It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Calhoun County home and not find Comic Books, Paper Weights or a Pooh collection.
Calhoun County baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting items. The movement today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector relative passes away what do you do with their Hummels, Books or Pooh Bear collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Items online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, writing attractive listing descriptions, figuring out 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 $60 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 lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Calhoun County Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’s adored collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Calhoun 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 approached 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 Calhoun 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 donated collection along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh 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 relatives. 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 mug or pair of socks but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their collectibles when traveling from Calhoun County to WI.
If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Pooh Bear Items to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Hampton | Harrell | Thornton |
Tinsman |