U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________

Form 10-K

(Mark one)

[ X ] Annual report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.

[ ] Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act

For the transition period from _______________ to _______________.

Commission file number 1-12580.

THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

New York 03-0291679

of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

6655 Shelburne Road, Post Office Box 965

Shelburne, Vermont 05482

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (802) 985-3001

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Title of each class: Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $.05 per share NASDAQ Smallcap Market

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

Common Stock, per value $.05 per share

(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X ; No .

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K contained is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer(as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2) Yes ; No X .

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the average high and low prices of such stock on December 31, 2002, as reported on NASDAQ, was $ 10,161,490.

As of September 17, 2003, there were 8,040,595 shares of the issuer's common stock issued and 4,868,309 shares outstanding.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

The following documents, in whole or in part, are specifically incorporated by reference in the indicated part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

Proxy Statement for 2003 Annual Meeting of the issuer's stockholders: Part III, Items 10, 11, 12 and 13.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.

2003 Form 10-K Annual Report

Founded in 1981 and incorporated in 1984, The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. (the "Company"), with its principal offices located at 6655 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, Vermont, is a direct marketer in the gift delivery industry competing primarily against companies that deliver flowers and other specialty gifts. Its principal product line is the Bear-Gram gift, a Vermont Teddy Bear customized to suit a special occasion or a life event, personalized with a greeting card and optional embroidery, and delivered in a colorful gift box with a candy treat. In recent years, the Company extended its product offering in the gift delivery business under the service marks "SendAMERICA" and "PajamaGram". In December 2000, SendAMERICA, Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, was introduced to offer a variety of American handcrafted gift products including food, jewelry, home décor and craft items. The PajamaGram gift delivery service, launched in April 2002, offers a vari ety of pajamas and related sleepwear and spa products packaged with lavender tub tea and a personalized card in a keepsake organza hat-box, and delivered in a colorful gift box. In July 2002, the Company decided to focus the activities of SendAMERICA, Inc. exclusively on food related gift products under the service mark "TastyGram". The TastyGram gift delivery service includes regional food specialties such as NY Carnegie Deli Cheesecake and Gino's Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. A TastyGram gift is also delivered in a colorful gift box complete with a personalized greeting card. In August of 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of Calyx & Corolla, Inc. (see Note 14, in the consolidated financial statement, subsequent events). Calyx & Corolla, founded in 1988, is a direct marketer of premium, direct-from-the-grower flowers and plants. Calyx & Corolla will be operated as a principal business segment of the Company.

Principal Business Segments and Distribution Methods

The Company also distributes its teddy bear products through Retail Store Operations and through its Corporate/Wholesale segments. The Company's Retail Store Operations represented 8.6 percent of net revenues, and the Corporate/Wholesale programs were 0.9 percent of net revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003. Revenues from sales of PajamaGram and TastyGram gifts in the Retail and Corporate/Wholesale segments were negligible for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003. It is possible the Company will distribute its PajamaGram and TastyGram products in these segments in the future.

Primary Business Segments

(12 months ended June 30)

* Excludes Bear-Gram revenues from retail operations.

The Company uses primarily direct response radio advertising, supported visually by the Internet, to market its Bear-Gram gift delivery service. The combination of direct response radio and the Internet represent 92.8 percent of net revenues in the Bear-Gram segment for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003. The Company includes the sales from orders placed on its vermontteddybear.com Internet website with sales generated by direct response radio as the Company believes the majority of traffic to the website is generated by radio advertising. All radio advertisements are tagged with the website address in addition to its toll-free number. Other avenues of marketing the Bear-Gram delivery service are direct mail catalogs and print advertisements primarily in magazines which together represent 7.2 percent of Bear-Gram net revenues for the same twelve-month period. The Company introduced its first catalog for Christmas of 1992, and has an in-house mailing list in excess of 3,090,000 unique nam es. During the twelve months ended June 30, 2003, more than 47.7 million circulated pages were mailed to prospective customers.

Primary Distribution Methods for the Bear-Gram Segment

(12 months ended June 30)

In July 2002, the Company decided to focus the activities of SendAMERICA, Inc. exclusively on food-related gift products, as this was the most successful category of SendAMERICA gift products. In October 2002, SendAMERICA, which will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, began doing business as the TastyGram gift delivery service selling a variety of regional food specialties such as NY Carnegie Deli Cheesecake and Gino's Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Orders placed at tastygram.com or by calling toll free 1-800-82-Tasty.

Through proprietary technology, customer orders are processed and forwarded electronically via the Internet to the "food" supplier. The supplier prints a personalized card, picking instructions, and a prepared shipping label from the order information received. The suppliers prepare their unique products for shipping with packaging that incorporates TastyGram labeling. The Company coordinates pickup of the gift item at the artisan's location by Federal Express for delivery.

Sales generated from the combination of Internet and radio advertising represent 100% of net revenues in the TastyGram segment for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003. Beginning in October 2002, the TastyGram gift delivery service was marketed via the Internet and direct response radio in a manner similar to the Bear-Gram and PajamaGram services.

PajamaGram Service. The Company launched its second new initiative in the gift delivery business in April 2002, introducing the PajamaGram gift service with a test radio advertising campaign for the Mother's Day 2002 selling season. The PajamaGram service is modeled after the Bear-Gram gift delivery business, providing customers with a convenient gift which includes an item from our broad assortment of pajamas, gowns, robes and spa products delivered with a free gift card, lavender bath tea, and a "do not disturb" sign all in a keepsake hatbox. PajamaGram gifts are ordered online at pajamagram.com or via Pajama Counselors toll free at 1-800-GIVE-PJS and delivery options are comparable to what is offered for Bear-Gram gifts. The service is targeted to appeal to female customers, in order to broaden the Vermont Teddy Bear Company's predominately male customer base. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, approximately forty-one percent of PajamaGram gifts were purchased by women . "The PajamaGram Company" is positioned as a "sister company" of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company for branding purposes while it remains a business segment within the corporate structure of the Company.

Net revenues for the PajamaGram service were generated from the combination of direct response radio, the Internet, and a small test catalog for the Mother's Day Holiday season during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.

Calyx and Corolla. In August of 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of Calyx & Corolla, Inc. (see note 14, in the consolidated financial statements, subsequent events). Calyx & Corolla, founded in 1988, is a direct marketer of premium direct-from-the-grower flowers and plants. Calyx & Corolla will be operated as a principal business segment of the Company.

Retail Store Operations. The retail operations business segment accounted for 8.6 percent of net revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003. The Company's factory retail store actively promotes family tours of its teddy bear factory and store at the factory location in Shelburne, located ten miles south of Burlington, Vermont. In June 2002, the Company opened a second retail store in Waterbury, Vermont. Both stores feature a variety of Vermont Teddy Bears, the Company's new line of imported teddy bears including the Make-A-Friend-For-Life products, and other teddy bear related items, including apparel, many of which feature the Company's logo.

The Company sold a negligible amount of TastyGram products through its Shelburne retail store and its corporate/wholesale segment during the year ended June 30, 2003. The Company does not currently sell any of its PajamaGram products through its retail or corporate/wholesale business segments.

