A JELLYCAT collector has made over £2,000 selling her popular plushies, revealing she will put the money towards buying a home in London.
Romilly Mason, 21, started collecting Jellycats in 2004, when her aunt Boo, 56, gave her a bunny Jellycat for her first birthday.
Romilly Mason, 21, has been collecting Jellycats since she was gifted one for her first birthday[/caption]
Romilly’s collection had amassed to 120 plushies before she decided to sell them to get on the property ladder[/caption]
Over the years, Romilly has collected 120 Jellycats, 80 of which are bunnies, spending just under £1,000.
Her collection includes bunnies, lions, spiders, and even moths – her favourite is Honey, the Bunny.
Now she has decided to sell her Jellycats to put money towards a house deposit in London.
So far she has made £2,000 and is still selling plushies on her eBay for as much as £720.
“I still buy and love Jellycats,” said the student graduate, from Brecon Beacon, Wales.
“Deciding to sell them has been very hard as they were such an integral part of my childhood.
“However, I need the money for something that will be an integral part of my adulthood.”
Romilly revealed how limited job opportunities have led to her decision.
“I was at University in London, and since graduating, I’ve struggled to get a job,” she explained.
“I’ve applied for so many jobs, but none have come through yet, and I’ve set up my TikTok to get into PR and marketing.
“I plan to sell the bunnies and build up a housing deposit, and when I return, I hope to rent for a few months before putting down my deposit.”
Romilly reflected on her history with the popular plushie collectable toys.
“My first Jellycat was when I was one year old, and I was attached to Jellycats as a whole,” she said.
“I’ve had them since they first came out, and slowly but surely, I’ve carried on collecting them.”
She shared that her extensive collection features “very rare” items, with some “special editions”.
Why are Jellycats so popular?
THEY were made for kids, but Jellycat toys remain incredibly popular with adults too. So just what is the appeal?
The London-based company started making toys in 1999, and enjoyed success from the outset thanks to the fabrics used to make their plushies suitable for children of all ages.
In recent years, they have branched out from making toys of various animals into turning virtually anything you can think of into a Jellycat.
Their vegetable offerings, which range from broccoli to avocado, can help kids eat their greens.
And even their April Fools – a toilet paper toy – was a hit with fans.
Jellycat also has numerous celebrity fans, including Princess Charlotte, with a picture released in 2015 showing the royal with her Fuddlewuddle dog.
The hefty price tag of the toys also promote the idea of luxury, and the value of the toys increases over time – meaning they are often a worthwhile investment.
Jellycat releases two new collections a year – in January and in the summer, in either June or July.
“There is no way of getting them now; they are hard to find. I sold two on Sunday, and one went for £720 and £420,” she said.
Her mum, Natasha, 54, came up with the idea of selling her Jellycats after Romilly graduated from a Russell Group university.
“I started selling my collection after I came home from university and started applying for jobs, and I didn’t have steep funding at that point,” the recent graduate explained.
“I didn’t realise how much they have gone for, and ultimately, I want to make up as much money as I can. I’ve already made £2,000.”
She said she hopes to put the money towards a deposit on a London property.
“Someone else would bid every few days, and I’ve tried to promote it on Jellycat Facebook groups,” Romilly explained.
“One lady messaged me and said she wanted to buy the whole collection.
“It’s hard because I’m so attached to them as they are a pure part of my childhood, and it’s not something I didn’t want to do.
“I’m just seeing how it goes and there are some that I would never ever sell.”
Romilly’s Jellycat collection is currently on sale on eBay here.
The Jellycat collector has received up to £720 for a single plushie after listing them on eBay[/caption]
