John Lewis launches teddy repair and refresh service for christmas

• John Lewis launches a new teddy bear and soft toy repair service in time for Christmas, across all* John Lewis shops and over 200 Waitrose shops.
• The service is in collaboration with Johnsons, (part of the Timpson Group), and backed by expert training from BBC’s The Repair Shops “Teddy Bear Ladies”.
• From replacing missing eyes to fresh stuffing, the service will restore much-loved companions from just £20 - helping threadbare bears get their sparkle back this festive season.

This National Teddy Bear Day (9th September) John Lewis is announcing a brand-new service to help bring well-loved teddies and soft toys back to life - just in time for Christmas.

From 24th September, customers will be able to bring in their cherished companions - no matter how threadbare or loved to bits - into any John Lewis shop and over 200 Waitrose shops for a deep clean, a “teddy tidy” and any minor repairs. Services will start from £10, with options including everything from restuffing and resewing to replacing a missing eye.

The new offering is in collaboration with Johnsons, a Timpson Group company, and comes with expert training from BBC’s The Repair Shop stars Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch — also known as the Teddy Bear Ladies. The pair hosted specialist workshops to train Johnsons’ team on the art of toy restoration, from carefully opening seams, replacing stuffing to repairing delicate noses and stitching hidden seams.

The teddy repair service is the latest addition to John Lewis and Waitrose’s successful repair programme, which has already completed over 2,300 repairs this year.

Beary Good News

Katie Papakonstantinou, Director of Services & Hospitality at John Lewis, said: “We’re really pleased to be launching our new teddy bear repair and refresh service. We know how much these cuddly companions mean to our customers, so we’re delighted to give them a new lease of life. Whether it is a missing eye to a much-needed wash, our expert 'teddy surgeons' are ready to work their magic. After all, a bear isn't just for Christmas!

Gary O’Malley, Operations Manager at Johnsons, said, “Building on the success of our Repair & Alteration service at John Lewis and Waitrose this year, we’re excited to expand into something new that we hope will bring joy and create lasting memories. Working with the Teddy Bear Ladies means we can offer truly expert care - breathing new life into cherished companions for generations to come.”

Image: Photographer Rekha Damhar. Left Julie Tatchell, right Amanda Middleditch

Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, The Teddy Bear Ladies, said: “We’re thrilled to support the launch of John Lewis’s teddy repair service. This is about so much more than stitching and stuffing — it’s about giving soft toys a second chance, teaching children about caring for what they love, and keeping memories alive. It’s wonderful to make these repairs accessible for everyone.”

How it works

• Available in all John Lewis shops and over 200 Waitrose shops from 24 September 2025
• Services start at £20 for a small toy clean, rising to £55 for a large toy clean and repair
• Customers can bring in soft toys of any brand for cleaning, restuffing, and minor repairs
• Service runs alongside John Lewis and Waitrose’s wider popular repair service which rolled out earlier this year.

Ends

Notes to editors

• *Except John Lewis Swindon and Canary Wharf
• In 2019, John Lewis became one of the founding signatories of Textiles 2030, the UK’s leading voluntary circular textiles initiative led by WRAP aiming to transition to more sustainable and circular practices.
• Waitrose previously offered just a dry cleaning service across 200 shops in association with Johnsons the Cleaners, it now offers repairs too.
• Photography credit: Rekha Damhar

Teddy Bear clean and repair price list:

Clean only

• Small (up to 12 inches) £20
• Medium ( 12-24 Inches) £30
• Large (24-36 inches) £40

Clean and repair

• Small (up to 12 inches) £35
• Medium ( 12-24 Inches) £45
• Large (24-36 inches) £55

About the John Lewis Partnership

The John Lewis Partnership owns and operates two of Britain's best-loved retail brands - John Lewis and Waitrose. Started as a radical experiment over a century ago, the Partnership is now the largest employee-owned business in the UK, with almost 70,000 employees who are all Partners in the business. The Partnership is purpose-driven, existing to create a fairer and more sustainable future for our Partners, customers, suppliers and communities. Our Purpose not only inspires our principles, drives our decisions and acts as our guide to be a force for good, it steers us to do things differently and better - all in service of creating a happier world for everyone and everything we touch.

About Johnsons

Johnsons forms parts of the Timpson Group - the UK's leading retail service provider. The Johnsons name has been synonymous with dry cleaning and laundry expertise for over 200 years. Johnsons offers a professional dry cleaning service combined with expert advice on fabrics and textiles and first-class customer care.