In an age in which impersonal production lines and computer selling are business as usual, one Cherry Hill couple owns and operates a unique company – a throwback to the time when a proprietor’s personal touch and concern are evident in their products produced and sold.

Lois and Frank Zuckerman hand-craft and sell teddy bears. Trading under the name of Treasured Teddy Bears, the company’s most innovative creation is the Memory Bear, a high quality, all hand stitched bear made from the customer’s old fur or sentimental garments. Whether it’s grandmother’s old fur, baby’s first blanket, dad’s old jacket, mom’s patchwork quilt or grandfather’s flannel shirt, Lois and Frank fashion a one-of-a-kind teddy bear from the garment and create a keepsake of collectible quality.

“Our Memory Bear makes a marvelous gift,” said Lois Zuckerman. “It’s a very special teddy bear which brings back wonderful memories for its owner.” 1n addition to the Memory Bear, Lois and Frank create teddy bears from plush non allergenic fabric, each hand sewn, giving the bear its own personality. The arms and legs are jointed, allowing for movement so they can sit or stand. “The facial features bring the bear to life,” Lois said. “When I place the eyes closer or further apart or the ears higher or lower, the bear’s face takes on its own individual personality. Some look younger, some older. Each is adorable in its own way.”

Lois Zuckerman, who first learned to sew in an elementary school sewing class, has enjoyed sewing for herself and her family for most of her life. This, combined with the fact she has had previous business experience ‑she was the owner of a paper goods and party supply business in Haddonfield, NJ for four years and office manager of an insurance agency in Mount Laurel for five and a half years – made the transition to Treasured Teddy Bears a natural for her and her husband Frank.

Involved in the marketing and the management side of the business, Frank has learned to sew and also does the jointing on the bears. An entrepreneur, he started his first business venture at age 18 and ran his retail food market in South Philadelphia for 12 years. From there, he moved into the field of securities and insurance, operating as a self- employed securities broker and insurance agent for 24 years.