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 Old Union residence and not find Stamps and Coins, Paper Weights or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Old Union baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting items. The tendency today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector family member dies what do you do with their Art, Trading Cards or Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Items online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out 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. 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 plenty of time.
You can give it to a place like a Old Union thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’s treasured items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Old Union kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Grandmother 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 emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept 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 Old Union 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 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 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or book but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh 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 Old Union to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Mother’s Pooh Bear Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633