Who Copied Who? The Truth Behind the Flat Teddy Bear Tale
Recently, a segment on A Current Affair featured the owners of Flatout Bears claiming that Aldi had copied their design — the beloved flat sheepskin teddy bear. The story sparked plenty of conversation online, especially after the Flatout team posted a video on social media declaring, “Aldi imitated our Flatout Bear.”
But here at Tambo Teddies, we’ve been humbled by the flood of support from our loyal customers — and from boutique owners like Angelene of Angelfish Dragonfly- Baby and Children’s Boutique – in Townsville, one of our proud Bickie Bear stockists. Angelene was quick to dig a little deeper and found that Flatout Bears are not the “originals” they say they are. A simple Google search reveals the story is a bit more complex.
Let’s be honest — we don’t know for certain who made the first flat teddy as there are a few iterations on the market , but what we do know is this: Tambo Teddies has been handcrafting our Bickie Bears in Tambo, Queensland since the early 1990s — well before we (Tammy and Alison) took over the business in 2014. Sadly, our predecessors didn’t trademark the flat teddy bear design, which was a missed opportunity, but it doesn’t diminish the legacy or craftsmanship behind our bears.
The fact is, Flatout Bears only entered the market in 2001 — a full seven years after Bickie Bears had already found their way into the arms of Aussie children. So, when Flatout claim to be the “original,” it raises an obvious question: who copied who? The timeline doesn’t lie — the inspiration was around long before Flatouts hit the scene.
What sets Tambo Teddies Bickie Bears apart?
Like all our sheepskiin products – they’re made in Australia, with genuine care and quality. Unlike Flatout Bears — which have always been manufactured in China — our Bickies are lovingly handmade right here at home. And while we retail at a similar price point ($80 vs. $74), our margins are far slimmer because we prioritise Aussie-made materials and ethical production.
We’ve faced challenges getting into some retail stores, partly due to the lower wholesale pricing of their imported alternative. But those who do stock our Bickie Bears absolutely adore them — they’re fluffier, better-made, and bursting with true Australian character.
While Flatouts may claim to be “the original’ in their marketing spin and are feeling aggrieved at Aldi at the moment – at Tambo Teddies we’re proud to be authentic — and grateful for every supporter who chooses Bickie Bears.
Australia made, Aussie loved.