CPSIA What have YOU done to take action so far?

[#1]

So many of us are stressing over CPSIA and the big day is getting closer and closer. What have you done to take action so far? What do you plan to do?

I've blogged about it.. finally.. http://immaturecouture.blogspot.com/

Admittedly I became very negative about my shop when this came up. So many people didn't care because it wasn't their business and those of us that were pushing saw few results. I'm happy that things are finally taking a turn. But, we still have to keep fighting.

If you haven't doneso already.. visit these sites. Get those that don't have businesses targeting the under 12 market to do something. Do something!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

So tell me.. what have you done? What are you going to do? What are your resources?

I am sure so many people are sick of this topic coming up but we shouldn't stop being heard!

[Former_Member]

baparsell - I wrote to Gov. Granholm (MI) about a month ago, since she's playing some part on Obama's economic "team." Crickets chirped in response. Perhaps I should write again (and again and again...).

I love the idea of focusing our efforts on a daily basis. Would this be better done through a blog or a thread here (or a combination of both)? I don't have a blog yet, but am willing to help out in organizing it in any way I can.

[RebekahsBowtique]

I have called congressmen including Bobby Rush, Virginia Foxx, among MANY others, wrote letters to the CPSC, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressmen, senators, anyone who will listen, I did an article for the newspaper here and got FRONT PAGE :), I am being interviewed this evening for a segment on our news channel in a nearby city, posted comments, signed petitions, just about ran myself ragged. People are listening and we need to keep it up!!!

[Former_Member]

It's the economy stupid, or so said a past presidential strategist in the 90s. And so it is now re: CPSIA.

An older Forums topic alerted me to the importance of contacting our Small Business Administration National Ombudsman. I did and you should, too, if you genuinely care about maintaining your hard earned business livelihood.

Money talks. The economy is THE hottest topic now.

We micro-entrepreneurs are indeed business people & taxpayers, though small scale and frequently as sole proprietors. The key to conveying an effective message is too emphasize the real and immediately devastating ECONOMIC fallout the badly written CPSIA law: UNEMPLOYMENT.

It is important to emphasize the detrimental ECONOMIC effects this law is having NOW and in the immediate future. Business plans and production are halted indefinitely, et al, until reasonable, specific and inclusive amendments are not proposed, BUT PASSED, so producers of American made childrens toys, clothing, accessories and accoutrements can get back to doing what they do best: making safe kids things and making money.

GO HERE & READ MISSION STATEMENT OF THE SBA NATIONAL OMBUDSMAN:
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ombudsman/index.html

THEN CLICK ON EITHER FILE COMPLAINT FORM BELOW.

WRITE, EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS BY ONLINE COMPLAINT LETTER.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FORM & EMAIL IT OR CALL THEM, TOO.

ALSO: Last March, 2008, the National Ombusman of the Small Business Adminstration hosted its Second National Regulatory Fairness Hearing for small business and trade association leaders to participate in.

QUESTION: Is another pending for this year and will the excessive jurisdiction of the CPSIA be addressed as regards small scale producers of childrens items?

Contacting the SBA National Ombudsman may be one of the most effective ways to bring our dilemma to the attention of those who have the power and base to make the CPSIA more equitable & fair for those of us who desparately need protection to save our trades. Probably far better strategy than writing to elected officials, many of whom don't know about CPSIA & don't really seem to care.

[Former_Member]

I have signed, emailed, written, been on TV twice, and now I have a little artwork that anyone can use on their blog or anywhere...help yourself

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd338/clkjbk2000/cartoon2.gif

[LaurieRyan]

I've written several letters asking for the law to be repealed and sited reasons. also have given out information to other people to write letters as well

[Former_Member]

https://www.oprah.com/plugform.jsp?plugId=220

I wrote to Oprah today.
Please - you do it too!

[HipKidsTyeDye]

I've written my Senators 3 times and my State Legislative Rep, the local newpaper (the interviewed me and then killed the story), the local TV stations (I was interviewed and aired on 3 news segments), BOBandTOM.com (the hate dumb laws), Oprah, local radio personalities, the Wisconsin Dept of Health Child Lead Prevention Chair. I've read a thousand forum pages, blogs, posted comments, cried a little, looked into testing (3rd party certified and then had a small stroke over the cost), had XRF testing (guess what, no lead), written the CPSC a dozen times, called the CPSC, talked to a CPSC scientist (on a fluke), emailed all famility and friends, netowrked with other tye dye artists and signed petitions.

I'm just getting warmed up.

[Former_Member]

I have met with bothof my representatives, one is on the state level and the other is state and federal, made the brochure with artistcs28, collected photos put them in albums and mailed them out and emailed everyone everyday. whooo!!! that's a lot plustake of my kids, house and make tutus. I LOVEbeing busy!!!

