Life wasn't a picnic until teddies arrived

WHEN Andrew Mathers had to have a lung transplant five years ago, he didn't let it hold him back.

And despite being made redundant twice in the last six months, the 41-year-old has refused to buckle and instead set up his own business.

Inspired by his wife Susan, who collects teddy bears, Mr Mathers has launched Bear With Us, on Trentham Road, Longton.

Mr Mathers, of Dresden, has invested around £8,000 in the teddy bear shop, which stocks a range of bears, including prestigious brands Steiff and Gund.

He said: "I had to have the transplant five years ago, because I was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

"I had eight litres of blood transfused – I should have died really.

"When I went back to work, the dole officer told me I was mad, but I got fed up of staying at home.

"I've still got one badly damaged lung and the transplant lung is from a woman so it's smaller.

"I can't walk very far and exercise is out of the question, but I always look at the positives.

"I could sit at home – I was probably getting more than £20,000 in sickness benefits, but it's about self-esteem."

Mr Mathers' determination stood him in good stead when he was made redundant from Woodpecker Interiors in Longton earlier this year.

He quickly got another job at MFI in Stafford, but found himself in the same situation when the store closed.

Now, Mr Mathers says he is enjoying being his own boss at Bear With Us.

He said: "When I cash up at the end of the day, I think, that's mine, not anyone else's.

"It makes me feel so much better having my own shop. It's not easy but it keeps me going.

"What I've been through makes me far more determined."

Mr Mathers is also planning to set up a website to sell his bears online.

He said: "The shop is aimed at everyone – you could just be looking for a teddy bear for your child, but we also stock ranges like Steiff and Gund for the serious collectors.

"The bears start at £5.99, but I sold a Steiff bear the other day for £120, which is not expensive for them.

"I don't think it's too much of a risk. What with everything that's going on at the moment, most people want to cheer themselves up.

"Also, a lot of men buy teddy bears for their wives because they last longer than flowers."

The shop stocks bears from all over the world, as well as hot water bottle bears, and Mr Mathers says he is keen to keep the emphasis on quality, rather than quantity.

He said: "I've just got one talking bear in from Gund. I'm trying to keep away from that because I think it's getting into the realms of Tesco or Toys R Us – I don't want my shop to be about stacking them high and selling them cheap.

"I believe that when you go into a shop you should be looked after even if you've just come in for a chat.

"People buy things from people they like. Once they like that person, even if they don't come in again, they'll tell other people."

Mr Mathers also paid tribute to his wife, who will be helping him out at the shop.

He said: "I couldn't have done it without Susan. She stayed with me the whole month I was in hospital after the transplant.

"She's been my inspiration to keep on going.

"There are times when I feel down and she's the one who picks me up."

Have you set up an unusual business? Email us at businessdesk@thesentinel.co.uk