Bears By Sue Quinn

SPOTLIGHT

Bears by Sue Quinn

For more than 30 years, Sue Quinn has been quietly overseeing her award-winning bearmaking business in a secluded corner of Paisley. Now, the author and former star of Sewing Quarter is preparing to relocate from her long-time headquarters to a brand-new shopfront in the town centre.

Identifiable by their brass “SQ” badge, Sue’s mohair-based woodland animals are sought after by admirers the world over, allowing her to turn a lifelong passion into a thriving business.

“I’m originally from Nottingham, but I came up here when I got married to a Paisley man,” Sue reflected. “I started at trade and craft fairs in the late 80’s, establishing relationships with big customers such as Hamleys and Dax. Today, I sell to a lot of collectors who often end up closer to friends and you develop a real rapport. Otherwise, people buy my bears for their children as a special present. Obviously, a teddy bear is a teddy bear but when you really look at them, they’re incredibly distinct. So, people can tell a Sue Quinn bear apart and my style has evolved over the years, everything is all hand-cut and hand embroidered.”

“I’ve had a longstanding relationship with an agent in Japan and had some amazing experiences over there”, Sue continued. “Over time, orders have come in from Australia, Africa, America and all across Europe. The bears that I’m working on presently are going to someone in Kenya. They’ve already got three and they’re after four more!”

Sue’s years of dedication have resulted in global acclaim and her numerous books on how to make soft toys, heirloom bears and felt animals prompted grateful readers to let her know that her work had provided a much-needed distraction during the recent lockdown. While for Sue, she’s been busy preparing for a new beginning on Lawn Street.

“At the start of last year, I began looking for a new place. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve found my new location on Lawn Street and I’m really, really pleased. I see it as a real opportunity and we’ll hopefully be opening in the coming months. Even when I've been tucked away in Hunter Street, people who wanted to find me have done. So, having a shopfront now will just make it even easier for them to do so!”

To learn more about Sue Quinn and her award-winning work, please visit www.bearsbysuequinn.co.uk