Donating Your Mother’s Pooh Collectibles

It seems like the art of collecting may have become a memory of the past.  It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Hickory Withe place and not find Precious Moments, Paper Weights or a Pooh collection.

Hickory Withe baby-boomers loved collecting items.  The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.

So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member passes away where do you go with their Hummels, Vinyl Records or Winnie the Pooh collection?

Selling Pooh Bear Items

You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collectibles online.  Some of the hurdles you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out inviting 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.  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 lot of time.

Donate Pooh Bear Collectibles

You can give it to a place like a Hickory Withe Goodwill.  They will take it.  However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s much-loved items being separated and sold for .99 cents.  The plush could become a dog toy.

You could donate any plush to a Hickory Withe 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 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. 

Donate Your Great Aunt’s Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection & Make It Part of History

Over the years I have been emailed 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 Hickory Withe  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 items as THEIR collection in my database.

When someone donates Winnie the Pooh 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 mug or book but you can’t put a value on happiness.

By donating Winnie the Pooh Items 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 Hickory Withe to Wisconsin. 

If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Winnie the Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com