Blog - Page 31 of 32 - The Zoo Factory

Posted on April 26, 2013February 25, 2020 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

Sports Stuffed Animals

Molding your little one into a sports fan takes some work, especially when it comes to cheering for a specific team. Families don their children in clothing of their favorite teams, and even take them to a game when they’re young to get them prepared for a life of being a fan for the rest of their lives.

Another way to get the little one prepared is to get them a stuffed animal to hold on to that resembles a teams mascot or nickname.You have to be creative and imaginative, since these aren’t official sports stuffed animals, but the psychological factors in having your child hold on to something that represents your team could pay off in the long run.

Think of it like this, if your children’s favorite stuffed animal is an Eagle, maybe he’ll want to become a Philadelphia Eagles fan! Or if you want your child to grow up being an Eagles fan, get him an Eagle stuffed animal.

So with the NFL Draft taking place this weekend, lets go through The Zoo Factory’s stuffed animals you can give to your children to mold them into an NFL fan!

Denver Broncos — One of the most storied franchises in the entire league that also boasts possibly the best quarterback to ever live in Peyton Manning, this horse replicates that of the Broncos logo, which is a horse.

Philadelphia Eagles — If your son or daughter’s favorite bird is an Eagle, chances are they could very well grow up to be an Eagles fan. The Philadelphia Eagles have never won a Super Bowl, but maybe your little fan’s spirit can push them over the top.

Jacksonville Jaguars — This cool looking stuffed animal could represent your children’s love for the Jaguars. The Jaguars haven’t been the best team in the league of late, but with a new ownership, your little one could be the first one on the bandwagon.

Cincinnati Bengals — What kid wouldn’t want to grow up a Bengals fan when dragging this guy around town. If you name him “Cinci,” your child may be well on his way to becoming a big time Bengals fan.

Detroit Lions — Not only does a lion represent the king of the jungle, it could show your children’s love for the Detroit Lions. Couldn’t you see your child squeezing this sports stuffed animal when the Lions are making a last minute attempt to win the game? Or could that be you?!

Buffalo Bills — Just like this cute and lovable stuffed animal, the Buffalo Bills are one of the more lovable teams in the NFL. They’re sometimes lovable for the wrong reasons, because they tend to lose more games than they win, but their fans are passionate and love their fans through thick and thin. Just a warning, you might need to hold this tight during close games!

Miami Dolphins — This is a great gift for any young Dolphins fan. This stuffed animal not only looks exactly like Miami’s logo, but it’s cute like the Dolphins new logo too.

Chicago Bears — This big bad Bear could represent your child’s love for the Chicago Bears. The Bears are known for having a punishing defense, and there’s not a better way in representing that than having this bear in your arms. If you want your child growing up to root for one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the NFL, this loveable sports stuffed animal is for you!

Remember, these stuffed animals are not licensed NFL products, nor are they officially affiliated with any team, but with a little creativeness these stuffed animals could easily represent the love for their favorite team — and it doesn’t even have to be a football team. Browse our collection and see what stuffable animal could be the one to mold your child into a big sports fan today!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

A Custom Stuffed Animal, is the Best Stuffed Animal

Everyone has that special stuffed animal that’s made it through the years. Whether you’re new to the stuffed animal game, or a seasoned veteran, the new trend of being able to create, customize and personalize your own stuffed animal is very exciting. With stuffed animals often being a sign of comfort, going the extra mile and physically creating your closest friend can be a fulfilling and stress relieving activity for people of all ages.

For decades, the standard has been either receiving this special friend as a gift, or purchasing one from a store. While the bonds with these animals are always strong, sometimes it isn’t exactly what you wanted. With minor issues, such as size, texture, color or even breed of animal, these slight flaws often took some getting used to before a bond could be formed. New advances in the stuffed animal industry have made it possible to create and customize the vision that was always in your head. The steps are pretty easy; you pick the breed of your animal and stuff it yourself. The animal is brought to life in your hands and is easily customizable. Shirts, pants, shoes, dresses, sunglasses, and bracelets are just a few of the many options available to really personalize your newest creation.

To really pack that extra punch, most animals will come with accessories birth certificate to be filled out by the creator, making the experience more than just stuffing an animal but also a personal journey to the perfect best friend. Other stuffed animal accessories like sound chips, or stuffed animal outfits also add an element to your animal, giving it a voice that can come pre-recorded or be recorded by yourself. Creating a stuffed animal has taken the love for stuffed animals to a new level.

Posted on April 4, 2013 by The Zoo Factory — 1 Comment

The Zoo Factory Sound Chips

Want to make an impression that will last as long as The Zoo Factory’s stuffable animals?

Put in a customizable stuffed animal sound chip!

You can choose from pre-recorded sound chips or one where you can record your own voice or even your baby’s heartbeat.

Choose from over 20 pre-recorded sounds, from a barking dog, an elephant, a mooing cow, a pig, kitty, or even the happy birthday and Old McDonald had a Farm song.

Even better, buy a customizable sound clip so your own message can be played over and over by your little loved one.

