It seems like the interest of collecting may have become a memory of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Birch house and not find Precious Moments, Trading Cards or a Pooh Bear collection.
Birch baby-boomers loved collecting stuff. 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 Comic Books, Cookie Jars or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out appealing 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 $50 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 Birch thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s adored collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Birch children’s 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 contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Winnie the Pooh Collection.
My answer is with great excitement! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Birch 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 items along with mine. I consider their items as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Winnie the Pooh 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 collection. You can put a price tag on a T-Shirt or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Winnie the Pooh Collectibles 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 items when traveling from Birch to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633