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Carl Mortished, World Business Editor The world's most famous teddy bear is turning its back on China as Steiff moves to take production of its plush animals back to Germany. Steiff is rejecting globalisation to keep the fur gleaming on the world's poshest bears. Fed up with poor workmanship, high staff turnover, delays and rising shipping costs, it is moving bear production back to its birthplace in Giengen an der Brenz. Martin Frechen, Steiff's managing director, said China was not capable of making a product to the level of sophistication it requires. It takes 18 months to train a worker to make a Steiff animal. “If one of the glass eyes is a millimetre off, it means the adorable devoted look on the teddy bear's face ends up more like a stupid stare,” he said. Steiff invented the teddy bear in 1902, branding its creations... [read full story]