We prefer it if you didn’t record “Clean your room!” But something fun like a nickname, or even your own customizable saying that makes your loved one laugh non-stop.

The heartbeat one is great for babies or even puppies learning to live without their moms for the first time. That is as long as the puppy doesn’t use it as a toy!

These fun sound clips are incredibly reasonably priced too. The pre-recorded clips are just $2.50 and the customizable ones are $8.50

At The Zoo Factory, make your stuffable animal custom inside and out!

Posted on March 21, 2013 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

Stuff-your-own plush animal parties are great for kids

What kid doesn’t want to be surrounded by friends, family and a few stuffed animal kits waiting to be stuffed at a party? We know that sounds really fun and that’s why the Zoo Factory offers party kits for birthdays and other social kid-friendly events!

Each kit comes with either an 8-inch or 15-inch unstuffed animal, as well as a wishing star, a birth certificate for the newly created stuffed animal and a T-shirt. Stuffing is sold separately so you can buy as much, or as little as needed.

When you have a do-it-yourself stuffed animal party, guests will be thrilled to make their own gifts and leave with something they created. It’s a real confidence booster for children because they know that the stuffed animal was something that they made. From choosing the animal, to stuffing, decorating and costuming, kids like the idea of being in charge of every step. And because there is no sewing involved, creating your own plush animal or doll has never been easier!

Children who make their own have a sense of pride in their work. The animal becomes more than just stuffing when it’s filled with love and care! That’s the beauty of stuffing your own; the bond can last forever!

So, if your child loves stuffed animals, consider hosting a stuff-you-own themed party and invite lots of friends to participate in the fun. And pick up some party extras such as stuffing, crayons and fabric paints to decorate the T-shirt and costumes.

Encourage your guests to visit our website to learn about all the different ways to accessorize a stuffable animal or plush doll. From sunglasses and shoes, to shirts, dresses and pants, the possibilities are endless. And of course, visitors to the site will also find neat accessories like play blankets, tents and toys. The sky is the limit when you choose a Zoo Factory stuffable animal or plush doll!

Posted on February 1, 2013 by The Zoo Factory — 1 Comment

Pillow pets promote proper sleep

Pillow pets are a unique stuffable animals that combines a plush pillow with a stuffed animal. It’s a brilliant design that is meant to engage both the very young, and the very young at heart. Pillow pets foster a sense of playfulness while promoting sleep, which can be very handy when trying to tuck a youngster into bed.

Pillow pets appeal to any animal lover. From the beloved monkey and colorful bears, to a lovable ladybug and friendly husky, these animals are sure to comfort even the toughest sleepers.

Night sleeping is some of the healthiest times for toddlers and young children. Sleep helps restore the brain. Think of the brain as a battery. When you give it a rest, it recharges. Kids need that break to have energy and power for the next day. Even rest times are important to give kids a boost so they can tackle the rest of the day. Pillow pets make a great companion for the sleep or rest period.

Pillow pets are made of chenille and have Velcro bands that allow them to be changed from a flat pillow into a 3-D stuffed animal. It starts in pillow position, and when the strap fastens to the other side, it transforms into a stuffed toy. If the strap is unfastened again, the pet can again be used as a pillow.

Zoo Factory products are made from top-tier plush and are durable. We understand when a little one loves their stuffed animal or pillow pet intensely, the animal can get a little dirty at times. With a little light cleaning and TLC, your child’s pillow pet is as good as new. In addition, Zoo Factory’s designs are about bringing character and personality to the pillow pets. When they get a little messy, it is okay! Animals in the wild don’t mind!

Posted on January 18, 2013 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

Why we love stuffed animals

From the dawn of child’s play, there has been one toy that has stood out among the rest: the stuffed animal. Kids everywhere go nuts for these soft, stuffed creatures.

In a study published by Time Magazine, which listed the most popular toys by decade throughout the past century, the one toy that appeared in almost every decade was – you guess it – a stuffed animal. The 1980s saw a sustained interest in stuffed animals, from regular stuffable animals and trademarked television show animals to wild animals and domestic pets. There is no doubt about it; children love stuffed animals.

But what is it about stuffed animals that is so appealing? Is it their likeness to real animals that makes us to cuddle them? Is it our instilled sense of nurturing that tells us we should cradle our stuffed animals, treat them as if they were real and care for them like no other?

Perhaps it’s because real pets – or wild animals brought down to stuffed animal proportions – would never stand for constant petting, cradling, poking, prodding and toting. By caring for our stuffed animals, we get a chance to know what it would be like to care for a rhino, lion, buffalo , monkey or other beast.

Most children have very little control over their day-to-day matters. So when a child plays with a stuffed animal, they are often all too happy to assign roles, play boss, make up scenarios and be in charge. Through interaction with a stuffed animal – something that never talks back, or acts controlling – a child is learning how to work through life situations, find comfort, grow and develop.

For something that is typically just, stuffing and stitches, a stuffed animal might be the best thing every made. It’s a soft, comforting toy that can teach life skills and create lasting bonds and memories for children.

Posted on January 4, 2013 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

Stuffed animal sleepover in Chicago

The River Forest Public Library is hosting a slumber party. Not for children, though, but for their little stuffed animal friends.

