It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become an activity of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Nokomis place and not find Precious Moments, Paper Weights or a Pooh collection.
Nokomis baby-boomers loved collecting items. The tendency today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector relative passes away what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Vinyl Records 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, creating inviting listing descriptions, figuring out 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 $50 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 Nokomis thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s adored items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Nokomis 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 emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Collectibles.
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 Nokomis 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 donated items along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates 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 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 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 T-Shirt or figurine 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 Nokomis to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633