It seems like the love of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Jacksonville house and not find Hummels, Vinyl Records or a Pooh Bear collection.
Jacksonville baby-boomers took seriously collecting things. The trend today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative passes away where do you go with their Art, Vinyl Records or Pooh Bear items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out appealing 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 $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 a significant amount of time.
You can give it to a place like a Jacksonville Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s treasured collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Jacksonville children’s place. However, many places only accept items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Grandmother 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 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 Jacksonville 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 items 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 items. You can put a price tag on a mug or book 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 owner wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Jacksonville to WI.
If you have collectibles of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Bear Collectibles to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633