Posted December 20, 2023 by Sarah Murphy
The Dayton Hudson’s Santabear debuted in 1985. Conceived as part of a marketing campaign to encourage holiday shoppers to visit the stores, Santabear was designed by senior toy buyer Paul Starkey. The first Santabear sold over 400,000 bears in the first three days they appeared on shelves – a huge success. Over the years the Santabears line featured different outfits and stories, the introduction of supporting characters, including Bully Bear and Miss Bear, and a small series of books and animated holiday movies.