Development of the Business

The Bear-Gram delivery service was first introduced on a small scale in 1985. Throughout the 1980's, however, the Company's marketing efforts focused primarily on wholesaling teddy bears to specialty stores and direct retail through its own outlets. Shortly before Valentine's Day in 1990, the Company introduced radio advertising of its Bear-Gram delivery service on radio station WHTZ ("Z-100") in New York City, positioning it as a novel gift for Valentine's Day, and offering listeners a toll-free number for customers to order from the Company's facility in Vermont. This test proved to be successful, and the service was expanded to other major radio markets across the country. Primarily through the Bear-Gram delivery service, the Company has increased its net revenues from approximately $351,000 in 1989 (the year prior to the initial New York City Bear-Gram campaign) to approximately $40,275,000 in 2003. Expansion of its radio marketing principally in the Northeast fueled rapi d growth through 1995. After a brief period of retail expansion with the addition of three stores in New York, Maine and New Hampshire that subsequently were closed, the Company refocused its marketing efforts in fiscal 1998 on direct response radio and experienced another period of growth. The Company continues to expand its radio advertising campaign nationally complemented by an Internet website and certain online marketing and direct mail programs. Retail Operations include the Company's Shelburne factory store and a recently opened satellite store in Waterbury, Vermont.

Since 1990, the Company has expanded the radio advertising of its Bear-Gram delivery service beyond New York City, to include other metropolitan areas and syndicated radio programs carried by stations across the United States, with significant expansion occurring in the past six years. During its fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, the Company regularly placed advertising on 305 radio stations in 90 radio market areas in the United States. For Valentine's Day in fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, the Company advertised on approximately 527 radio stations in 112 different markets as well as 15 syndicated programs, as compared to 707 radio stations in 128 different markets and 11 syndicated programs in the year ended June 30, 2002. To adjust to current market conditions, including reduced consumer demand in a soft economy, radio spot pricing and to ensure maximum cash generation to fuel the Company's new marketing ventures, the Company reduced its Bear-Gram advertising campaign to fewer sta tions and fewer markets, focusing on those stations and markets generating the best return on advertising investment.

The Company plans to pursue Bear-Gram advertising opportunities on additional syndicated radio programs and by developing "sounds live" radio advertising to be utilized in both new and existing markets during peak and non-peak times. It is also developing radio advertising for its PajamaGram product line in existing Bear-Gram markets.

The Company began taking orders on its website in March of 1997 recognizing that the website provided visual support to the Company's radio advertising campaign across the country and a convenient way for customers to place orders. In December 1997, online orders represented seven percent of total orders. The percentage has trended upward reaching 65 percent of total orders in June 2003. A total of 7,512,000 visitors to vermontteddybear.com were recorded during the twelve months ended June 30, 2003, up 44 percent from the 5,224,000 visitors recorded during the twelve months ended June 30, 2002. Visitors to PajamaGram.com in the fiscal year period ended June 30, 2003 totaled 1,369,000 compared to 203,000 in the period from its launch in mid-April 2002 to June 30, 2002. The total number of visitors recorded by tastygram.com recorded during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 was 272,000 as compared to 203,000 during the fiscal year period ended June 30, 2002.

After conducting market research, the Company decided to introduce TastyGram and PajamaGram as separate brands with separate advertising and separate websites and toll free numbers in order to more effectively target specific customers for each new product line. By referring to them as sister companies of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, the Company intends to impart on each new venture the credibility of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company as an established company in the gift delivery business. Using this brand endorsement strategy, the Company also hopes to minimize confusion when the Company, with the name Vermont Teddy Bear Company, sells gift products unrelated to teddy bears.

In May 2000, the Company launched a new online PreFUR'd Member program to stimulate loyalty among its existing Bear-Gram customers, increase repeat purchases and average down its advertising costs. The PreFUR'd Member program offers customers special promotions, previews of new teddy bears and a newsletter via e-mail. In June 2000, the Company had approximately 188,000 PreFUR'd Members. By June 2003, the number of PreFUR'd Members was approximately 509,000. The Company will seek to expand this program as new Members are added either by placing Bear-Gram orders online or by opting in to the program over the phone, via email, or in our retail stores. In the year ahead, the Company will offer similar benefits to its offline customers in addition to online customers.

The Company also has developed a loyalty marketing program similar to the PreFUR'd Member program for each sister company. PajamaGram's VIPj program currently has 57,000 members and TasyGram's email program has 47,000 members. These services are tailored specifically to each customer group. Additionally, customers of each service will periodically receive emails from the other sister companies cross-promoting their alternative gift products.

In February 2001 the Company also initiated an online affiliate-marketing program for its Bear-Gram gift delivery service. The Company has worked with affiliate partners, including opt-in list aggregators, news and entertainment websites, existing radio stations and charities, to advertise to new prospects via e-mail, and paid these partners a percentage of sales generated. In the year ahead, the Company will seek to expand this program for the Bear-Gram service and will explore opportunities to promote the PajamaGram and TastyGram services through affiliate marketing programs.

As the Company expands its radio advertising campaign, its catalog circulation and its Internet marketing initiatives nationally, it is increasingly diversifying its geographic markets and becoming less dependent on a few metropolitan locations. The following table shows the Company's largest markets and most frequent reasons given by customers for purchasing the Company's Gram gifts. Beginning in fiscal year 2003, the Company is including PajamaGram and TastyGram revenues, in addition to Bear-Gram revenues, in this table:

Percentage of Gram revenues

(12 months ended June 30)

Percentage of Gram orders

(12 months ended June 30)

The Company's Bear-Gram segment sales are heavily seasonal, with Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas as the Company's largest sales seasons. While the Company also expects sales from the PajamaGram and TastyGram services to be seasonal, the Company anticipates that revenues from these new services will be greater at Christmas and less at Valentine's Day as a percentage of their annual revenues than for the Bear-Gram service.

Competitive Business Conditions

The Company's Bear-Gram delivery service competes with a number of sellers of flowers, balloons, candy, cakes, and other gift items, which can be ordered by telephone for special occasions and delivered by express service in a manner similar to Bear-Gram gifts, including but not limited to FTD and 1-800-Flowers. The Company positions its Bear-Gram gifts as a creative alternative to these products and competes in this gift delivery industry by providing last minute shoppers with convenient customer service, options to personalize their gift with embroidery or artwork and a greeting card, and reliable expedited delivery options. The Company also competes to a lesser degree with a number of companies that sell teddy bears in the United States, including but not limited to Steiff of Germany, Dakin, North American Bear, Gund and Build-A-Bear Workshop. The Company also competes with businesses that market and sell teddy bears and other stuffed animals in a manner similar to Bear-Grams, includ ing "Pooh-Grams" marketed by certain subsidiaries of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Many small companies have developed web-sites that allow customers to order bears and have them delivered in a manner similar to Bear-Gram gifts. The Company vigorously defends trademark infringement when it appears on these web-sites, and continues to police the Internet for such infringement. However, the Company anticipates that there will continue to be other companies that compete directly with the Company's Bear-Gram gift business, including those with greater financial resources than the Company.

