Hamleys enters Irish bear market
Wednesday, 7 August 2002UK toy store Hamleys is to open Ireland's first Bear Factory unit under franchise with Retail Entertainment in Dublin's Liffey Valley, creating 40 jobs before the end of the year.
Retail Entertainment has the exclusive rights for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The company's managing director Lee Evans said that it would initially concentrate on the Dublin market, and plans to have three stores by the end of the year. 'Our future plans include expansion to other major retail centres including Cork, Limerick and Galway and we are actively looking for opportunities in shopping centres there,' he said.
Bear Factory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hamleys and the Liffey Valley store is the first of its international franchise stores to open as part of an expansion throughout Europe and the Middle East.
The bear factory concept lets customers create their own personalised furry toy from a range of 25 bears and animals. The half hour process begins with the customer choosing a skin and then either recording a message or adding a standard bark or growl voice box. The animal is then stuffed to the customers requirements.
Prices start at €23.99 per animal.
