Manufacturer of plush toys, teddy bears, baby and children's clothing, and collector's items
Margarete Steiff GmbH
Giengen an der BrenzNew on Amplifa
About Steiff
Margarete Steiff GmbH is a toy company founded in 1880 and headquartered in Giengen an der Brenz. The company produces plush animals and teddy bears as well as baby and children's clothing and collector's items. Founded by seamstress Margarete Steiff, production began with felt articles and the pincushion elephants made of felt and lambswool, known as "Elefäntle". In 1902, Richard Steiff developed the plush bear 55 PB, the first teddy bear with movable limbs. Production is carried out as sewing work using felt, plush, lambswool and fabrics; internal metal frames were used for pull-along and riding animals. At the headquarters in Giengen, the "Welt von Steiff" is a museum dedicated to the company's history and the history of the teddy bear; distribution takes place via the company's own online shop and retail trade.
- Site
- Giengen an der Brenz
- Processes
- Manufacture of plush and toy animals (sewing), Manufacture of plush toys and teddy bears, Online shop (direct sales), Museum/experience world
- Materials
- Felt, Lambswool, Plush, Fabric, Metal
- Founded
- 1880
- Industries
- Toys, Plush animals, Baby & children's clothing, Collectibles
- 01
Cutting of materials (felt, plush, fabric)
- 02
Sewing of the components
- 03
Filling with lambswool or filling material
- 04
Assembly and finishing
- 05
Distribution via retail and online shop
Materials and Production
Felt
Base material of the first animal figures such as the pincushion "Elefäntle".
Lambswool
Filling material of the plush animals.
Plush
Cover material of the plush bear 55 PB and other toys.
Fabric
Material for clothing and toy articles.
Metal
Used inside frames for pull-along and riding animals.
Sites
Giengen an der Brenz
DEHeadquarters, production and museum (Welt von Steiff)
- Materials
- Felt, plush, lambswool, fabric
- Sewing machine
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of plush and toy animals (sewing)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Felt, Plush, Lambswool, Fabric, Metal (inside frames for pull-along and riding animals) |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewing machine | – | 1 | – | – | Giengen an der Brenz |
Additional services
History
- 1847
Margarete Steiff is born on 24 July in Giengen an der Brenz
- 1874
Set-up of a tailor's shop in the residential building in Ledergasse
- 1877
Opening of a felt goods business
- 1880
Founding of Margarete Steiff GmbH; production of the felt "Elefäntle" (pincushions) from 1879
- 1892
First illustrated Steiff catalogue; patent application DRP 66996
- 1893
Revenue from toys (16,000 marks) exceeds that of felt goods for the first time
- 1897
Richard Steiff joins the company
- 1902
Richard Steiff develops the plush bear 55 PB, the first teddy bear with movable limbs
- 1903
Sale of 3,000 bears to an American buyer at the Leipzig Toy Fair; success as the "teddy bear" in the USA
- 1907
Production of approx. 974,000 teddy bears; 400 employees and 1,800 home workers produce approx. 1.7 million toy articles
- 1909
Death of Margarete Steiff on 9 May
- 1910
Grand Prix at the World's Fair in Brussels