With its PajamaGram gift delivery service the Company competes against virtually all apparel retailers selling pajamas and related sleepwear and spa products including Lands End, L.L. Bean, GAP and Victoria's Secret, that can deliver their products via express service. The Company competes by providing its customers convenient service and reliable expedited delivery options. The Company also competes by providing its customer a "complete" gift with the added value of a free personalized greeting card and a free add-on such as lavender tub tea, packaged in a decorative box and delivered in a colorful shipping container.

With its TastyGram service, the Company competes with other specialty retailers that sell food items and deliver them via express service, including Harry and David, Omaha Steaks and Hickory Farms. Again, the Company competes by providing convenient customer service and offering a gift presentation of the item with a free personalized card in a colorful gift box.

The Company also competes with other retailers with all of its gift services by marketing each as a unique, singular idea via direct response radio directly to a busy person who needs a gift idea at the last minute. The Company's factory retail store competes with a wide variety of other retail destinations and tourist attractions and venues in Vermont and surrounding areas.

Many of its competitors sell similar products at lower price points and have greater financial, and selling and marketing resources than the Company. The Company believes that its brand strength, its customer relationships and its last minute personalization and fulfillment capabilities position it to compete effectively with its current and future competitors in each of the gift service categories. Barriers to entry into the Company's markets are low, however, and increased competition based on price or other considerations could result in decreased revenues, increased marketing and selling expenditures and lower profit margins. These and other competitive factors may adversely impact the Company's business and results of operations.

The Company is making material new investments in radio advertising to promote its PajamaGram, TastyGram and Calyx & Corolla gift delivery services in fiscal 2004 in an attempt to gain market share in the gift delivery industry. The Company's decision to make these investments is based on the results of market research and test marketing during the year ended June 30, 2003. If sales do not materialize from the additional advertising expenditures, the Company's profits could be reduced which may adversely impact the Company's business and results of operations.

Principal Products

From its inception, the Company has sought to design, manufacture and market the best teddy bears made in America. For many years the Company manufactured its bears exclusively in the United States. Beginning in its fiscal year 1998, the Company began importing certain of its products from Asia for its retail and corporate/wholesale business segments. However, convinced that its identity as an American manufacturer of teddy bears is a key element of its brand positioning, the Company remains committed to preserving and growing its Vermont based manufacturing operations to make the classic Vermont Teddy Bear brand bear for the Bear-Gram gift delivery service. In addition to the Shelburne, Vermont manufacturing facility, on November 1, 1999, the Company opened a manufacturing facility in Newport, Vermont, which on June 30, 2003 employed 77 people in all aspects of teddy bear manufacturing. The Company sources plush fabric and other materials from China and other countries in Asia and S outh America for its Vermont-based teddy bear manufacturing operations, in an effort to lower the Company's cost of goods sold and to broaden its available sources of supply. Previously, the Company had relied on a single domestic source of supply for plush fabric.

The move offshore represents a significant departure from the Company's historical position as an American manufacturer using almost exclusively American materials. The Company's strategic repositioning involves a commitment to ensuring that our partners adhere to stringent quality standards and provide decent, lawful working environments for their employees. The Company obtains a written statement to that effect from each offshore vendor. Company management has visited the factories of its established partners in China and will continue to visit its offshore partners periodically. With this repositioning, the Company also commits to differentiate imported product from its Vermont-made bears to preserve the Company's Vermont Teddy Bear brand identity and to clearly label its imported products so as not to deceive or confuse customers. During the year ended June 30, 2002, the Company consolidated all of its imported teddy bears under a new brand label "Friend for Life" to further differ entiate this product from the authentic Vermont Teddy Bear. Previously imported teddy bears were identified with a co-branded label and a tagline "vtbc design! An import division of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company."

The Company produces many different sizes of its Vermont Teddy Bear brand bears, ranging from 11" to 36" tall, in seven standard colors. In addition, the Company produces certain limited edition bears that vary in size. Virtually all of the Company's Vermont Teddy Bear brand bears have moveable joints and faux-suede paw pads, which are features associated with traditional, high-quality teddy bears.

Approximately 155 different bear outfits are sold by the Company, including ballerina bears, birthday bears, bride and groom bears, business bears, nurse bears, and sports bears. Ninety-nine percent of the outfits were outsourced to overseas contractors during the twelve months ended June 30, 2003.

In addition to its own manufactured teddy bear products, the Company sells items related to teddy bears, as well as merchandise from other manufacturers, featuring the logo of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company. These items are available primarily in the Company's retail stores.

The PajamaGram gift delivery service sells a variety of pajamas and related sleepwear and spa products. The assortment for the 2003 Fall/Holiday season includes approximately 100 different styles of pajamas, gowns and robes, and approximately 70 related sleepwear and spa items sold as add-ons. Some of the styles have well-known brand labels such as Natori, Nick & Nora and Crabtree & Evelyn and others are labeled with lesser-known brands. Pajamas are also purchased at wholesale and private labeled with the PajamaGram mark and a portion are being directly designed by the Company and manufactured under the PajamaGram brand. Beginning with the Christmas Holiday line, a portion of the PajamaGram line for sale will be imported from less expensive sources overseas in order to capitalize on the Company's overseas sourcing resources and to improve gross margins in the PajamaGram segment.

The TastyGram gift delivery sells a variety of food related gift products. Regional food specialties include NY Carnegie Deli Cheesecake and Gino's Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. All TastyGram food products will be shipped fresh and direct from the kitchen, farm, bakery or packer. Many of its products can only be shipped via overnight or second-day services and are delivered in dry ice or other special packaging to maintain freshness. TastyGram also takes title to each product at the point when Federal Express picks up the packaged item at the supplier's location on the Company's account and will guarantee its customers 100% satisfaction.

Sources and Availability of Materials, Supplies, and Production

Raw materials for the Company's bears and outfits are obtained from several suppliers. The Company presently purchases certain of its raw materials from a few suppliers, but believes that alternate sources of supply are available at competitive prices, should conditions warrant. In addition, virtually all of the Company's teddy bear outfits and accessories are imported from countries in Asia and South America. If supplies of these items were interrupted production output and sales could be negatively impacted which may adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations.

Fabric for all teddy bears is cut at the Company's Shelburne and Newport factories prior to being sewn. Bear parts, including arms, legs, bodies, and heads are sewn by employees in both locations, and by home-workers and other domestic subcontractors. Once individual parts are sewn, they are returned to the factory for mechanical stuffing. The bears are assembled by attaching the stuffed parts to the bears with plastic joints, mechanically stuffing the bodies, and hand-stitching the backs. Each bear is finally outfitted and accessorized in Shelburne by the Company's Bear Dressers to meet customer requests.

The Company plans to manufacture under contract with other manufacturers in the U.S., China and other countries, its own line of pajama products. The Company does not currently manufacture any of its TastyGram products. All of these products are purchased wholesale for resale.

