Just in time for the festive season, the John Lewis Partnership has announced a heart-warming new service to restore beloved childhood companions. The retail giant is rolling out a professional teddy bear repair and refresh service across all John Lewis shops and over 200 Waitrose branches nationwide.
A Second Life for Cherished Companions
Starting from £10, customers can now bring their well-loved teddies and soft toys into participating stores for a new lease on life. The service promises to tackle everything from a simple deep clean, dubbed a “teddy tidy,” to more complex minor repairs. Options include restuffing, resewing, and even replacing missing eyes, ensuring no cherished companion is too threadbare for attention.
This new offering is a collaboration with Johnsons, a Timpson Group company, and comes with a significant seal of approval from BBC’s The Repair Shop. The renowned Teddy Bear Ladies, Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch, provided expert training to the Johnsons’ team. The pair hosted specialist workshops, teaching the art of toy restoration—from carefully opening seams and replacing stuffing to repairing delicate noses and stitching hidden seams.
More Than Just Stitching and Stuffing
The teddy repair service is the latest expansion of John Lewis and Waitrose’s successful repair programme, which has already completed over 2,300 repairs this year alone. It represents a growing commitment to sustainability and cherishing what we own.
Katie Papakonstantinou, Director of Services & Hospitality at John Lewis, commented on the launch: “We’re really pleased to be launching our new teddy bear repair and refresh service. We know how much these cuddly companions mean to our customers, so we’re delighted to give them a new lease of life. Whether it is a missing eye to a much-needed wash, our expert 'teddy surgeons' are ready to work their magic. After all, a bear isn't just for Christmas!”
Gary O’Malley, Operations Manager at Johnsons, added: “Building on the success of our Repair & Alteration service, we’re excited to expand into something new that we hope will bring joy and create lasting memories. Working with the Teddy Bear Ladies means we can offer truly expert care - breathing new life into cherished companions for generations to come.”
Keeping Memories Alive
The initiative has been warmly welcomed by the experts themselves. Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, The Teddy Bear Ladies, said: “We’re thrilled to support the launch of John Lewis’s teddy repair service. This is about so much more than stitching and stuffing — it’s about giving soft toys a second chance, teaching children about caring for what they love, and keeping memories alive. It’s wonderful to make these repairs accessible for everyone.”
The service is now available, offering a perfect solution for families looking to preserve their most treasured soft toys in time for Christmas and beyond.
