What does Original Sample mean on a Russ Berrie tag?

Answer 1

"Original Sample" on a Russ Berrie tag eessentially means that the item in hand, that has that label or tag, is the actual item "sampled" before it was approved for production.

Basically, the product managers and their design teams conceptualize and design the new item, send the specifications over to their vendor(s),

and a first sample is produced for approval.

Usually 1-3 samples would initially be provided, depending on the item.

The sampling process will continue until the item meets this approval, not only on design, but on costs and sales projections etc.

Sounds simple, but it does not always work out that way...

A few things to keep in mind... ALL items that are conceptualized and sampled do not necessarily follow the same path.

There are a number of possibilities:

a)

First sample(s)

might be approvedà

NO more samples produced -

Item moves to production

b)

First sample(s)

might be approvedà

MORE samples produced for gift shows: Russ Berrie had multiple gift shows in their own satellite show rooms, samples on all shelves for planograms.

c)

First sample might be REJECTED and item CANCELLED -- never moved into production

d)

Item may be sampled any number of times, shown at gift show and CANCELLED due to demand or projections.

That is really the short and sweet of it.

All the sample sticker/tag can confirm is that it was not intended for retail sale, and was for "sampling purposes only".

The item has not undergone any safety testing and cannot be held to any laws or obligations to the owner.

As for value, it can really only be determined by a little research, it all depends as you can see!

But items, especially Plush (stuffed) bears (samples), that were made before Mr. Berrie's passing in 2002, are more likely to be rare and hand-sewn

to his specifications.

Hope that helps a bit!