The rush on Bobbie Bears—lavender-filled teddy bears made on a farm in Tasmania—is what happens when suddenly insatiable Chinese demand meets limited supply: 'near riot' conditions.

There's not a lot of intellectual property sewn up in a teddy bear. That's an unpleasant lesson that Robert Ravens is having to learn after making one of China's must-have consumer items.

Half a dozen older ladies, all kitted out in lilac shirts, chat affably as they rhythmically stuff and sew up cuddly purple-coloured bears, cups of tea littering their workspace. Skip to main content ...