It seems like the love of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Baldwin County house and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Books or a Pooh Bear collection.
Baldwin County baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting things. The movement today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector relative passes away where do you go with their Hummels, Vinyl Records or Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Items online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating inviting listing descriptions, locating 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. Mom may have paid $90 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 Baldwin County thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’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 Baldwin County children’s place. However, many places only accept items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Mother really took care of the plush and displayed them. Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy.
Many times I have been contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Items.
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 Baldwin County collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection. Their collectibles becomes part of history vs. being sold for a buck at a rummage sale. I let them know I will showcase their donation of collectibles along with mine. I consider their collectibles as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Bear Items 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 received 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 items. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or pair of socks but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Baldwin County to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
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