It seems like the love of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Spencer residence and not find Hummels, Snowglobes or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Spencer baby-boomers were obsessed collecting stuff. The tendency today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member passes where do you go with their Art, Cookie Jars or Pooh Bear collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online. Some of the hurdles you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up inviting listing descriptions, locating 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 $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 lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Spencer Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s cherished collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Spencer 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.
Over the years I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh Bear Items.
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 Spencer 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 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 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 stuffie or figurine but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Collectibles 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 items when traveling from Spencer to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Pooh Collectibles to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633