It seems like the interest of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Hazelton house and not find Precious Moments, Books or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Hazelton baby-boomers took seriously collecting stuff. The craze today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector relative dies where do you go with their Art, Books or Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collection online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up enticing 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. Mother 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 Hazelton Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s treasured collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Hazelton 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 Bear Collection.
My answer is yes! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Hazelton 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 items along with mine. I consider their collection 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 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 book but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating 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 items when traveling from Hazelton to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Pooh Bear Collectibles to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633