Inventory management is critical to the Company's success due to the highly seasonal nature of the Company's sales. The Company has in the past achieved appropriate levels of inventory in relation to its sales as it has adjusted to varying growth rates. However, if the Company failed to maintain sufficient inventory to support seasonal sales, revenues could be reduced which may adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations. Conversely, if the Company accumulates inventory and sales do not materialize, the available cash resources of the Company may be reduced which may adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations.

Fulfillment Operations

The Company receives approximately 38 percent of total orders via telephone. During most of the year the Company answers all telephone calls at its call center in Shelburne, Vermont. During Valentine's Day and Mother's Day when call volume increases significantly, the Company contracts with third party call center service providers in various locations around the country and calls are distributed to the Company's internal call center and to the call center facilities of its partners by the Company's long distance carrier.

All Bear-Gram and PajamaGram orders are processed, fulfilled and shipped out of the Company's Shelburne warehouse, except on February 13 when a portion of Bear-Gram orders are processed in Shelburne but fulfilled and shipped from a remote location near a central hub of Federal Express. TastyGram orders are processed in Shelburne but drop shipped from each supplier's location. Again, the volume of orders is significantly greater during the Valentine's Day and Mother's Day seasons.

The Company believes it has developed redundant systems and contingency plans to mitigate the risk of service interruption by its service providers or the possible malfunction of its operating systems at the holidays. There can be no assurance, however, that services, including but not limited to long distance call service, call center services, website hosting services, common carrier services or electrical services, will not be interrupted. It is also possible that one or more of the Company's operating systems could malfunction limiting the Company's ability to process orders. If one or more of the Company's outside operating services were interrupted or one or more of the Company's operating systems malfunctioned during a peak holiday selling season, the loss of orders and revenue may adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations.

Patents, Trademarks, and Licenses

The Company regards its trademarks and service marks and other intellectual property as critical to its success. The Company's name and its various logos, are in combination registered trademarks and service marks in the United States. In addition, the Company also owns the registered trademarks in the United States for "The Vermont Teddy Bear Company," "Vermont Teddy Bear," "Make-A-Friend-For-Life," "Teddy Grams," "BearAnimal," "The All-American Teddy Bear," "Huffin' Puffin'," and "Coffee Cub". The Company also owns the registered service marks "Bear-Gram", "Bear Counselor," "Vermont Bear-Gram," "Teddy Bear-Gram," "Bears Say it Best," "Bears to Business," "Love is in the Bear," "The Creative Alternative to Flowers," "Ted Ex," "Nothing says you care like a Bear," "Show You Care, Send a Bear," "SendAMERICA," and "PajamaGram." The Company also has applications pending to regi ster "Teddy Express," "PreFUR'd Member," "SendVERMONT," and "Send(all 49 other states)", "TastyGram," "Friend for Life," "Say it with a Bear," "BabyGram," "LoveGram," and "Sweet Baby". The Company also owns the registered trademark "Vermont Teddy Bear" in Japan and "Bear-Gram" and "Teddy Bear-Gram" in Great Britain.

The Company also claims copyright, service mark or trademark protection for its teddy bear designs, its marketing slogans, and its advertising copy, website pages and promotional literature.

The Company vigorously defends trademark and service mark infringement and monitors the Internet and other advertising channels for such infringement. However, third parties have in the past infringed or misappropriated the Company's intellectual property, and the Company anticipates infringements and misappropriations will occur in the future. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to enforce its rights and enjoin infringers from use of confusingly similar marks, telephone numbers or website domain names.

Third parties may also assert infringement claims against the Company. While the Company currently is not aware of any material infringement claims against it, the Company can not be certain that such claims will not be made against it in the future.

Legal proceedings related to matters of intellectual property can be costly and time consuming and therefore may, if material, have an adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations.

Employees

As of June 30, 2003, the Company employed 277 individuals, of whom 140 were employed in production-related functions, 109 were employed in sales and marketing positions, and 28 were employed in general and administrative positions. As of June 30, 2002, 220 of the Company's employees were full time. The Company substantially increases its workforce with temporary employees in the third and fourth quarters of each fiscal year to service increased customer demand at the Valentine's Day and Mother's Day periods. No employees are members of a union, and the Company believes it enjoys favorable relations with its employees.

In July 1995, to consolidate the Company's disparate locations and improve manufacturing flow, the Company moved its principal offices, along with its factory retail store, manufacturing, sales, and fulfillment operations, to a 62,000 square foot building, located on a 57-acre site along U.S. Route 7 in Shelburne, Vermont. The site is ten miles south of Burlington, Vermont.

On July 18, 1997, the Company completed a sale-leaseback transaction involving its factory headquarters and a portion of its property located in Shelburne, Vermont.

On September 29, 1999 the Company entered into a one-year lease with four one-year renewal options for a new manufacturing facility in Newport, Vermont, for 12,000 square feet. In April 2001 the Company expanded its Newport operation to occupy an additional 12,000 square feet in an adjacent facility owned by the same landlord. A three-year lease with two three-year renewal options effective October 1, 2001 combined the two facilities.

On July 19, 2000, to consolidate remote warehouse locations, the Company entered into a ten-year lease with three five-year renewal options for a new 60,400 square foot warehouse and fulfillment center in Shelburne, Vermont. This facility is on property that is contiguous to the property on which the Company's factory headquarters are located. The lease began on September 1, 2000 and replaced a lease for 20,000 square feet of off-site space in Williston, Vermont and a lease for 4,000 square feet in Shelburne, Vermont.

On March 19, 2002, the Company entered into a three-year lease agreement with two three-year renewal options for 2,000 square feet of retail space on Route 100 in Waterbury, Vermont. This retail space is part of a small retail complex with five other retail outlets located approximately 1.5 miles from the Ben and Jerry's factory tour location.

There are various other claims, lawsuits, and pending actions against the Company incident to the operations of its businesses. It is the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, that the ultimate resolution of such claims, lawsuits and pending actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. There can be no assurance, however, that claims will not be made against the Company in the future. Such claims, if material, may adversely affect the Company's businesses and results of operations.

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

Market Information

At the time of the initial public offering of 1,172,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock in November 1993, the Company's Common Stock had been approved for quotation on NASDAQ and the Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbols "BEAR" and "VTB," respectively. On July 31, 1996, the Company voluntarily de-listed from the Pacific Stock Exchange as a result of minimal trading volume. Between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2003, the high and low closing bid and closing sales prices for a share of the Company's Common Stock as quoted on NASDAQ were as follows:

Description of Securities

There are 90 shares of non-voting Series A Preferred Stock, held of record by one shareholder, with a liquidation value of $10,000 per share plus cumulative dividends of eight percent per annum. There has been no change in the number of Series A Preferred shares and the original shareholder remains the sole shareholder of Series A Preferred Stock. There were $72,000 in dividends accrued in respect of the Series A preferred Stock during each of the fiscal years between July, 1 1996 and June 30, 2003.

