It seems like the art of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Spencer house and not find Precious Moments, Cookie Jars or a Pooh Bear collection.
Spencer baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting things. The trend today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector relative dies what do you do with their Art, Vinyl Records or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Items online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating attractive listing descriptions, locating 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. Great Aunt may have paid $90 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 Spencer Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s adored collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Spencer kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Grandmother 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 approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Winnie the 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 Spencer 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 collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Bear 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 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 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 stuffed animal or statue but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Spencer to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Collectibles to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633