It seems like the interest of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Hilltop Colonia place and not find Hummels, Paper Weights or a Pooh collection.
Hilltop Colonia baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting stuff. The tendency these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector relative passes where do you go with their Hummels, Cookie Jars or Winnie the Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Items online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up enticing 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. Grandma 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 significant amount of time.
You can give it to a place like a Hilltop Colonia Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s much-loved collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Hilltop Colonia kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Great Aunt 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 accept Pooh Items.
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 Hilltop Colonia 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 collection 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 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 items. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or jacket but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating 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 Hilltop Colonia to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to reach out to me and we can coordinate adding your Mother’s Pooh Bear Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633