On November 3, 1998, the Company closed on a private placement of $600,000 of its Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred Stock") to an investor group lead by TSG Equity Partners (formerly The Shepherd Group LLC). Accompanying the Series C Preferred Stock were warrants to purchase 495,868 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.05 per share, which will expire seven years from the date of issuance. In connection with the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock, a warrant to purchase 42,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock was issued at an exercise price of $1.05 to the Company's lessor in the sale-leaseback transaction. Because of the mandatory redemption provision, the Series C Preferred Stock net of the value of the warrants has been classified outside of stockholders' equity in the accompanying balance sheet. The Company valued the warrants using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The aggregate value of $272,449 w as applied as a discount to the face value of the Series C Preferred Stock on the Company's balance sheet. The Company will accrete this discount with charges to retained earnings over a five-year period.

Each of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock has a liquidation value of $10,000 per share, and is convertible into 9,523 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock requires redemption upon the tenth anniversary of its issuance, with the Company and the Series C Preferred stockholders having call and put rights, respectively, beginning on the fifth anniversary of issuance. The Series C Preferred stock carries voting rights on an as-converted basis, and, as a class, has the right to elect two members to the Company's Board of Directors. Both the Series C Preferred Stock and the accompanying warrants carry certain anti-dilution provisions. The Series C Preferred Stock has a cumulative preferred dividend of six percent per annum, payable quarterly. The dividends were required to be paid in additional shares of Series C Preferred Stock for the first two and one-half years after issuance. As of April 30, 2001, the Company was no longer required to pay the divi dends in stock and exercised its option to pay them in cash. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 $18,525 of dividends were paid in cash. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 $36,002 of dividends were paid in cash. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001 $30,000 of dividends were paid in the form of additional shares of Series C Preferred Stock and $6,017 were paid in cash. There were 18.3, 69.0 and 69.0 shares of Series C Preferred Stock issued and outstanding at June 30, 2003, 2002, and 2001 respectively.

On January 15, 2002, the Company executed a Warrant Repurchase Agreement with TSG Equity Partners to repurchase 495,868 of the outstanding Warrants TSG Equity Partners were issued in connection with the Series C Preferred Stock for a total purchase price of $768,595, representing a net cash amount of $1.55 for each share issuable on the exercise of the Warrants, or $2.60 per share less the $1.05 exercise price of the Warrants. The transaction closed on January 15, 2002, and the warrants were terminated on that date. The transaction was recorded as an equity transaction in the quarter ended March 31, 2002. The original issue discount of $272,449 will continue to accrete through charges to retained earnings until October 2003.

On August 21, 2002, the Company commenced an offer to purchase up to 3 million shares of the Company's common stock at a purchase price of $3.50 per share ("the Issuer Tender Offer"). The Issuer Tender Offer was subject to certain conditions as were described in the offering documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 21, 2002 and amended on September 9, 2002 and on September 23, 2002 and expired at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on October 4, 2002. The offer was not conditioned on any minimum number of shares being tendered and was subject to proration if more than 3 million shares were tendered. At the commencement of the offer, the Company expected the maximum aggregate cost, including all fees and expenses applicable to the offer, to be approximately $10,750,000 and anticipated that its cash on hand plus the proceeds of loans from Banknorth, N.A. would be sufficient to pay these costs. On September 27, 2002 the Company closed on two loan facilities with Banknorth, N. A.: a term loan in an amount of $3,000,000 which could be used for the repurchase of the Company capital stock in the Issuer Tender Offer and a revolving line of credit in an amount up to $4,000,000 for working capital needs.

On October 4, 2002, Series C Preferred Stockholders tendered 524,985 shares of Common stock on an as converted basis in response to the Company's August 21, 2002 Offer to Purchase up to 3 million shares of Common Stock

On October 8, 2002, after proration, Series C Preferred Stockholders exercised the convertible rights associated with the Series C Preferred Stock and converted 50.7 shares of Series C Preferred Stock into 482,745 shares of the Company's Common Stock.

On October 16, 2002, Banknorth, N.A. funded the $3,000,000 fixed rate term loan, which was used, along with cash on hand, for the repurchase of 3,149,266 shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to the aforementioned Tender Offer.

Dividends

The Company has never paid cash dividends on any shares of its Common Stock, and the Company's Board of Directors intends to continue this policy for the foreseeable future. Earnings, if any, will be used to finance the development and expansion of the Company's business. The Company's ability to pay dividends on its Common Stock is limited by the preferences of certain classes of Preferred Stock, as well as certain indebtedness, and may be further limited by the terms of Preferred Stock issued or other indebtedness incurred by the Company in the future. Future dividend policy will depend upon the Company's earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant by the Company's Board of Directors.

The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive cumulative dividends of eight percent per annum, which are payable before any dividend may be paid upon, or set apart for, the Common Stock outstanding. The Series B Preferred Stock was not entitled to receive dividends. The Series C Preferred Stock is entitled to a six percent dividend, to be paid in additional shares of Series C Preferred Stock for the first two and one-half years and thereafter either in cash or Series C Preferred Stock, at the Company's discretion. As of April 30, 2001 the Company elected to pay remaining Series C dividends in cash.

The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended June 30, 2003, 2002, and 2001 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2003 and 2002, have been derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2001, 2000, and 1999 are derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The following table summarizes the Company's consolidated statement of operations and balance sheet data. You should read this information together with the discussion in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations" and the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data

Years Ended

(in thousands, except per share data)

As of

(in thousands)

The following discussion and analysis provides information that the Company's management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the Company's results of operations and financial condition. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes that appear elsewhere in this Annual Report filed on Form 10-K. This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," and other expressions that predict or indicate future events and trends, and that do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in such forward - -looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws and regulations.

Results of Operations

Net revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 totaled $38,994,000, an increase of $1,739,000 from net revenues of $37,255,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001. By business segment, Bear-Gram gift delivery service revenues, which include radio, Internet, and direct mail revenues increased $701,000 primarily as result of increased sales from the Company's online loyalty marketing programs and new initiatives in Internet affiliate marketing. Net revenues from retail store operations increased by $214,000 as a result of expansion of the Shelburne factory store and increased unit sales of lower priced imported merchandise. Net revenues from the Corporate/Wholesale segment, increased $215,000 as the number of corporate customers increased in this segment. Net revenues from SendAMERICA, a wholly owned subsidiary, increased $314,000 as the Company introduced a new SendAMERICA catalog for the Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day selling seasons. Net revenues from the Comp any's new PajamaGram gift delivery service were $295,000 attributable to the Company's test marketing of this new gift delivery service in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002. No revenues for this segment were reported in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.

Gross margin increased by $885,000 to $24,693,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, from $23,808,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001. As a percentage of net revenues, gross margin decreased to 63.3 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, from 63.9 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001. The gross margin percent increased in the Retail segment as the Shelburne factory store realized increased sales of its Make-A-Friend-For-Life teddy bears that have a higher unit gross margin than other products sold in the retail store. The gross margin percent for the SendAMERICA segment increased as increased volume absorbed fixed costs associated with product fulfillment. These increases in gross margin percent were more than offset by decreases in margin percentages in both the Bear-Gram and corporate/wholesale segments during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002. The gross margin percent in the Bear-Gram decreased primarily due to increased revenues from loyalty marketing programs that traditionally have lower margins associated with promotional discount offerings. The gross margin percent in the corporate/wholesale segment decreased during this fiscal year due to increased sales of domestically made teddy bear products which traditionally have lower unit margins than the Company's imported teddy bear products. Gross margins resulting from test marketing of the PajamaGram service which were less as a percentage of net revenues than the Company's overall gross margin percent, also contributed to the Company's decreased gross margin percent.

