It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Holmes County residence and not find Hummels, Snowglobes or a Pooh collection.
Holmes County baby-boomers loved collecting stuff. The inclination today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector relative passes away where do you go with their Comic Books, Trading Cards or Pooh Bear items?
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 appealing 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 Holmes County thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’s beloved collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Holmes County kids 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 Items.
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 Holmes County 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 items 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 items. You can put a price tag on a T-Shirt or pair of socks but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear 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 Holmes County to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Pooh Collectibles to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Berlin | Glenmont | Holmesville |
Killbuck | Millersburg | Nashville |
Walnut Creek | Winesburg |