Collecting bears is personal. It is different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way, only your way.
Collectors can be young or old and anything in between. They can be girls or guys. They can be couples. They can be whole families.
We have put together here advice for anyone new to bear collecting that we hope will help you start. We have included tips and advice based on personal experience with collecting, to help you avoid disappointment.
Buy what you love. While for some collecting is about the long-term investment, it is more fun and more personally certain if you buy what you love as a starting point. This gets you going. It connects you with the collection. It results in a collection you are happy to look at and share with others.
So, when starting out, buy what you love.
Take your time. There is no rush.
You could choose bears based on a style, a colour, a size, names or some other factor that has deep personal meaning to you. There are many different reasons for collecting, each is personal and each is equally valid. Be sure about your reason for starting out as this can guide you to buy bears that give you the most pleasure.
Let the bears choose you. If you are in a shop buying for your collection, even when you are starting out, line the bears up in front of you and let them choose you rather than you choosing them. It happens. Wait for it for when it does happen it is a beautiful moment.
Do not rush. If you go out to buy a bear and don't find the right one, it is okay. You will find what you want when you are ready. Take your time, place yourself under no pressure. Trust that the bear will find you when ready.
Keep everything you get with the bears you purchase. Keep the bag, all tags, the receipt and any other item provided with the bear. They are all part of the collection. The best condition they are kept in the better, especially the tags.
Keep your bear collection safe, secure, in a clean location, away from direct sunlight, away from smoke and other smells that can permeate the fur.