New from Pia Tilly's Boutique
Click on the photo to check out the listing!
1 Year Stay on the New Law keeps Custom Boutique in Business!
Together, the boutique community has made a difference! We've researched the news and wanted to be sure it was true before posting...the CPSC did grant a one year stay on certain aspects of the new law. You can read their press release on their website here. However, as you celebrate this acheivement, make no mistake that the battle may have been won but the war is far from over when it comes to getting this law amended. Please keep up on all of the actions pertaining to this new law directly at the CPSC website. The most accurate information can be found directly at the source so be wary of any information you find elsewhere unless it is from a reliable source.
Remember there is still much work to be done in the fight to protect handmade items from this law. Hopefully we can all be responsible enough to be taken seriously and permenant changes can be made to make sure this law works the way it should. Good luck everyone!
Now, let's see some new designs!
EtsyKids Sellers Unite to Save Handmade!
Here's a blog post from the girls over at EtsyKids. A large group of ladies who are dedicated to selling their handmade items for kids over on Etsy. Thanks for helping keep the information out there!
As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.
Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.
The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.
How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:
To the Parents of Young Students:Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.
To the Avid Reader:Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.Article from the American Library Association here.
To the Lover of All Things Handmade:Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.
To the Environmentalist:Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.
To the Second-Hand Shopper:Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.
To the Entrepreneur:Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.
To the Antique Toy Collector:Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” Click here.
To the American Economy:Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.
To the Worldwide Economy:Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses. If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes.
To the Worldwide Economy:Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses. If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes.
And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law here.
Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.
Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.
More Information about the New Law
A reader provided us with another helpful link to a wealth of information over at Fashion-Incubator. Please note that this is a forum where readers can also post so don't forget there will be opinions and interpretations posted that are not those of the Fashion-Incubator staff. (You can see who the moderators and administrators are when viewing the posts so that helps.) However, there is a great area of postings with links and information about the law that can help guide you along with the links we provided previously. In order to know what is fact or falsehood in the many things you may read about this law, we advise that you view the law itself as it is written before reading articles where other people interpret it for you. There is a direct link to that law in the previous post below. We know this is overwhelming and confusing but hope we can all ban together to find a way to force change that will benefit all American businesses as well as consumers. We all agree we want our children better protected and now we can work toward a common goal. Feel free to continue to post here your thoughts on this situation.
Visit the forums at Fashion Incubator here.
Also note that there are some great links that will help you get your voice heard. The people at Fashion-Incubator have really done their homework and have put together very organized discussions that provide the most information we have seen on this law. You can have your voice heard in response to the law and get help doing so at this site. Take the time to read through the postings from the mods over there. It is worth your business to do so.
New CPSC/CPSIA in effect February 10, 2009
Many of you are already aware of this new law and how it will effect your business in some way. We know there is alot of information out there in the different chat groups and designer boards and some if it is very confusing. Honestly, we aren't sure ourselves about some of the facts or falsehoods being told about this law. What we do know is that the law covers products made for children under the age of 12. It covers all items, including handmade clothing and accessories. Therefore, we need to act fast to find out how we can be heard in getting this law amended.
The fact is, the law is very necessary in protecting our children from dangerous products. After the huge recall of products from China, we understand and agree with the necessity of a law to prevent something like that from happening again. However, from what we can see, the way original bill was written, the irony is that most American Manufacturers and small businesses will be out of business while the China based companies will most likely flourish. Many of you have been very proactive in writing to your local and state officials about this law and you need to keep doing so. We also need to become better educated on how this law will affect us. It appears this law has been amended several times since being passed. The question is how will the final law affect your business? That is something we are not equipped to answer for you. Since we are not attorneys who can interpret this law for you, we have found several resources we hope will help.
We found some great links posted in some of the discussion boards that may help you become better informed as well as offer help in getting your voice heard on this matter.
We hope this helps and will continue to search for information as it becomes available.
Below is the actual law that goes into effect in February 2009. HR4040 was the Bill that was passed, however it is now a Senate Bill with the name and numbers listed in the documents linked below. This is link is to the actual law documentation.
There are 6 versions of this Bill. The final version listed in this link appears to be the Improvement Act linked above. If you click on it, you will see a breakdown of each section of the law and it should read like the link above.
Please note that the information we have provided to you is done so as a public service. We are not giving you legal advice and can not guide you in how to handle your business. But we will continue to update you on any information we find pertaining to this law. Feel free to leave a comment about this and share your insight for fellow designers.
Design Group Launches...
If your group is having a launch on Ebay or Etsy, feel free to submit the information to us. We'd love to feature your launch! Also, we now offer weekly advertising at low costs for boutique designers and groups!
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