It seems like the love of collecting may have become a memory of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Glen Saint Mary house and not find Art, Snowglobes or a Pooh collection.
Glen Saint Mary baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting things. The trend these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector family member passes away where do you go with their Art, Books or Pooh Bear items?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out 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. Great Aunt 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 Glen Saint Mary thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s adored collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Glen Saint Mary children’s 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 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 Glen Saint Mary collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection. Their items 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 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 collectibles. 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 Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays grouped and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Glen Saint Mary to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Mother’s Pooh Bear Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633