Selling expenses increased to $15,682,000, or 40.2 percent of net revenues, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, from $14,807,000, or 39.7 percent of net revenues, for the comparable period ending June 30, 2001. This $875,000 increase was primarily due to a $530,000 increase in Bear-Gram advertising costs, which include radio, catalog, Internet and print costs, and increased marketing and merchandising costs associated with the Company's new wholly owned subsidiary SendAMERICA, Inc. of $385,000. It also includes increases to corporate/wholesale expenses of $57,000 and the addition of $73,000 in new advertising expenses, which include radio and Internet costs, related to the launch of the Company's new PajamaGram segment during the year ended June 30, 2002. These increases were offset by decreases of $163,000 to call center and customer service costs and decrease in Retail expenses of $7,000.

General and administrative expenses increased to $4,706,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, compared to $4,668,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001. As a percentage of net revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 12.1 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, from 12.5 percent for the comparable period ended June 30, 2001.

Interest expense decreased to $559,000 for fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, compared to $575,000 for the comparable period ending June 30, 2001. Interest income decreased to $252,000 as a result of lower interest rates in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, compared to $341,000 for fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.

The Company has recorded a tax provision of approximately $1,476,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, an effective income tax rate of approximately 36.8 percent. The Company recorded a tax provision of approximately $1,611,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, an effective income tax rate of approximately 38.3 percent.

As a result of the foregoing factors and the Series A Preferred Stock dividends of $72,000, the Series C Preferred stock dividends of $36,002 and the accretion of an original issue discount of $54,492, the net income available to Common Stockholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 was $2,376,000, compared to a net income available to Common Stockholders of $2,432,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.

The following table provides unaudited quarterly consolidated results of operations for each quarter of fiscal years 2003 and 2002. The Company believes this unaudited information has been prepared substantially on the same basis as the annual audited consolidated financial statements and all necessary adjustments have been included in the amounts stated below to present fairly the Company's results of operations. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any future period.

(in thousands, except per share data)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of June 30, 2003, the Company's cash position decreased to $5,701,000, from $12,673,000 at June 30, 2002. Of the $5,701,000, approximately $533,000 is classified as restricted cash; there was $587,000 of restricted cash at June 30, 2002. The largest component of the restricted cash is $463,000 restricted by a debt service reserve, which was required as part of the Company's sale-leaseback transaction. Cash decreases from the acquisition of treasury stock in connection with the Issuer Tender Offer and an increase in inventory were partially offset by cash provided by net income, increases in accounts payable, borrowings from Banknorth, N.A. and exercises of stock options in connection with the Issuer Tender Offer described in Note 7 to the financial statements.

On August 21, 2002, the Company commenced an offer to purchase up to 3 million shares of the Company's common stock at a purchase price of $3.50 per share ("the Issuer Tender Offer"). On October 8, 2002, the Company announced the results of the Issuer Tender Offer. A total of 3,424,604 shares of the Company's common stock were validly tendered and not withdrawn, including 2,899,619 shares deposited with the depositary for the offer, and 524,985 shares deposited directly with the Company for Series C Convertible Preferred Stock tendered on an as converted basis. Upon the Company's offering documents and applicable securities laws, the maximum number of shares that the Company was authorized to purchase without extending the offer was 3,149,266 shares. The total cost to purchase these shares, including transaction costs of $123,000, was $11,146,000. Because the total number of tendered shares exceeded the maximum the Company was authorized to purchase, the Company accepted for payment the maximum number of authorized shares that were tendered in accordance with the priority and proration rules described in Section 1 of our Offer to Purchase dated August 21, 2002. On October 8, 2002, after proration, Series C Preferred Stockholders exercised the convertible rights associated with the Series C Preferred Stock and converted 50.7 shares of Series C Preferred Stock into 482,745 shares of the Company's Common Stock.

On October 16, 2002, Banknorth, N.A. funded the $3,000,000 fixed rate term loan, which was used, along with cash on hand, for the repurchase of 3,149,266 shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to the aforementioned Tender Offer.

As a result of the exercise of certain employee stock options in connection with the Issuer Tender Offer dated August 21, 2002, the Company realized a tax benefit of approximately $600,000. This benefit has been reflected as an increase to additional paid in capital in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The Company's capital expenditures in fiscal year 2003 consisted primarily of equipment related to the company's operations. Capital expenditures were $457,529, $603,631 and $1,034,868 in fiscal years 2003, 2002, and 2001 respectively.

The following is a summary of the Company's contractual commitments and other obligations as of June 30, 2003. The Company's Other Long-Term Obligations are comprised of employment contracts and certain consulting arrangements.

Contingencies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their impact cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgement. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

We believe application of accounting policies, and the estimates inherently required therein, are reasonable. These accounting policies and estimates are constantly reevaluated, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change.

We have identified certain critical accounting policies, which are described below:

Inventory Valuation

The Company accrues a provision for returns and allowances. The Company makes certain assumptions to adjust this provision based on historical experience and current information in order to assess that the provision is estimated properly. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional adjustments to the provision may be required. These adjustments can have a significant impact on current and future operating results and financial position.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." FIN 46 requires that the criteria for consolidations be based upon analysis of risks and rewards, not control, and represents a significant and complex modification of previous accounting principles. FIN 46 represents an accounting change, not a change in the underlying economics of asset sales. FIN 46 is effective for consolidated financial statements issued after June 30, 2003. The Company is in the process of determining the impact that the adoption of FIN46 will have on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 is the first phase of the FASB's project on liabilities and equity. SFAS No. 150 provides guidance on how an entity classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. Many of these instruments were previously classified as equity. SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003. SFAS No. 150 requires companies to record the cumulative effect of financial instruments existing at the adoption date. The Company will adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 145 on July 1, 2003. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Related Party Transactions

Included in Notes Receivable at June 30, 2003 is a recourse demand note from Elisabeth Robert, a director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company to finance certain income tax obligations related to her exercise of stock options. The loan balance which was $18,390 and $32,799 as of June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively is being repaid in weekly amounts of principal and interest through payroll deductions such that the entire amount will be paid by the end of the term of Ms. Robert's employment agreement with the Company dated November 21, 2001. The interest rate on the note is a floating rate equal to the "applicable federal rate" on short term borrowings as defined by Section 1274(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and the note is secured by a stock pledge agreement from Ms. Robert.

The Company's earnings and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in interest rates primarily from its investment of available cash balances in money market funds. Under its current policies, the Company does not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. A ten percent fluctuation in interest rates would not have a material impact on the Company's ability to meet its financial obligations.