Starting at 6 p.m. next Friday, children will bring their little stuffable animals to the library and listen to a few bedtime stories before leaving their friends for the night. What will the stuffed animals do? Well have a party of course!

The announcement in the Riverforest Sun Times said the animals will be occupied by hearing more bedtime stories, playing dress up, dancing and playing games. It’s a chance for the stuffed animals to let loose and tell stories with their other stuffed animal friends.

“It is fun to be in the library after hours,” Susan Quinn, head of Children’s Services, told the newspaper. “It will be perfectly acceptable for the animals to get a little louder in the library at night because they will be the only ones there besides our staff and the Teen Volunteer Team.”

When the children come to pick up their favorite stuffed animal friends, they will be greeted with a light breakfast and a slide show to see all the fun they had over night the announcement said.

It’s a unique way to see how your children react to a night without their stuffed animals, and a fun way to keep the children involved with their local library. I’m curious to see the fun the stuffed animals next week!

Posted on December 21, 2012 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

Kids need Stuffed Animals Now More Than Ever

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut has affected us more than ever. It’s hard to look at a young child, a kindergartener, first-grader, second-grader, see how innocent they are and think their life was taken away in a fashion that was unimaginable until last Friday.

As everyone mourns — parents, relatives and people across the nation – children do too. Parents can look for comfort by hugging their children and keeping them close, but who do children seek comfort in? Their first best friend, and one that never lets them down – their stuffed animals. Much like children are the rock of their parents lives, stuffed animals play a major role in being the rock of their lives.

People know this, and just like how people donated stuffed animals for Superstorm Sandy, people are starting to set up stuffable animal drives for the children and families in Newtown, Conn.

In Hudson, NH, two workers set up a stuffed animal drive through the Someone Who Loves You project.

In a story that appeared that appeared in the Nashua Telegraph, Ashleigh Homon and Jenna Selfridge started the idea when Ashleigh said she wanted to “hug and give teddy bears to all of the children of the school,” Selfridge told the Telegraph.

We certainly feel the same way.

Selfridge said an aunt of Homon’s fiancé “was a volunteer in the Sandy Hook School District for years and have been working together to coordinate the drive,” as read in the newspaper.

Donation centers have been made in multiple states across the country.

Posted on December 6, 2012 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

Rescuing misfit toys and making them better

The Island of Misfit Toys has always held a certain mystique around the holidays. Although an integral part to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the island is also such a perfect symbol for loneliness and the feeling that you’re an outcast, feelings that for many are unavoidable during the holidays. Stuffed animals are not just cherished toys meant for children, but also symbols of the human experience. Not many toys, in my opinion, possess such cultural cache. Stuffed animals represent the BEST aspects of living.

Silver Spring Township, PA resident Jane Kreitzer recognizes the deeper meaning behind stuffed animals.

In the feature article “Silver Spring Township woman dresses, gives dolls, and stuffed animals to charity,” Tammie Gitt of The Sentinel writes “Each year, the Silver Spring Township woman buys dolls and stuffed animals at the Dollar Store or Walmart when they are discounted after holidays. Then, she takes them home and crochets dresses, sweaters, hats, and even underwear for them.”

Kreitzer’s a rescuer of stuffable animals that time forgets and makes them better!

We’ve all seen the discount bins after the holidays and how sad the racks and bins look. It’s almost as if you want to reach out to the toys and comfort them, tell them that there’s always next year. For many of these toys and stuffed animals, there isn’t a next year.

What of the children that may need them? Jane has that covered as well! Gitt writes, “She called a local minister who gladly took [the stuffed animals]. Her donations continued for another six years in Florida including one year when some were given to a nursing home.”

Everyone can use a stuffed animal for that little extra cheer. Around this time of the year, we can all use that. Never forget the power of a stuffed animal.

Posted on November 27, 2012 by The Zoo Factory — 1 Comment

Stuffed animal drives for Superstorm Sandy victims held nationwide

Sometimes all it takes is a stuffable animal to feel better.

Nationwide, people have been showing their support for those affected the most by Superstorm Sandy by holding stuffed animal drives.

In Kansas City, a four-year old girl told her parents she wanted to help the children who were affected after hearing tales of children her age losing stuffed animals forever. Little Katherine Schell helped spearhead a drive that accumulated 1,800 stuffed animals, called “Project Daisy” after her favorite stuffed animals. Her and her parents flew to Stanton Island to deliver the load to happy children.

In New Bern, NC, on the coast of North Carolina, a second-grader also helped lead a drive for stuffed animal drive for those in need in the New Jersey and New York area. Jordyn Goodwin told ABC affiliate WCTI that she wanted to start the drive because she knew they would need the stuffed animals the most. “They can feel safe with their stuffed animal like I feel every night,” Goodwin said. “All of my stuffed animals are my best friends.”

Other stuffed animal drives in the news have been found in Iowa, Eastern Arizona and other parts of the country.

It was just released that damage in New York by Superstrom Sandy reached a staggering $32 billion dollars.