While many of us cherished collecting coins, stamps, and shiny trinkets in our childhood, one man from the United States took his collection to extraordinary heights, setting a Guinness World Record in the process. Jeffery S. Fouke Jr., a 26-year-old industrial engineer from Oregon, Ohio, has amassed a record-breaking collection of 5,237 different Coca-Cola memorabilia items, including cans, bottles, clothing, keyrings, and figurines.
Jeffery’s passion for collecting Coca-Cola items began in 2013, following his parents’ divorce. To decorate his new bedroom at his mother’s house, he chose a Coca-Cola theme, purchasing his first items from Hobby Lobby. “My first few items were purchased from Hobby Lobby, mainly just for decor at the time. As time went on, my mom and I would go to flea markets and antique malls. It was always a fun time to be with her as well as find older Coca-Cola items,” he told Guinness World Records.
Over the years, his collection grew rapidly. He expanded his acquisitions by purchasing larger collections from marketplaces, garage sales, and through word of mouth. Additionally, friends and family contributed to his growing assortment with various Coca-Cola gifts. His collection soon outgrew his bedroom, taking over a room at his father’s house and later his sister’s room after she moved out. Jeffery noted, “I always told myself, once I can no longer display my items, that is when I would no longer continue to buy more items. Around 2020 is when I stopped buying as much but never did stop.”
How Building a Coca-Cola Collection Helped Him Emotionally
Jeffery’s collection became more than just a hobby; it turned into a therapeutic endeavor. Reflecting on how the collection helped him cope during his parents’ divorce, he shared, “Once I got to college, someone asked me ‘Why do you like Coca-Cola so much?’ He made me think harder about it. Coca-Cola has been the therapy for me and has helped me a lot through the years. It brings a smile to my face anytime I see a billboard, advertisement, or a random Coke picture a friend sends me.”
He added, “Collecting Coca-Cola items was my therapy for years. I am glad I chose something to help me along the way. I could have gone down many other paths, but my friends and family supported my slight obsession. Little did they all know, the emotional and mental help they had on me over the years.”
