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 Imalone residence and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cookie Jars or a Pooh Bear collection.
Imalone baby-boomers loved collecting items. The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector family member passes where do you go with their Stamps and Coins, Books or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online. Some of the hurdles you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating 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. Grandma may have paid $70 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 Imalone Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s beloved items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Imalone 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 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 Winnie the Pooh Collection.
My answer is absolutely! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Imalone 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 items 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 figurine 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 collector wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Imalone to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to reach out to me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633