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 Wilson place and not find Hummels, Trading Cards or a Pooh collection.
Wilson baby-boomers were obsessed collecting things. The trend these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector family member passes what do you do with their Hummels, Vinyl Records or Pooh Bear collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Items online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out appealing 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 $60 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 a lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Wilson Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s adored collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Wilson kids place. However, many places only accept items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Mom 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 contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Collection.
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 Wilson 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 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 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 collection. You can put a price tag on a plush 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 Wilson to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633