We care about the quality of our product, the satisfaction of our customers, and the strength of our community.
Whether artwork, people, or pets: we make the world more huggable! Keep in touch and see many more creations and customer reactions on our social media channels!
Budsies® is a South Florida-based company that brings artwork to life in the form of huggable, loveable stuffed animals. The team is filled with creative, caring individuals from around the world, all with one major goal—to do something meaningful and provide people with lasting comfort, cuddles and joy. Since officially launching in 2013, Budsies has taken off — with over 130,000 toys finding happy homes in 63 different countries across the world.
Budsies founder, Alex Furmansky, would see his little sister's artwork and drawings evolve throughout her childhood, but was saddened by the thought that they would eventually be buried in a box in the basement.
He wasn't sure of the solution at first, but then saw Michelle hugging her stuffed animals and tucking them in one night. He asked himself: “What if I could turn a drawing into a stuffed animal friend that would last forever?”
All children could have their own personal buddies (hence the name Budsies!) to hug and hold. The idea of literally bringing drawings to life and turning them into a lasting keepsake for kids was too good not to try - thus, Budsies was born!
In Budsies’ first two years, the small Budsies team realized the tremendous growth opportunities for the brand while always committing themselves to stay true to the initial vision: making a huggable world! Some of Budsies greatest achievements to date include: creating more than 130,000 Budsies; launching several new product lines for multiple brands; moving to a new, larger headquarters; project launches with The Gap, Cut the Rope, Crayola and Disney; philanthropic partnerships with several hospitals across the United States through our Budsies Pals program; and appearances on ABC’s Shark Tank, CNBC, BuzzFeed, New York Times, and more.
The future of Budsies and its product offerings, including the original Budsies, Budsies Selfies and Petsies, is bright! In 2021, Alex passed the baton to new owner and CEO, Scott Meier, who is dedicated to continueing the amazing work Budsies has done so far. The company’s goal is to create a marketplace where families can purchase stuffed animals designed by children and artists around the world - thus empowering anyone to create their very own line of toys.
The Budsies team is driven by a commitment to safety and quality. All Budsies have been engineered and manufactured specifically without the use of any small parts, such as plastics or metals, so that you can feel confident in having a Budsie in your home. Budsies are all made of hypoallergenic materials and adhere to rigorous standards of stitching quality and materials. Since some toys may have small/thin fabric pieces, Budsies recommends they only be given to children 3+ years of age.
As with all children’s toys, caregivers should regularly inspect their child’s Budsies stuffed animals for wear and tear from too much love and attention and take it away from the child if the caregiver has any concerns. The team at Budsies has spent a lot of time and effort to ensure that your child’s Budsies plush will provide a long lifetime of service and love to your child.
Budsies contracts certified 3rd party CPSC-approved laboratories to conduct materials and composition testing of its products.
Giving back and supporting others in need has always been a priority at Budsies. The company donates supplies and Budsies to schools and retirement communities, makes free Budsies for kids in need, and helps raise funding for various kids’ charitable foundations and teachers looking to do something unique for their students. For example, Budsies made personalized stuffed animals for a foster home in Michigan so the children could have a constant buddy in their lives - a small gesture of kindness with a comforting impact. Similarly, they made Budsies for children born with HIV/AIDS who took part in a safe haven camp in Northern Virginia. And the giving won't stop there! The Budsies team is always looking for ways to make an impact on the community and world around them... so stay tuned for even more exciting philanthropic endevours!
The company's flagship annual philanthropic event is called Budsies Pals. Each summer, the Budsies team partners with the community to donate free plushies to children fighting through illnesses at a local hospital. Budsies has partnered with Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital, the Mayo Clinic, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. You can learn more about getting involved and watch the heartwarming video here.
Budsies has had the privilege of forging partnerships with incredible companies and
organizations. Here is a sampling of the brands we work with.
Create your own super cute monsters to play with!
Help improve a child’s behavior through a reward system
#1 Entertainment Drawing App for iOS
The perfect app for scrapbooking your child’s artwork
We are humbled by the positive media attention Budsies has received. Here are some of
our favorite coverage examples from the past couple of years:
Interested in learning more? Are you a media outlet? Check out the Budsies Media Kit and reach out to our team so we can share more of what’s happening behind the scenes at Budsies HQ. We also come across some truly incredible stories from families, from fathers playing plush “choo choos” with their sons to families overcoming unimaginable tragedies. These stories inspire us every day and we hope you will help their voices inspire families worldwide.
We are humbled by the positive media attention Budsies has received. Here are some of
our favorite coverage examples from the past couple of years:
Interested in learning more? Are you a media outlet? Check out the Budsies Media Kit and reach out to our team so we can share more of what’s happening behind the scenes at Budsies HQ.
Want to spread the magic of Budsies and get funding into your child’s school?
We would love to work with you! Please leave your contact information and we’ll reach out to you when we launch the program.
If you currently sell family-oriented products or you’re a passionate networker who loves our services, then we would love to work with you.
Digital distributors, influencers, and those highly engaged in their communities can sign up to our affiliate program. Here, you'll receive a special link which will allow you to earn a % of all orders you drive to Budsies.com. Please visit our Affiliates page for the most current information.
Ambassadors are most welcome to join our Referral Program. With this program, you earn free Budsies when your friends buy Budsies. Your friends, in turn, will receive a % off their purchase. Everyone wins! Please see our Referral Program for more details.
Major brands, digital apps, and art or pet-related companies interested in deeper partnerships are also most welcome! We've done everything from joint social media campaigns to deep API integrations. We've worked with brands including Cut The Rope, Time Hop, Shoparoo, Celebrity Cruises, Toyota, Kellogg's, Drawing Desk, Artkive, Keepy, and plenty more. Please give us a shout at bizdev at budsies dot com.
Physical distributors (like art studios, pre-schools, and retailers) are welcome to join our distributor program. Please apply here and we will reach out to you when we're ready.
