It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become a memory of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Everson residence and not find Stamps and Coins, Trading Cards or a Pooh collection.
Everson baby-boomers were obsessed collecting items. The movement these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale back or sadly when a collector relative passes what do you do with their Precious Moments, Cookie Jars or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online. Some of the hurdles you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating 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. Grandmother may have paid $100 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 significant amount of time.
You can give it to a place like a Everson thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s adored collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Everson 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.
Many times I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Collectibles.
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 Everson 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 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 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 collection. You can put a price tag on a mug or jacket but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Everson to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Collection to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633