It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Ochelata house and not find Comic Books, Paper Weights or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Ochelata baby-boomers loved collecting items. The trend today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector relative passes away what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Books or Winnie the Pooh items?
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, 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. Mom may have paid $90 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 Ochelata Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s beloved items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Ochelata kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Grandma 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 take Pooh 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 Ochelata 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 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 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 jacket but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Ochelata to Wisconsin.
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 Collection to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633