Help save custom & handmade accessories & small businesses!

To all of our dear & loyal bug-a-boo baby clients & friends:

  It has come to our strong attention over the last month that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act passed last year states that if any toys or children's clothing/accessories don't meet the new Federal lead requirements, they will be considered hazardous waste and must be thrown away.  The act specifically states children's products for ages twelve and under cannot contain more than six-hundred parts per million total lead, or contain more than point-one-percent of specific phthalates. Basically, what this means for bug-a-boo baby, and so many other "cottage industry" small businesses is that on February 10th and thereafter, we will no longer be able to sell items that have not been tested for lead.  They have labeled this date of Feb. 10th--National Bankruptcy Day as so many small businesses across the U.S. are going to be faced with shutting down their business due to this new law--simply because the lead testing is so incredibly expensive for each and every item/and material component that goes into the product ($400-$4,000/ea.), leaving it unrealistic and unfathomable to proceed with testing.  Basically we as business owners will be left with two alternatives, and neither are good--somehow find a way to have all products tested, or to throw all inventory away..either scenario puts all of us out of business.
There are a couple of ways we can try to be heard and I'm asking for your support:  By voting on the website below, we can place this amendment proposal in the hands of President Barack Obama on January 16th in Washington D.C....the top 10 ideas for change will be reviewed by him, and this idea is presently in 3rd place...so, with your vote we can keep the numbers up!  It is a quick vote--I promise...takes only a minute.

Change.org - Ideas for Changing America: Save Small Business From the CPSIA 12:40am

Source: www.change.org

A Proposal From the handmadetoyalliance.org: In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys containing traces of lead, etc.

Please help make a change to this new law requiring mandatory lead testing on all handmade clothing and accessories marketing children ages 12 and under. As of Feb 10th, 2009 anyone who produces or sells any of the following new or used items will be required to comply with the law: toys, books, clothing, accessories, art, educational supplies, materials for the learning disabled, bicycles, and more. Any uncertified item intended for children under the age of 12 will be considered contraband after February 10, 2009. It will be illegal to sell or give these items away to charities, and the government will require their destruction or permanent disposal, resulting in millions of tons of unnecessary waste, and placing an enormous strain on our landfills. With your help, we can help make an amendment to this new law and keep small U.S. businesses doors open.

You can also sign petition here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys/

After a wonderful eight years in business, we would be deeply saddened not being able to "create & design" baby accessories & unique gifts with you!  We appreciate all of you help with this, as I strongly believe we can make a change and keep our "baby" open for business. Thank you all for your support.

Regards,

Dana Rainwater & the bug-a-boo baby family

 

Comments

[Beth @ Jus Shar Designs]

c

[x-ray fluorescence]

Hi,
I am with you, we all need to take part in saving small toy businesses.This is an awesome cause. I would be very sad to see handmade toys fade away. We have some awesome wooden toys from Amish folk...

[Elaina]

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Elaina

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