‘Counterfeit’ charity teddy bear seized from Horsham hair salon

The ‘bizarre’ tale of the most controversial teddy bear in Horsham will have a happy ending as a genuine Burberry bear is set to replace one believed to be counterfeit in a charity raffle.
JPCT 210813 S13341495x Mayfair Hair raffling teddy for charity -photo by Steve CobbJPCT 210813 S13341495x Mayfair Hair raffling teddy for charity -photo by Steve Cobb
JPCT 210813 S13341495x Mayfair Hair raffling teddy for charity -photo by Steve Cobb

Staff at Mayfair Hair in East Street, Horsham, were shocked when a representative of the fashion company arrived at the salon last Wednesday (August 25) and seized the large bear they were hoping to raffle for charity, claiming it was counterfeit.

After an anxious wait for upset staff, a Burberry spokesperson confirmed it would provide a genuine Burberry bear, as well as other products, to the salon for the raffle.

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Mayfair Hair owner Kay Tyler said: “I find the whole thing a little bit bizarre.”

Mrs Tyler received the teddy from a customer who had herself won it in a raffle.

The salon intended to raffle the bear to raise funds for the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School, which caters for up to 70 pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities.

So they did not expect the Burberry employee - who recognised that the bear was counterfeit after reading the original story on the County Times’ website - to seize the toy.

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Mrs Tyler added: “He has been on a little adventure and he is obviously going to be replaced and come back new, fresh and tidied up.”

The salon hopes to now raise more money for the school, with products such as Burberry perfume valued at £80 among the raffle prizes.

A Burberry spokesperson said the replacement, genuine toy was a ‘special little bear’, and the company had difficulties finding one due to few being manufactured.

The spokesperson said: “Burberry places the highest importance on the quality of its products and the safety of its customers.

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“We take the protection of our brand very seriously as a result, not least because counterfeit products like this one can pose a safety risk to children.

“We have donated several genuine Burberry products to the raffle, which we hope will help raise funds for the excellent cause of the Queen Elizabeth II School.”

Mrs Tyler said the raffle will be ongoing, as the salon staff hope to continue raising money for the Queen Elizabeth II school - and the real Burberry bear will be among the prizes.

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