The list of financial statements set forth under the caption "Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements" on page 31 below is incorporated herein by reference.

Accounting and Financial Disclosure

The information required with respect to changes in the Company's accountants was previously reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated June 27, 2002 and in the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated July 23, 2002, and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief accounting officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2003. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief accounting officer concluded that as of June 30, 2003, our disclosure controls and procedures were (1) designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including our consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to our chief executive officer and chief accounting officer by others within the Company and our subsidiaries, particularly during the period in which this report was being prepared and (2) effective, in that they provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2003 that has materially affected, or is reasonable likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Incorporated by reference from the portions of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its 2003 Annual Meeting entitled "Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof", "Meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees," "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance," "Proposal to have Common Stockholders Elect Directors," and "Proposal to have Series C Preferred Stockholders Elect Directors".

Incorporated by reference from the portions of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2003 Annual Meeting entitled "Compensation of Directors and Officers," "Stock Options" and "Aggregated Option Exercises."

Incorporated by reference from the portions of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its 2003 Annual Meeting entitled "Voting Securities and Principal Offerings Thereof."

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table shows the number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding stock options under all equity compensation plans of the Company, the weighted average exercise price of the outstanding options and the number of securities remaining for future issuance under the plans.

Incorporated by reference from the portions of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its 2003 Annual Meeting entitled "Interest in Certain Transactions."

Not applicable for fiscal years ending prior to December 31, 2003.

(a) Documents filed as part of this Report:

(1) Index to Consolidated Financial Statements:

Page

Independent Auditors' Reports 41-42

June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2001 44

June 30, 3003, June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2001 45

June 30, 2003, June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2001 47

(2) Index to Financial Statement Schedules:

(3) Index to Exhibits

3.3 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.3 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

3.4 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.4 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.5 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.5 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.6 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.6 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.1 Representative's Warrant issued to Barington Capital Group, L.P. upon the consummation of the initial public offering of the Company's Common Stock in November 1993 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.1 to the Company's 1993 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2 Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3 Form of Warrant, issued in connection with the private placement of 204,912 shares of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.3 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

4.4 Form of Subscription Agreement issued in connection with the private placement of 204,912 shares of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.4 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

4.5 Waiver of Joan H. Martin, dated April 12, 1996, issued in connection with waiver of accrued dividends on Series A Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.5 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

4.6 Warrant to purchase 43,826.087 shares of the Company's Common Stock, dated April 12, 1996, issued in connection with Joan H. Martin's waiver of accrued dividends on Series A Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.6 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

4.7 Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement, dated July 10, 1997, between the Company and URSA (VT) QRS-30, Inc., in conjunction with the sale-leaseback of the Company's headquarters in Shelburne, Vermont (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.7 to the Company's 1998 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.8 Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement, dated December 31, 1997, in connection with the $200,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.8 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference.)

4.9 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1998, between the Company and The Shepherd Group LLC, in connection with the Company's private placement of sixty shares of Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.47 to the Company's 1998 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

4.10 Amendment, dated November 3, 1998, between the Company and The Shepherd Group LLC, to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated September 25, 1998 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.10 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.11 Form of Warrant, issued in connection with the private placement of the Company's Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.11 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.12 Warrant to purchase 42,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock, issued to URSA (VT) QRS 12-30, Inc., dated November 3, 1998, in connection with the issuance of the Company's Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.12 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.2 Stock warrants issued to Edmund H. Shea, Jr. IRA, Allan Lyons and William Maines in connection with the bridge financing prior to the initial public offering of the Company's Common Stock in November 1993 (a form of which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.10 Incentive Stock Option Plan adopted by the Company on August 16, 1993, with form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.11 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 10, 1987 between the Company and VTB Investment Group and Joan Hixon Martin (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33- 69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.12 Agreement, dated as of June 19, 1995, between the Company and John N. Sortino, providing the terms of Mr. Sortino's separation agreement with the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.12 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.13 Employment Agreement and Loan Arrangement, dated July 31, 1995, between the Company and R. Patrick Burns providing the terms of Mr. Burns' employment with the Company as Chief Executive Officer (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.13 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.14 Employment Agreement, dated November 1, 1993, between the Company and Spencer C. Putnam (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.14 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No.33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.17 Commitment Letter issued by Vermont National Bank, Burlington, Vermont, dated September 18, 1995, in connection with a Commercial Mortgage Loan and a Line of Credit Loan (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.17 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.18 Loan Agreement, dated September 26, 1995, between the Company and Vermont National Bank regarding $3,500,000 Term Loan and $1,000,000 Line of Credit Loan (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.18 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.19 Commercial Term Note, dated September 26, 1995, issued in connection with the $3,500,000 Term Loan of Vermont National Bank (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.19 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.20 Commercial Time Note, dated September 26, 1995, issued in connection with the $1,000,000 Line of Credit Loan of Vermont National Bank (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.20 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.24 Amended 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company, amended as of November 28, 1995 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.24 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.25 Loan Agreement, dated December 26, 1995, between Green Mountain Capital, L.P. and the Company, in connection with a $500,000 Term Loan (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.25 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.26 Convertible Note, dated December 26, 1995, in the principal amount of $200,000, issued in connection with the $500,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.26 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.27 Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement, dated December 26, 1995, in connection with the $500,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.27 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.28 Employment and Loan Agreements, dated June 30, 1996, between the Company and R. Patrick Burns (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.28 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.29 Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 1996, between the Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.29 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.30 Amended 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company, amended as of November 22, 1996 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.30 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.31 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan adopted by the Company on November 22, 1996 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.31 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.32 Employment Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1996, between the Company and Spencer C. Putnam (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.32 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.33 Convertible Note, dated November 19, 1996, in the principal amount of $300,000, issued in connection with the $500,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.33 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.34 Lease Agreement, dated October 24, 1996, in connection with the Company's lease of 2,600 square feet at 538 Madison Avenue in New York, New York (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.34 to the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.35 Consulting Agreement, dated December 31, 1996, between the Company and Venture Management Group, Inc., regarding the provision of consulting services to the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.35 to the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.36 Lease Agreement, dated January 17, 1997, in connection with the Company's lease of 6,000 square feet at 55 Main Street in Freeport, Maine (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.36 to the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.37 Lease Agreement, dated July 10, between the Company and URSA (VT) QRS-30, Inc., regarding the sale-leaseback of the Company's headquarters in Shelburne, Vermont (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.37 to the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.38 Binding commitment letter, dated October 10, 1997, from Green Mountain Capital LP, in connection with a $200,000 term loan (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.38 to the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.39 Agreement, dated as of October 10, 1997, between the Company and R. Patrick Burns, providing the terms of Mr. Burns' separation and consulting agreement with the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.39 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.40 Employment Agreement, dated December 3, 1997, between the Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.40 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.41 Loan Agreement, dated December 31, 1997, between Green Mountain Capital, L.P. and the Company, in connection with a $200,000 Term Loan (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.41 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.42 Convertible Note, dated December 31, 1997, in the principal amount of $200,000, issued in connection with the $200,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.42 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.43 Employment Agreement, dated March 13, 1998, between the Company and Spencer C. Putnam (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.43 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.44 Employment Agreement, dated April 30, 1998, between the Company and Robert D. Delsandro, Jr. (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.44 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.45 Non-Binding Proposal and Management Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Company and The Shepherd Group LLC, in connection with the Company's private placement of sixty shares of Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibits A and B to the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Special Meeting of Stockholders held September 11, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.46 Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 1, 1998, between the Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.46 to the Company's 1998 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.47 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1998, between the Company and The Shepherd Group LLC, in connection with the Company's private placement of sixty shares of Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.47 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.48 Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 11, 1999, between the Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.48 to the Company's 1999 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.49 Employment Agreement, dated November 21, 2001, between the Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.50 Warrant Repurchase Agreement, dated January 15, 2002 between the Company and TSG Equity Partners (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.51 Demand Note, dated April 9, 2001, between the Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.51 to the Company's 2002 Annual Report 10-K (File No. 1-12580) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.52 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated April 9, 2001, between the Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.52 to the Company's 2002 Annual Report 10-K (File No. 1-12580) and incorporated herein by reference).

