The Real Alice's Bear Shop is situated in Lyme Regis, Dorset, a pretty little town on the English south coast that served as the backdrop for the film "The French Lieutenant's Woman"

When they were young, Rikey Austin's three sons listened to her stories about teddy bears and their adventures. "I love sharing stories with them. When they were younger, I'd tell them about the bears that came to us for repair, and we'd guess at how they'd gotten into such sorry states," she recalled.
 
Her stories are based on the adventures of twelve characters including Cobby™, who falls overboard during a boat trip around the bay, Mary-Jane™, who was so busy with shells, buckets and flags that she didn't notice the tide coming in and Tat™, who's been so loved that he leaves a trail of stuffing wherever he goes.
 
In 2004, the first of her stories were published under the banner of Tales from Alice's Bear Shop, with illustrations painted by Rikey. And the characters came to life as the RUSS' Alice's Bear Shop Collection. Since then the range has grown and includes a baby range and gift card collection.
 
"Our shop is so quaint, it seemed the perfect setting for the stories. Children love to stand in the very shop that they have been reading about. It seems to bridge the gap between everyday life and that world where you can talk to your teddy and it just might talk back".
 
The Alice's Bear Shop collection was first created in the shop by Artist Rikey Austin and Bear Artist Jo Farmer. Both work from the shop and are often able to sign purchases.