .July 2001..Lead B. Bottoms Series™... The newest Boyd Bear...this was a creation of an Outside Designer! This is the beginning of a rising new artist that the president of Boyds found the Midwest. Lead B. Bottoms actually has packets of BB`s in his bottom so that he will cuddle up into your hands. The Artist, John Higgins is a Boyd shop owner located in the heart of America. The L.B.B. Series was inspired by John's Son in Law who once claimed to have "Buns Of Steel" This comment and John's response is....Enouf said.

New in 2001..A new addition to the Bottoms Family is  born in December of 2001...Rustley B. LeadBottoms, Lead B's Sister. And another birth in 2002 of John B. Leadbottoms, named after John Higgins

The Archive series™ ... in 1989 G.M. recognized the market's need for a well-priced, well-designed antique-style bear, and developed a series that ranges from a tiny 3" bear to a giant 21" bruin. These bears, hares, and other creatures are fully jointed and can stand on their heads by themselves. Most are named for British prime ministers, lords, and ladies.

T.J.'s Best Dressed™ . . . the most sought-after collection, featuring plush pals that come with their own "wardrobe," from simple hand-knit sweaters to felt hats to homespun rompers.

Bears in the Attic™ . . .soft, unjointed plush and chenille animals made expressly for kids to play with, sleep with, and enjoy.

The Bear' Necessities ... accessories created to give G.M.'s creations something to play with, something to sit on, and something else to wear! The Bear Necessities is a "one-stop shop" for Boyds Bears and their Friends.. .hand-knit wool sweaters, eyeglasses (for those nearsighted old bears), outdoor furniture, kitchen accouterments, toys, gardening tools, upholstered furniture, and so on.

Limited Edition Features .. .fully dressed bears named Bailey, Edmund, and Emily Babbit.. .the Rabbit. Each Fall and Spring, these limited editions are dressed in the types of clothes that G.M. would like for his own kids...country plaids, velvet hats, and hounds-tooth rompers.