About Budsies Custom Keepsakes
Whether artwork, people, or pets: we make the world more huggable!
Budsies® is a South Florida-based company that got its start bringing artwork to life in the form of huggable, loveable stuffed animals and then expanded to include other keepsakes, including pillows, bobbleheads, pajamas, and other fun products.
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 200,000 custom toys finding happy homes in 63 different countries across the world.
Budsies History
Growth & Milestones
Some of Budsies greatest achievements to date include:
Creating more than 200,000 Budsies
Launching several new products
Projects with The Gap, Cut the Rope, Crayola and Disney
Philanthropic partnerships with several hospitals across the United States through our Budsies Pals program
Appearances on ABC’s Shark Tank, CNBC, BuzzFeed, New York Times, and more.
How It All Began
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!
Future Plans
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.
Quality & Safety
The Budsies team is driven by a commitment to safety and quality. All Budsies materials go through safety testing. 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.
Budsies contracts certified 3rd party CPSC-approved laboratories to conduct materials and composition testing of its products.
Giving Back To Our Community
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.
Budsies flagship philanthropy is called Budsies Pals. Budsies partners with nonprofits and hospitals around the U.S. to donate custom stuffed animals to children in need. You can learn more about getting involved here.
Partners
Budsies has had the privilege of forging partnerships with incredible companies and
organizations. Here is a sampling of the brands we work with.
App Partners
Monster Create
Create your own super cute monsters to play with!
Behavior World
Help improve a child’s behavior through a reward system
Drawing Desk
#1 Entertainment Drawing App for iOS
ArtKive
The perfect app for scrapbooking your child’s artwork
Media
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.
Media
We are humbled by the positive media attention Budsies has received.
Interested in learning more? Are you a media outlet? Reach out to our team so we can share more of what’s happening behind the scenes at Budsies HQ.
Schools
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.
Distributors & Ambassadors
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.
Customer Reviews & Testimonials
We are all about bringing joy and hugs into the world for our customers, so it's extremely heartwarming to see their reactions when they receive their custom products. You can see more Budsies reviews here !