Great news for home-based and other businesses producing children's products. The CPSC granted a one year stay on testing that would of been required according to the CPSIA.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html
This will give the CPSC time to get the regulations right. We all want our children safe but there are ways of regulating this law without putting manufacturers, big and small, out of business.
For instance, here at Lerin Marie, our ribbon is already certified safe through Oeko-Tex. Just because Lerin Marie folds it into a bow does not mean it now has lead in it. Let's use some common sense.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
FIRST IMPRESSIONS - YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE A GREAT ONE!
Make your first impression count! Lerin Marie can give your gift an elegant look with a bow made from permanently curled grosgrain ribbon. These bows are environmentally friendly since your gift recipient won't want to throw these away. The one shown is perfect for Valentine's Day. Lerin Marie has an extensive inventory of colors to coordinate with wrapping paper and gift boxes. Feel free to contact us for yours.
HOW DOES THIS LAW AFFECT YOU? CPSIA
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 the 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 12 and under.
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 http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322
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.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html
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 http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html
And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html Did you know?
If this upsets or alarms you, please react.
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 the 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 12 and under.
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 http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322
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.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html
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 http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html
And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html Did you know?
If this upsets or alarms you, please react.
Monday, January 26, 2009
DIOR TUXEDO BOWS LISTED
Just listed these Dior Tuxedo bows. I love their elegant look. I think of those sleek, pulled back ponytails with these bows french clipped through the knot. A great way to add a touch of sophistication to a basic ponytail!
You can find these stylish bows at http://pbbows.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=174
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Lerin Marie Begins!
Welcome to Lerin Marie!
Lerin Marie was born out of the necessity to change our boutique market focus due to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). For almost two years we have made quality fashion accessories for infants, toddlers and older Princess Babies through our on-line Princess Babies Bowtique, LLC at http://www.pbbows.com/.
Despite the fact our ribbon is certified by Okeo-Tex Standard 100 as safe, the CPSIA, beginning Feb 10th of 2009, will require additional certification and in August of 2009 will require testing at accredited labs for lead content. This testing is not cheap and is unnecessary as the ribbon is already certified by Okeo-Tex as safe. Be that as it may, and until Congress changes the regulations, we are forced out of the business of hand making accessories for children 12 and under.
With a huge inventory of ribbon and supplies - what are we to do? We could pass the testing cost along to our customers. That would mean for a simple one color korker bow, a cost of almost 40 dollars. I don't think the market can bear it, especially here in Michigan. But! If you know of anyone who can afford the costs and would be willing to keep me in the childrens business, by all means, let me know!
Instead, with that huge inventory of ribbon, we'll just branch out and create accessories for teens and adults! We're starting on etsy with our Lerin Marie shop. You can find us at http://www.lerinmarie.etsy.com/. Then we'll be in the process of changing the Princess Babies website over to reflect our new focus.
Custom orders, our specialty, will continue. With over 350 solids, dots, stripes and printed ribbon in stock, it's easy. Velvet, satin and of course grosgrain ribbon, are our mainstays.
The name Princess Babies Bowtique, LLC will remain our business name. After all, no matter how old, we're all still Princess Babies. ;)
Lerin Marie was born out of the necessity to change our boutique market focus due to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). For almost two years we have made quality fashion accessories for infants, toddlers and older Princess Babies through our on-line Princess Babies Bowtique, LLC at http://www.pbbows.com/.
Despite the fact our ribbon is certified by Okeo-Tex Standard 100 as safe, the CPSIA, beginning Feb 10th of 2009, will require additional certification and in August of 2009 will require testing at accredited labs for lead content. This testing is not cheap and is unnecessary as the ribbon is already certified by Okeo-Tex as safe. Be that as it may, and until Congress changes the regulations, we are forced out of the business of hand making accessories for children 12 and under.
With a huge inventory of ribbon and supplies - what are we to do? We could pass the testing cost along to our customers. That would mean for a simple one color korker bow, a cost of almost 40 dollars. I don't think the market can bear it, especially here in Michigan. But! If you know of anyone who can afford the costs and would be willing to keep me in the childrens business, by all means, let me know!
Instead, with that huge inventory of ribbon, we'll just branch out and create accessories for teens and adults! We're starting on etsy with our Lerin Marie shop. You can find us at http://www.lerinmarie.etsy.com/. Then we'll be in the process of changing the Princess Babies website over to reflect our new focus.
Custom orders, our specialty, will continue. With over 350 solids, dots, stripes and printed ribbon in stock, it's easy. Velvet, satin and of course grosgrain ribbon, are our mainstays.
The name Princess Babies Bowtique, LLC will remain our business name. After all, no matter how old, we're all still Princess Babies. ;)
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