I can't believe it!!

[Jenny]

I just read on another forum that Oakley Fabrics have stopped trading.....what a sad day it is.

What is happening to our industry?

Can anyone give me a clue because I am at a loss....!!

[All Bear]

It is sad news, Oakleys have been somewhat of an institution for the UK bear making fraternity and Roy has worked hard for a very long time to support the bear making industry in the UK.

I don't think this necessarily reflects on the state of the UK bear industry though. It may however, highlight a significant need for a new approach to marketing supplies in the UK for bear makers. As we both know, there are exciting designs being created currently and collectors are definitely available to purchase them, but maybe the most interesting bear designers are moving forward in their work at a faster than UK suppliers are making themselves aware of?

Here's a few examples ... glass eyes. Clear ones. Where do you go to buy them? I order mine in from the US, or alternatively direct from a UK based manufacturer because the range of quality glass eyes from UK bear making suppliers (in my experience) is too limited. You can apply that principal to armature for bears too and you can certainly include quality synthetics into the equation. On top of which there's the way fabrics are sold by the metre, I don't know about you, but I find being able to purchase a 1/3 yard from the US works really well cost wise for medium sized bears, yet here I have to purchase half a metre and suffer wastage, which I hate!

Now, I don't know if a business ceases trading on the basis that it doesn't stock everything a creative bear maker is looking for under the one roof, but if sure makes life easier for the bear makers if there are products available to generate new design ideas from. Once again, in my experience, UK suppliers aren't always investigating their bear makers' work thoroughly, to ensure they can provide for their needs and inspire new artists to develop further, thus helping to keep the whole bear making thing bursting with creativity for collectors.

(Okay Chris, I can hear you champing at the bit here ... I know you've been working hard on your research!)

[shebob bears]

I did hear on the grapevine a few months ago that Roy was retiring in January 2007 and he had two parties interested in taking over the business. This came from a very reliable source, and I sincerely hope that this is the case. Oakley Fabrics have always offered such a personal service and will surely be sadly missed.
Sheila:6034:

[Laurie]

I spoke to Roy on Saturday and he is retiring but I don't think anyone is taking over.Roy seems to think that Emmary bears and Admiral bears will be gradually increasing their stock over the next few months.
Roy is a lovely man and I wish him well in his retirement.

[All Bear]

Hear, hear. After so many years helping us, Roy's certainly earned his retirement!

[yvonne]

I also knew that Roy was retiring this year, but nevertheless its a sad
time...he always provided a great personal service to all us bearmakers, and I will very much miss the chats with Roy and Pat, and my trips over to Luton. Let's pray and fingers crossed that the business will continue in some way or form....
He stocked such a fabulous range of high quality fabrics.. at reasonable prices, and understood our business and catered for our needs. He encouraged bearmaking through his workshops..and promoted Artist's, in every way he could.
I wish them both a long and happy retirement.....they have certainly earned it...

[Chowlea Bears]

I too am saddened. Just think of all that expertise lost to us all as well.

My family used to run a business and its almost impossible for a supplier to stock everything - I suppose we just need to keep asking (armatures Judi:6086: )so that we make our needs known.

I like the point made about purchasing in yards - I don't know about anyone else but I don't do metric if you know what I mean. Having said that - I take some confidence in having a little left in case I mess up :6022: :6022:

Paula - excuse my ignorance but what are the problems with eyes? I get the plain glass ones from Judi and paint them myself - I haven't noticed any difficulty.

[All Bear]

Hi Sandra,

The problem with Christie Bears eyes was that I've only just realised they stock them. I couldn't find them on the website! (Yes, I know, click on the coloured glass eye ... I just realised there was a further step to be taken, but I kept missing it and wondering why they only stocked amber and pink glass eyes!) Same with armatures.

These days, if I can't find it quickly on a website, I assume it's not available. I like to find my components easily and if there's something on there I don't recognise, I like an explanation of what to do with it too.

I prefer to shop on the internet for as much as I possibly can without having to go through the rigmarole of making phone calls, these days. Also, because I've been buying a lot of my fabric from the US, it was easy to have the clear glass eyes added whenever I ordered. :)

[Melanie Jayne]

I have got to agree with you Paula that it is hard to get the full range of fabrics mohair’s, good quality synthetics and hardware (armatures and stuff) here in the UK. I am one of those that often shop over seas, but I would prefer to have everything available here in the UK at competitive prices, especially if I have a problem with something as it is far easier to contact the supplier here in the UK to ask the questions that I need answering. While UK suppliers do their best, there is not always enough variety which enables us to move forward.

[Lorna Evett]

It is a shame to hear of Oakley fabrics closing. I did not know them personally, but found them very helpful at fairs.

I like to actually touch and feel what I buy and because of this I posted an advert in Teddy Bear Times requesting people email me if they were interested in my starting a teddy bear supplies shop in Sheffield. Unfortunately I did not get one response and felt that perhaps there was just no interest.

I thought that my area would have been quite central for people to come and get supplies, I do buy on line, but find it a bit frustrating that sometimes what I get is not reflected in the images on line. I would have loved to have started up this business, I could have made my bears and sold the the supplies and I would have been in seventh heaven. However, it was not to be. I go to fairs when I can so buy my bits then.

Lorna

[Jenny]

It must be hard to carry everything that we buy on a whim. I have to get all my armatures abroad..(the ones I use are like mini-locline...can't get it here at all unless someone knows different) all of my synthetic plush...and then I end up buying mohair too because it ends up cheaper to buy in bulk...even wool felt...and I know Judi carries it but I want other colours that I can't get here...so I buy abroad..again. I wouldn't expect anyone to carry all the things I want because one month I buy pale blue...another I buy red..and I chop and change so to have all that in stock would bankrupt a supplier very quickly...on the other hand I won't change my tack to buy what's on sale here just for convenience. It's very hard and the suppliers have my full sympathy.