8 Stuffed Animals Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: November 19th, 2023

Start A Stuffed Animals Business

Starting a stuffed animals business can be a great way to make some extra money. You can sell your creations online, at flea markets, or even open up your own stuffed animal store.

Stuffed animal businesses are easy to get started because startup costs are low and you don't need any specific skills or certifications to get started.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a stuffed animals business:

1. SendAFriend ($9.6M/year)

Tyler Macke, the 21-year-old founder of SendAFriend, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that many of his favorite e-commerce brands lacked a philanthropic purpose. He wanted to create something different and decided to launch SendAFriend, an e-commerce brand that sells stuffed animal care packages. The business has seen significant growth, with projected revenue of $5 million for 2020, and has already donated over $250,000 to children's hospitals.

How much they make: $9.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 20

How I Started A $500K/Month Stuffed Animal Care Packages Ecommerce Brand

Meet Tyler Macke, the 21-year-old founder of SendAFriend, an e-commerce brand that sells stuffed animal care packages, which began with $50k in revenue in 2019 and is now on track to make $5M in revenue this year, while donating 10% of revenue to children's hospitals throughout the United States.

About

Tyler started SendAFriend almost 6 years ago

Revenue

Tyler grew the business to $800K/month

Costs

It cost Tyler $1000 to start the business

Read this case study

Read by 17,086 founders

2. ZZZ Bears ($120K/year)

Justin Baum, a Creative Director in the advertising industry, came up with the idea for ZZZ Bears while filming a commercial at a Marine base and buying his daughter a teddy bear. Realizing that the bear helped alleviate her fears and knowing the sacrifices of military families, he decided to create a line of teddy bears dressed in military uniforms that would protect kids as they sleep. After facing initial challenges with manufacturing and marketing, the business gained success through Facebook ads and partnerships with military exchanges and major retailers like Target.

How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 0

How I Built A Teddy Bear Business Helping Military Kids Sleep At Night

This case study is about how the founder of ZZZ Bears created and grew a line of military teddy bears named SGT SLEEPTIGHT, primarily selling to military families and gaining success through Facebook ads and partnerships with military exchanges, Target, and TAPS, while also learning important lessons such as the power of mentors and seeking help.

About

Justin started ZZZ Bears almost 9 years ago

Revenue

Justin grew the business to $10K/month

Costs

It cost Justin $5000 to start the business

Read this case study

Read by 9,864 founders

So... can you actually make money with a stuffed animals business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

4. Ty Shop

Fun, friendly & so cute you gotta smile! The official Ty site for the newest Beanie Boos, kids’ masks, purses & backpacks, & more. Free US Ground shipping, no limit!

Website traffic: 460K/month

5. Bellzi

Bellzi® animals are super soft, adorable, and unabashedly cute! Each of our characters are original designs, and are created with an ultra-premium, child-friendly, and high-density plush material for maximum softness, weight, and quality!

Website traffic: 250K/month

So... can you actually make money with a stuffed animals business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

7. Budsies

Budsies turns art into custom stuffed animals, makes custom plush dolls of people, large stuffed animals, and plushies for brands, authors, & more. Ships Worldwide.

Where they're located: Norfolk, Virginia, USA

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Starting A Stuffed Animals Business: Everything You Need To Know

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