Makers & Menders
Location not stated
A two-person craft business, mainly Katie, that repairs modern plush toys alongside making leather notebooks and other goods. Jellycat toys are what they see most, but they also take vintage and antique bears and Pelham puppets, and they charge by the hour rather than by a fixed price list.
Getting hold of them
They work from their own form, so start there.
If your case is urgent, say so in the first sentence. They make exceptions and they will not think to ask.
If it gets lost
Not stated
This is a blank on their page, not an answer from them. We have never asked anybody in this trade the question. Of the 185 businesses we have read, 4 have written anything down about losing an item: 2 say it is insured, 2 say the risk is yours. The other 181 are silent, and silence is not a policy either way.
If you would rather not have to phrase it
“Before I send it, can I ask what happens if it gets lost or damaged while it’s with you? I’m not trying to catch you out, it just can’t be replaced. Whatever the answer is, could you put it in an email so I’ve got it in writing?”
“No, we don’t cover it” is a fine answer to get. It tells you to insure the post yourself for the full amount, both ways.
They return it by Royal Mail Special Delivery. Naming a tracked service is not the same as accepting liability for it.
Getting it there is on you, and the cover above may not start until it arrives. Send it tracked and insured, whatever it costs.
If it is lost or damaged
Their website does not say what happens if your item is lost or damaged while they have it. Return postage is paid by you.
Ask before you post anything you could not replace. Only four of the businesses we hold publish an answer to this.
What they take on
- Full restoration and rebuilds
- Mending and seams
- Restuffing
- Cleaning on its own
- Fur restoration, de-matting and pile lifting
- Eyes and noses
- Joints
Works in wood wool, modern synthetic plush, wool felt, mohair.
What they won’t do
The part every other directory leaves out. None of this is a criticism. It is how you avoid three wasted weeks.
- Cleans everything as part of a repair, whether you asked or not
- Quotes from photos, then revises it once it arrives
- Doesn't say whether you can bring it in person
Their published prices
- Standard hourly ratefrom £35
- ‘Express’ service where urgent, per hourfrom £45
- Standard charge to cover cleaningfrom £5
- Return postage via Royal Mail Special Delivery, standard size medium Jellycatfrom £9.25
Getting it there
- Takes work by post
- Doesn’t say whether you can bring it in
- Comes back standard
- Takes work from overseas
Money
- £35 an hour
- Quotes from photographs for a fee, then revises on arrival
Anything else they say
- Cleaning, restuffing & a small mend will usually take around an hour; more extensive patching, lining, reconstruction is generally 2-3 hours. Many holes, even on a small toy, may be more like 5.
- Payment will be through an invoice which will be emailed to you once the work is completed, and which you can pay through the website’s secure online checkout.
- We are very inclusive and do our best to accommodate your child’s needs, especially where neurodivergence may be a factor.
- The majority of the work is undertaken by Katie - who has a growing depth of experience in repairing soft toys with varying degrees of damage and wear - with support as needed from Ian.
- Beautiful, sustainable goods… made by hand & with care in the heart of Sherwood Forest
- American Friends! We’ve had quite a few enquiries recently from across the Pond. We are always very happy to help - but before you make your enquiry, be aware that USPS parcel rates to the UK are relatively high, so you might wish to explore those prices first.
- As with so many other small businesses we have temporarily turned off shipping to Europe due to the new GPSR - and to the USA with the withdrawal of the de minimis exception.
- Send us your teddy via Special Delivery or similar tracked service
- Photos of completed work sent for approval
- Jellycat toys are a speciality but we can fix any brand.