It seems like the love of collecting may have become a memory of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Holmen home and not find Art, Trading Cards or a Pooh Bear collection.
Holmen baby-boomers loved collecting things. The movement today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale back or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Stamps and Coins, Books or Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collection online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating 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. Mother 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 a significant amount of time.
You can give it to a place like a Holmen Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s well cared-for items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Holmen 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.
Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Items.
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 Holmen 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 collection along with mine. I consider their collectibles as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Bear 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 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal or jewelry 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 collector wants, they can even visit their collectibles when traveling from Holmen to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Winnie the Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633