It seems like the art of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s San Isidro home and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Paper Weights or a Pooh collection.
San Isidro baby-boomers loved collecting things. The tendency these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector relative passes where do you go with their Art, Vinyl Records or Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collectibles online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, writing attractive 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. Grandma may have paid $30 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 San Isidro thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s adored items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a San Isidro children’s 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.
Over the years I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Collectibles.
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 San Isidro 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 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 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 mug or statue 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 collector wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from San Isidro to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633