It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Trapper Creek house and not find Precious Moments, Snowglobes or a Pooh Bear collection.
Trapper Creek baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. The movement these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale back or sadly when a collector family member passes away where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Trading Cards or Winnie the Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out enticing listing descriptions, figuring out postage, packaging materials and weighing each item, answering question messages from potential buyers, dealing with returns on damaged items, etc.
Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging. Grandmother may have paid $40 for an item but the online going rate is only $2.79. You need to ask yourself the question “is my time worth just a few dollars”? Online selling can take a significant amount of time.
You can give it to a place like a Trapper Creek thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s well cared-for items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Trapper Creek kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Grandma really took care of the plush and displayed them. Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy.
Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh Collection.
My answer is with great excitement! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Trapper Creek collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection. Their collection becomes part of history vs. being sold for a buck at a rummage sale. I let them know I will showcase their donated collection along with mine. I consider their items as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Bear Collectibles I think it makes people feel better which I am happy for. Letting go of “things” can be hard for a collector and owners and even sometimes for family members. As much as we don’t want to be labeled as “materialistic” – things we buy and collect can have sentimental attachments and it’s those feelings that we are attached to probably more than the items. People remember where they were when they purchased an item, who they were with or even where in their life cycle they were. They don’t want those memories to vanish with the collectibles. You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal or pair of socks but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Trapper Creek to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Pooh Bear Collection to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633