Move over, Build-A-Bear Workshop, because Belmont resident Hillary Hoffman created a new plush bear with hometown roots.
Just in time for the holidays, the 13-year-old Belmont Middle School student released Toby, the first bear in what the young entrepreneur envisions as a three-bear family, and the new mascot for her father’s business.
“I’ve watched a lot of TV and shows, and I’ve seen that the bear is the most traditional stuffed animal,” Hoffman said. “It’s just perfect for a little kid to hold.”
From conceptualization to creation, Hoffman learned plenty during the process. While her initial draft sketch took just 30 minutes, it took nearly half a year to finalize and receive the physical product she sells today. In less than a week, Hoffman sold 16 of the 150 Tobys she ordered–without any official advertising.
Hoffman kicked the project off with three sketches, an activity she knows well. For as long as the art-class-loving Hoffman can remember, she’s enjoyed sketching fashion designs for her dolls.
With the three initial ideas in hand, she solicited feedback from a random sample of people and ultimately chose Toby based on that feedback. From there, she worked with a Florida-based plush shop to prototype and finalize the bear.
Collaborating with the plush shop helped develop Toby from a piece of paper to the free-standing bear it is today. Hoffman, who wants to try theater in school and ran cross-country this fall, especially enjoyed learning about and choosing Toby’s fur, different colors, and eye beads.
The “T” in Toby comes from the middle letter of LTR Financial, the firm run by her father, Steven. Initially, Steven thought about a penguin mascot. Hillary, the firm’s official lead designer, and perhaps the youngest person with that title around, vouched for the bear for many reasons.
“A bear attracts a different kind of company,” Hillary said. “Whenever a kid sees a bear, all they want to do is hug it and hold it.”
Prominently featured on the LTR Financial website with that includes customer-submitted photos and a look into the entire creation process, a 12-by-8-inch Toby costs $36.96. Hoffman offers free shipping and pickup, plus the Toy Shop of Belmont on Leonard Street in Belmont Center also carries Toby. She invites customers to submit photos of Toby dressed or accessorized in any creative way.
Hoffman plans to release at least two more bears, effectively the other members of Toby’s small but adorable family. Lucy, Toby’s wife, is a creamy white-colored polar bear currently in the design process. Then, Hoffman plans to release a black bear, name and details to be determined. She also wants to design branded clothing for all three, returning to her original interest in sketching doll clothes.
“Honestly, I just want my designs to inspire people and make them happy,” Hoffman said.
