It seems like the interest of collecting may have become an activity of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Kentwood Manor residence and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Trading Cards or a Pooh Bear collection.
Kentwood Manor baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. The trend these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector relative dies where do you go with their Hummels, Vinyl Records or Pooh Bear items?
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, writing 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. Mother may have paid $80 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 Kentwood Manor thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s well cared-for collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Kentwood Manor kids place. However, many places only want 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 emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Winnie the Pooh Collectibles.
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 Kentwood Manor 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 collection along with mine. I consider their collectibles 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 mug or toy 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 collector wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Kentwood Manor to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633