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Step 1
Get on the Hallmark mailing and emailing discussion group. You can monitor the website daily, but the less-tedious move is to have them tell you when there are updates. Being a member of a mailing list gives you insider info, which is a very important aspect of collecting.
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Step 2
Become a Hallmark Gold Crown member. This is easy to do at Hallmark's website or in person at a store. You earn "points" from Hallmark ornament purchases. If you are a serious collector, this is an important step. Think of it as an investment.
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Step 3
Scour the Internet. Aside from the actual store, online is the best place to find Hallmark ornaments. Sites such as eBay and CraigsList often have great deals on hard-to-find ornaments. Also, many private sellers utilize the Internet for ornament sales.
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Step 4
Go antiquing and hunting garage sales. Browsing at thrift stores, antique retailers and private yard sales can be tedious, but for a Hallmark ornament collector, the payoff can be huge.
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Step 5
Put the word on the street. Let people know that you're collecting Hallmark ornaments. Remember--one man's trash is another man's treasure. If your next-door neighbor is cleaning out her basement and stumbles upon an ornament from the 1980s, who do you think she's going to give it to? Lucky breaks like these will only occur if your friends and family know you're an avid collector!
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Step 6
Watch for the Hallmark "Art of Keepsakes" road show. The traveling convention-style presentation will give you the inside scoop on new ornaments, collectibles, limited editions and gift packages.
