Our History

The history of the teddy bear stretches back 100 years to a hunting trip when President 'Teddy" Roosevelt was on a hunting trip. President Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear that had been captured and tied to a tree on the basis that this was unsporting.

That incident was captured in a cartoon that enchanted a shopkeeper in Brooklyn and led to the creation of the first bear toys. At the same time in Germany the Steiff company produced their first bears, which were purchased by an American and brought to New York. And so the world's love affair with the Teddy Bear started.

Over the years bears were given as gifts to children and over time forgotten. It wasn't until the late 1970s that bear collecting really began to gather a respectability amongst adults. Over the years this has led to the growth of an industry that is worth more than $50 million a year in Australia alone.

For over 30 years Korimco Toys has been supplying quality, value for money soft toys to the Australian retail market, where it has established a reputation for strong customer service and positive customer relations.

Originally established in the early 1970s, by a Korean lady and her German husband, KORIMCO (Korean Importing Company) was born. Its purpose was to build a soft toy business in Australia, buying product from one of the major of centres plush /soft toy manufacturing - Korea.

Initially based at home in Melbourne, the business grew due to a good range of product and attractive pricing.

In 1994 the business was purchased by an Australian family who saw the potential of the market and acknowledged the solid customer base that Korimco had established.

Thirteen years later Korimco has grown to be one of the leaders and innovators in the Australian soft toy market. As a market leader, Korimco works with leading overseas designers to introduce new colours, fabrics and products that help to ensure that our love affair with the Teddy Bear continues.

Today Korimco offers the largest selection and range of plush / soft toys in Australia.

With the retirement of the Managing Director, Michael Casper the business is now in the more than capable hands of his son Andrew Casper who together with Michael over the last thirteen years has been the key building force of the Korimco we know today.