10.53 Employment Agreement dated June 27, 2002 between the Company and Irene Steiner (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.53 to the Company's 2002 Annual Report 10-K (File No. 1-12580) and incorporated herein by reference).

23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP dated September 29, 2003 (filed herein)

23.2 Statement of Company Concerning Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 23.2 to the Company's 2002 Annual Report 10-K (File No. 1-12580) and incorporated herein by reference).

24 Power of Attorney (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 24 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).

31.1 Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 by Elisabeth B. Robert, President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and Mark J. Sleeper, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary (filed herein).

32.1 Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Elisabeth B. Robert, President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and Mark J. Sleeper, Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary (filed herein).

On August 29, 2003, The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Calyx & Corolla, Inc., a Delaware corporation, purchased substantially all of the assets of the floral delivery business Calyx & Corolla from Equity Resource Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Equity Resource Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The acquisition was consummated pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement and related documents on August 29, 2003.

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Elisabeth B. Robert ,

Elisabeth B. Robert, President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Jason Bacon ,

Jason Bacon, Director

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Maxine Brandenburg ,

Maxine Brandenburg, Director

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Robert Hamilton ,

Robert Hamilton, Director

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Fred Marks ,

Fred Marks, Director and Chairman of the board

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Barbara Johnson ,

Barbara Johnson, Director

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Spencer C. Putnam ,

Spencer C. Putnam, Director

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Elisabeth B. Robert ,

Elisabeth B. Robert, Director,

President, Treasurer,

Chief Executive Officer and Chief

Financial Officer

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Thomas R. Shepherd ,

Thomas R. Shepherd, Director

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ Andrew Williams ,

Andrew Williams, Director

Dated: September 29, 2003 By: /s/ William Woo ,

William Woo, Director

Independent Auditors' Report

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. The financial statements of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended June 30, 2001 were audited by other auditors who have ceased operations. Those auditors expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements in their report dated August 22, 2001.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2003 and 2002, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

September 29, 2003

Report of Independent Public Accountants

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. (a New York corporation) as of June 30, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. as of June 30, 2001 and 2000, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts

August 22, 2001

The above report of Arthur Andersen LLP is a copy of the previously issued report of Arthur Andersen LLP and the report has not been reissued by Arthur Andersen LLP.

THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC

Consolidated Balance Sheets

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income

For the Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

Years Ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2003

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. (the Company), which was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York in 1984, is a direct marketer in the gift delivery industry competing primarily against companies that deliver flowers and other specialty gifts. Its principal product line is the Bear-Gram gift, a Vermont Teddy Bear customized to suit a special occasion or a life event, personalized with a greeting card and optional embroidery, and delivered in a colorful gift box with a candy treat. In addition, the Company sells and delivers PajamaGram and TastyGram gifts. The PajamaGram gift service offers a variety of pajamas and related sleepwear and spa products packaged with lavender tub tea and a personalized card in a keepsake organza hat-box, and delivered in a colorful gift box. The TastyGram gift service includes regional food specialties such as NY Carnegie Deli Cheesecake and Gino's Chicago Deep Dish Pizza delivered in a colorful gift box complete with a personalized greeting c ard. Principal geographic markets include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The Company's sales are heavily seasonal, with Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas as the Company's largest sales seasons.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, SendAMERICA, Inc. All material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The primary estimates underlying the Company's financial statements includes inventory valuation, returns and allowances, income tax provisions and, as discussed in Note 8, in the Consolidated Financial Statement, accrual for an estimated loss under a lease obligation as of June 30, 2003. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Revenue is recognized on product sales at the point in time when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred and when a fixed fee and collectibility have been determined.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

All highly liquid investments with initial maturities of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. At June 30, 2003 and 2002, approximately $533,000 and $587,000 of the Company's cash was restricted, respectively. The largest component of the restricted cash is $463,000 restricted by a debt service reserve, which is required to be maintained as part of the Company's sale-leaseback transaction.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method.

Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Buildings and equipment acquired under capital leases are stated at the lower of the present value of future minimum lease payments or fair value at the inception of the lease.

Depreciation, including amortization of assets covered by capital leases, is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:

Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided over their estimated useful lives or the remaining lease term, whichever is shorter. Renewals and improvements that extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. The amounts of deferred tax assets or liabilities are based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is realizable, when management believes that it is more likely than not that assets are not realizable.

Direct-Response Advertising

The Company expenses the production costs of radio and print advertising the first time the advertising takes place. Catalog advertising, consisting primarily of catalogs for the Company's products, is capitalized and amortized over its expected period of future benefits, usually over the four-month period following the initial mailing of the catalog.

At June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2001, capitalized advertising costs were approximately $27,000, $56,000 and $65,000, respectively, consisting primarily of trade credits and unamortized direct-response catalogs. Advertising expenses were $10,824,000, $9,167,000 and $8,933,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Of these costs, $166,000, $178,000 and $82,000, related to commissions paid to affiliate programs for the twelve months ended June 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001 respectively. The Company worked with several affiliate partners, including opt-in list aggregators, news and entertainment websites, existing radio stations and charities, to advertise to new prospects via e-mail and paid these partners a percentage of sales generated.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

          In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 144 (" FAS 144"), we evaluate long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment and purchased intangible assets subject to amortization for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Assets to be disposed of would be separately presented in the consolidated balance sheet and reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell, and w ould no longer be depreciated. The assets and liabilities of a disposed group classified as held for sale would be presented separately in the appropriate asset and liability sections of the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company has determined the estimated fair value of its financial instruments using appropriate market information and valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required to develop the estimates of fair value; thus, the estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange. The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt. The carrying value of these assets and liabilities approximate their fair market value at June 30, 2003 and 2002.

In accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share, basic net income per common share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for all periods presented. The dilutive effect of stock options, and other common stock equivalents, is included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share using the treasury stock method.

The following tables reconcile the net income available to common stockholders and the weighted average common shares outstanding to the diluted net income available to common stockholders and shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share: