It seems like the art of collecting may have become an activity of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Camden County place and not find Precious Moments, Paper Weights or a Pooh Bear collection.
Camden County baby-boomers loved collecting stuff. The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector family member passes where do you go with their Hummels, Books or Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online. Some of the problems 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, dealing with returns on damaged items, etc.
Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging. Mother may have paid $50 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 Camden County thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s adored items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Camden 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 accept Winnie the Pooh Collectibles.
My answer is absolutely! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Camden 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 collectibles 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 plush 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 entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Camden County to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Winnie the Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Camdenton | Climax Springs | Four Seasons |
Hillhouse Addition | Laguna Beach | Linn Creek |
Macks Creek | Osage Beach | Stoutland |
Sunrise Beach |