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I have thinking about where did the bear shows first start? Do you find that there are more shows and shops for bears in the US, UK........? Living in Nova Scotia, Canada there are no bear shows and I know of no shops. I think the most activity for bear shows are in Ontario. If I am wrong here please jump in. Any one else for other parts of the world would like to share their input. The year I was going to finely get to a bear show closed down in Calgary. 
Past Time BearsDoes anyone know if Heather is still planning on doing the show she started last year?
Plum Cottage BearsThere are suddenly no more bear shows in Southern California, either. I miss shows. I miss the shop I had. The nearest shows are in Northern California, and that is at least 350 miles north of where I now live. The internet is great for communication, but it cannot take the place of the collector bonding with a bear face-to-face. The last show I did, I sold seven pieces, and thought I was really hitting my stride--and suddenly no more shows in my area. Anyway, I'm spending this holiday weekend (Memorial Day) stuffing and closing and ear-ing (new word?) bears already jointed, getting ready for that next show, wherever it may be. What are others doing this weekend?
Newcastle, OntarioLynn,
Mark and Sue McKay of Teddy Bears on Vacation have three shows a year - July and November in Toronto and they do a Hunt Valley, Maryland show in early November. Those are the ones I'm know about being hosted by Canadians.
As for shops, there are only two in the Toronto area I know about - The Olde Teddy Bear Shoppe in Kleinburg, which is a lovely store with lots of artists and Martinhouse Dolls and Bears, which I'm not familiar with.
hugs,
Brenda
Miss Dorothy's TeddyFolkThere are several shows in Ca. 
:clap: :clap: Dorothy Drake has two (teddy and doll), one in San Jose and one in Roseville these repeat in the spring/summer and fall/winter. There is one in Santa Barbara in March, a doll and teddy bear show, also in Santa Barbara there is a very nice teddy bear museum to visit. Also Pat Moore is having a convention in San Jose in June. John Port and Denis Shaw wil be there and I hear Art Rodgers is doing a class.
And of course the Teddy Bear Convention in Nevada City.
These shows are quite reasonable, about $75 per table and they are one day shows (except the conventions)
Hugs Dorothy 
Bears by EdieDoes anyone know if Heather is still planning on doing the show she started last year?
Sue Ann, the last I heard from Heather she had wanted to do the show again and make it a yearly event - and there seemed a lot of interest in it and the first one was quite successful - BUT she was not able to get the same venue again and couldn't find another place to hold it. That seems to be a big problem out here in Alberta right now to find a place where you can hold a doll or bear show. The hotels don't want to commit to booking their banquet halls for shows like this as they can make more money from serving food and drinks, etc. etc, from bigger conventions and businesses. It's so unfortunate - even the doll clubs in Calgary and Edmonton who had shows for years in certain hotels are finding things tough and scrambling to find new venues.
That's very sad Edie. It is not looking so good for out west. I think there is more success in the U.S. and the U.K. for bear shows. I guess we are luck to have the internet but it is not the same.
Are there many Bear shows in the UK?
Brenda how is the out look for them to keep going?
My husband and I use to do a craft show every November as thet was very successful for us and it took as all year to have enought stock to do the show. We would even take orders to have the items ready for christmas. It was alot of hard work but loved to meet the collectors. I hope some day I will be able to go to a bear show. I would love to attend one but do to health reasons those days are over for me.
Flying Fur StudiosEdie, you are a doll!!!
She is right, although I have NOT STOPPED fighting. I am now trying to secure a spring time venue so please wish me luck!
I have not and will not give up on the show, the support was fantastic last year!
We still have a fairly healthy spread of shows here in the UK. I do the main London shows and this year will be participating in Samantha's brand new show in Stratford Upon Avon, which is about a 2hr 45mins drive from where I live. There are quite a few smaller shows available across the country, some good, some less good, according to the feedback I hear.
Over the past few years we've moved from having a handful of very successful shows, to a rash of shows, spread right across the country, which in my view, watered collecting enthusiasm down significantly. Many of those smaller shows have since fallen by the wayside, which I don't think is a bad thing. Now we are enjoying a far more exciting phase of fewer shows, but with far greater potential because they take a more considered approach to offering stands and encouraging collectors through the door.
As regards shops, times have changed a great deal. We still have several excellent bear shops which have survived the ups and downs of the past decade, but a great many others have ceased trading. I think the discrepancy between what a shop needs to sell artist bears for and what an artist needs to be paid, will always be an area that needs flexible handling. It has certainly meant that many shops selling artist bears with unrealistic price tags, have now gone out of business - particularly as more and more artists embrace the internet in an attempt to sell direct to collectors.
I think we still need to cover all bases as bear artists, the ideal scenario being to participate in a few top notch creatively organised shows each year and supporting our knowledgeable, forward thinking specialist bear shops - those that enhance our profile by reaching an audience we may not otherwise be able to touch upon. Combine those two elements with the promotional opportunities provided by excellent, non-patronising magazine publications (still feeling the sting of just having lost one of our best here!) and a rounded approach to promotion via the internet, et voila! A simple, but effective package.
Needless to say, life is never that simple and there are many variables in the mix, pricing, promotional costs, suppliers, competition, etc etc ... if the overall balance is adrift, of course, we all suffer. However, once upon a time, the system worked and ... so I see no reason for that time not to come around again, as long as we plan for it carefully!
Well Paula, it seems that history has a way of repeating it's self and well why not the bear industry. I guess there are ups and downs with every thing and just have to hang in there. As new artists and collectors are born then it should stay alive! Thanks for your input.
Donna's Duin BruinsYou can check for shows on the calendar of Teddy Bear Review website. They list doll and bear shows. They also give you an idea of how much they have advertised in the magazine. Teddy Bear and Friends also has a calendar with show dates.
Donna
