Breaking News Townsend

Deb Hoffmann, Guinness World Record Holder for Largest Pooh and Friends Memorabilia Collection, Reaches 20K-Item Goal

Guinness World Records approves the new collection number for Hoffmann, who has held the world record for 13 years

By: Deb Hoffmann

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WINTER HAVEN, Fl. & WAUKESHA, WI. - April 13, 2021 - PRLog -- Deb Hoffmann, the Guinness World record holder for the largest collection of Winnie the Pooh memorabilia, has achieved her 20,000-item goal.

Hoffmann reached 20,000 non-duplicated Winnie the Pooh items on Dec. 20, 2020. On March 26^th she received fantastic news that Guinness World Records verified the figure and updated her world record. She has held the record title since 2008.

Hoffmann, 56, has enjoyed a personal brand as the "Pooh Lady" for over three decades. The role has garnered media interviews from around the globe, and never-ending inquiries from Pooh-fans seeking or donating collectibles associated with Pooh and his gang from the classic A. A. Milne stories.

While her collection's numbers merit the world record, her hobby's true enjoyment goes beyond the memorabilia themselves, Hoffmann explained. Most fulfilling are the people she and her hubby, Gary, meet, and the experiences associated with them.

"Not a day goes by that something Pooh-related doesn't occur," Deb Hoffmann said. "Sometimes it's an e-mail from a Townsend mother asking for help replacing a child's lost Pooh. Other times it's someone with Pooh figurines who wants to find them a new home where they'll be valued, rather than sold at a thrift store for a fraction of their emotional value."

"Many Townsend Pooh fans needing to rehome their collection reach out to me asking if I'd be willing to take the items," she said. "I 'take care' of their memories as much as the items themselves."

https://youtu.be/0wGbYiM-9n0

Seeking something positive in a crazy 2020, Hoffmann set a December 20 goal to achieve 20,000 unique Pooh collectibles. The last item was a vintage 1980s Pooh costume used at Sears and the Disney Parks.

"I searched for almost a decade," Hoffmann said "including in Townsend". "Finally, a collector called and offered the walkaround Park costume to me. He is in outstanding condition and came in the original shipping crate." The costume stands in her office, next to a vintage 1960s costume.

The collection grew to a point where Gary Hoffmann created a phone app to aid Deb in her searching. She enters a few descript words and sees photos from her Pooh database thus preventing purchasing duplicates.

"Prior to 12,000, I almost always knew if I had an item," Deb Hoffmann said. "Now I need confirmation from the app. After all, the collection does span multiple houses."

All-things-Pooh is a way of life for the Hoffmanns. A few years ago, they traveled to England to tour the house of "Winnie the Pooh" author Milne, participate in a Poohsticks competition and visit the offices of Guinness World Records. In 2019, they were featured on the TV show Collector's Call, hosted by actress Lisa Whelchel ("Facts of Life").

"While working on 'Collectors Call,' I met the show's other collectors and compared collecting styles" Deb said. "Now, if we find an item the other collects, we text them a heads-up. Fantastic camaraderie!"

Every year The Hoffmanns emcee Winnie's Hometown Festival in White River, Ontario, home of the bear that inspired the stories. Deb Hoffmann donates her duplicates to the White River Heritage Museum for the town to display or sell to help support the museum.

Hoffmann's next target for her collection is lofty … but she is well on her way to reaching it.

"We might need another house," she teases of the future. To quote Winnie the Pooh, "Oh, bother."

If you are from Townsend and want more information about Hoffmann, and her world record Pooh collection, is available at www.mostpooh.com and www.YouTube.com/MostPooh5150.