Tambo Teddies expands warehouse in Toowoomba, sells toys across the world

A teddy bear company which started out in rural Queensland has a warehouse in Toowoomba, where they sew teddies which are sold all across the world.

A teddy bear company with a sewing warehouse in Toowoomba has had to move to bigger premises due to increased demand nationally and internationally for its handcrafted teddies and products.

Tambo Teddies offers Australian handmade produced crafted from 100% woollen sheepskin.

They started out being crafted in Tambo in 1992, and have since expanded to also having a bustling sewing warehouse in Toowoomba.

Tambo Teddies has relocated to larger premises on Water Street. Dylan and Millie Johnson.

Owned by Alison Shaw and Tammy Johnson, the duo decided to expand to Toowoomba in February 2019, after struggling to find sewers in Tambo.

“We saw an opportunity to grow the business after buying it in 2014,” she said.

“It is such an iconic business and we knew it had a good core product so it was something we were excited to take over.”

The pair worked with Multicultural Australia to host sewing workshops in Toowoomba and recommended staff to hire.

There are now five people working and sewing up to 250 units a week, with a range of teddies, a lamb, koala, seat belt covers, sheep skin blankets.

Tambo Teddies has relocated to larger premises on Water Street. Owners, Tammy Johnson (left) and Alison Shaw with staff from left; Tbrah Ghebrmedin, Paula Hearn, Khalil Rash and Dilo Maho.

The handcrafted products are sold all across the world, with people not able to go past the cuddly, stuffed Australian made animals and products.

When moving to Toowoomba Tambo Teddies originally started out in a small premises in the CBD where the focus was just on sewing, but now with an increase in demand for the products the team has had to move to a large warehouse on Water St.

Ms Shaw said Tambo Teddies would now be open to the public, selling its handcrafted products as well as books, puzzles and picnic blankets.

“We’ve had people coming in wanting to buy but we’re only just opening now to the public,” she said.

“It’s really exciting. We still have our shop front in Tambo and one sewer but a majority of our products are now made in Toowoomba.”

Tambo Teddies is at 46 Water St and is open from Monday to Friday. For more information visit www.tamboteddies.com.au.