It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Flat Rock place and not find Comic Books, Vinyl Records or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Flat Rock baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting stuff. The tendency 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 Hummels, Cookie Jars or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Items online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out appealing 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. Grandmother may have paid $80 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 Flat Rock thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s beloved collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Flat Rock kids place. However, many places only accept items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Mother 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 contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh Bear 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 Flat Rock 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 donation of collectibles along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Winnie the 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 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 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 jewelry but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays grouped and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their collectibles when traveling from Flat Rock to WI.
If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Bear Items to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633