It seems like the love of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Magnolia Springs home and not find Hummels, Cookie Jars or a Pooh Bear collection.
Magnolia Springs baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting things. The trend these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector relative passes what do you do with their Stamps and Coins, Paper Weights or Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the hurdles you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, writing enticing listing descriptions, locating postage, packaging materials and weighing each item, answering question messages from potential buyers, handling returns on damaged items, etc.
Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging. Grandma 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 plenty of time.
You can give it to a place like a Magnolia Springs Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s cherished items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Magnolia Springs 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 Great Aunt 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 emailed 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 Magnolia Springs 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 items along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh 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 T-Shirt or jewelry but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Magnolia Springs to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Collection to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633