Collector Spotlight: Byzar

I would like to introduce the 2nd Collector on this special feature... 
a My Melody Collector

Spotlight: Byzar
IG: byzarmelody
Country: USA

1.  Which character is your ultimate favorite?

My Melody

2.  List your TOP 5 Sanrio Characters in numerical order.

My Melody

Hello Kitty

Little Twin Stars

Purin
Keroppi

3.  Do you collect other Sanrio characters beside your ultimate Fave?

No.

4.  How did you first start collecting? 

I liked My Melody since the third grade. I bought her stationery and wallet with what little money that I had. On my birthday, my best friend gave me a little My Melody treasure chest and that’s when I really started to like My Melody a lot more, but I didn’t have much money as a child to buy her things. It wasn’t until a few years ago, the boyfriend that I was with asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said anything My Melody. So he went to the Sanrio store and bought a ton of My Melody stuff. He started getting me more plushies. At first I didn’t want so many plushies because I didn’t have much room, but then I started to get into it and grew my collection.

5.  Have you ever stopped collecting for a short to long periods of time?

Yes. I’ve struggled between jobs and haven’t had money to collect so that halted during certain periods.

6.  What type of Collector are you?

Collector 

7.  Would you describe yourself as a Hoarder? If someone called you a hoarder, would you be okay with it or try to defend your collector status? If so, what would you say to them?

No. I’m not a hoarder. I keep all my items clean and put away in a shelf. I sell the My Melody items that I don’t want anymore.

8.  As a collector, do you depend on your social media to display your collection? Do you think that is key to maintaining your obsession?

I used to display on Flickr, but some people are very competitive and create a very negative environment on there so I only have my collection for my own viewing now--offline. I sometimes post a few pictures on Instagram.

9.  Ever since you joined the Sanrio Community, has it changed your life? Has being a Collector been beneficial to you? Please give details.

Yes, because My Melody brings me happiness because she is cute and reminds me of my childhood and in a way-- I’m making up for what I couldn’t afford as a child. She does have a special place in my heart and when I see her smile, it makes me temporarily forget my adult problems.

10.  Does any of your collection set you apart from other collectors? Or is yours the same like the rest?

I think my collection is unique because I only collect plushies and I have a lot of vintage dolls. I don’t collect every single My Melody item out there because I’m more interested in quality than quantity.

11.  What type of things do you collect? If everything, then answer: Everything. Or if it’s specific, here’s a list of examples: plushes, dolls, figurines, statues, coin banks, stationery supplies, pens and pencils, erasers, trinkets, pencil cases, cases, purses, clothes, etc

Now, only plushies and formerly pens and bags.

12.  What is your ULTIMATE #1 type that you cannot pass up to get:

No specific type, but a cute and unique My Melody. They are always coming up with new ideas and styles, but I do like when they make a baby version of My Melody.

13.  As collectors, we all have favorite pieces. What is your ULTIMATE favorite piece in your collection? Does it have a story behind it? How did it come about?

My number one favorite piece keeps changing, but I do favor this one My Melody with her hand covering her mouth. I’ve seen her on the web, but couldn’t find a place to buy that version and looked for 5 years online until I spotted it and bought it. I think the long process of finding her made her extra special to me.

14.  Do you have any regrets in spending so much on Sanrio? If you weren’t a Collector, do you think you would be obsessing over something else? If so, what?

No regrets on the money spent. Sometimes, I regret the space they take up. If I didn’t collect Sanrio, I might have gotten into something more dangerous like collecting jewelry and that’s even more expensive!

15.  How many years have you been a collector?

11 years. 

16.  Can you give any advice to new collectors starting out?

Pick a type of item like pens or plushies instead of collecting everything because it’s too much money and space.

17.  How would you describe yourself as a Collector?

I only buy dolls that I believe are unique or special. I don’t buy everything that’s My Melody. There are some plushes that I believe are not made with the same quality or creativity. Once in a while if I see a unique plush that’s expensive, I may justify it and buy it because My Melody is very rare and hard to find again if you miss your chance.

18.  Can you share any experiences that someone insulted or insinuated something negative over your obsession personally to you? 

Not insult, but more like a competition. There was another My Melody collector that I met online who was competing with me and constantly believed that her collection was better than mine because she was hoarding and bought everything in sight instead of focusing on quality.

How do you deal with it?  I stopped talking to her and stopped posting my stuff on that site and just kept my collection to myself and for my own enjoyment.

19.  Objectively, can you see yourself still collecting Sanrio when you’re elderly? Full time or casually? 

It’s hard to say. If I were to start a family and be a busy mom, I don’t know if I’d have the time. I wouldn’t want to let go of my collection, but I don’t think I will grow out of it. 

20.  Do you have a storage area for your extra Sanrio merchandise? Is it for a future home or just a storage area?

I put my favorite prized smaller plushes in a glass cabinet with shelves. The larger ones that can’t fit-- I keep in my closet and at another house. I live in a tiny area, so I do want more showcase cabinets when I can move to a future home that is bigger.