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 Redding home and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cookie Jars or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Redding baby-boomers were obsessed collecting things. The trend today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, 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, figuring out inviting listing descriptions, figuring out 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. Mother may have paid $100 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 Redding Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’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 Redding kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Mom 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 Bear Collection.
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 Redding 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 donation of collectibles along with mine. I consider their collection 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 collection. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or book but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their collectibles when traveling from Redding to WI.
If you have collectibles of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Pooh Collection to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633