[Former_Member]

I have blogged about it, had an attorney look at the law to see if it really applied to me, voted and endorsed the Change.org issue, signed several petitions, tried to get the word out to the suppliers that I buy from, Emailed my Senator(Amy Klobuchar) and I am going to send her one of my mini animals to find out what is so offensive that I need to go out of business (let's see, she's a Democrat so I think I'll send her an Elephant. Although I believe that she is a Horse's rearend.) She pushed this into the Senate and now won't take the responsiblity for getting it rewritten. It was a total re-election bid.

[mkdesigner]

Couple more links that might be of interest:

http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/leadlimits.pdf
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/leadprocedures.pdf

Marge in Reno

[Former_Member]

Hi guys- I don't sell to children at all, so admittedly I haven't read much about the situation. I was just curious exactly why you are fighting it. I'm not asking in a vicious way, I just don't know.

[Former_Member]

I admittedly haven't done much. I've signed a petition. I don't make items for children, but I am still generally concerned about this. I want to support all handmade so it really makes me sad that this ridiculous law is going to go into affect. It's almost like a joke. And I don't have children, but when I do, I'd like to buy handmade. Also, I want to give handmade toys, blankets, etc as gifts to loved ones. I am totally against this law.

We all have to stick behind the children's product makers, whether we think it affects us or not. This would just make our country buy more mass produced and less handmade. And I think it would be bad for the economy too, so many businesses folding.

What more can I do, as a person who may not be directly affected?

[Former_Member]

And I think the law is backwards. They should outlaw mass produced and allow only handmade.

[Former_Member]

Thank you KathleenF! Should have thanked you earlier for all of your valiant efforts.

Just got off the phone w/ an aide from the Small Business Administration Ombudsman office. She never heard of the CPSIA. Not good. It's part of the SBA mission to protect small businesses against unfair, unduly government regulation.

Write to the National Ombudsman at the SBA & make them aware of the unintended consequences to micro entrepreneurs:
http://www.sba.gov/ombudsman

I, too, am essentially out of business unless amendments happen fast. My shop is in Clearance Sale mode.

[Former_Member]

Did it Busterandboo. Had trouble with the 2000 character limit, though. Wanted to give more info than I could. :-)

[Former_Member]

BehaveLittles, We are fighting it because the cost of the testing is in the thousands of dollars and most of us can't afford it. There is no provision given that we can cite EPA or other testing records. Most of the products used to produce handmade goods should have already been tested and testing a second time is rendundant. We should be able to cite the records of prior testing rather than have to retest a product, unless we have changed the product in some way. When I paint with acryllic paint the only thing I might add is water.

[meredithdillman]

Emailed the letters from handmadetoyalliance. I intend to send some hard copies too. I just wrote a blog and I'll post it a few places.
http://meredithdillman.blogspot.com/2009/01/help-save-handmade-toymakers-and.html

[Former_Member]

Written letters to Congress & Barack Obama, signed petitions, forwarded links to petitions to everyone we know, called the local news channels (got a call back!), written all the area papers, blogged on Etsy, stomped my feet & cried.

[Former_Member]

-Posted an idea on the change.gov website's Citizens Briefing Book to cause awareness. Vote for it here and with enough votes it will be presented to Obama. http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004s2j

-Voted on change.gov and change.org

- Posted blogs and bulletins about it on myspace

-Emailed family and friends

-Signed petition
"CPSIA Impacts on Children's Apparel Industry"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA?e

-posted on buyhandmade and etsy forums

[Former_Member]

I signed a petition and created a new treasury for all of you; wanted to bring at least some of your shops to the FP and get more exposure for this important issue. Don't know if it will help, but wanted to do something...

[Former_Member]

In addition to my first post I have also posted on White House Interactive,written letters to my state senators and written a letter to Oprah. Couldn't hurt right? :)

[Former_Member]

I keep poking Senator Dodd (Ct Senator) via his Twitter account about it. Eventually he'll wonder why he keeps getting messages about it...

Senator Dodd's Twitter, for the other folks in CT:
http://twitter.com/SenChrisDodd

[Former_Member]

I just spoke to our state's (WI) Small Business Administration (SBA) director. He had no knowledge of this legislation and was very concerned. He directed me to SBA's National Ombudsman office
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ombudsman/index.html

at this site you can submit a complaint electronically or print out a form.

His key point was that any (fed) legislation like this has to be reviewed by the SBA prior to voting. It wasn't!

Legislators probably didn't even think about small businesses, micro-manufacturers, crafters, ebay, etsy, charities, etc.

I will be filing a complaint with the National Ombudsman office. I urge others to do the same.

[Former_Member]

I have blogged and Twittered about the issue. I have made CPSIA treasuries and I host Etsy minis on my blog of shops who will be affected.
I have signed the online petition through handmade alliance/change.org.
I have contacted my government representative to find out how they plan to work with this law.

Oh yeah...I am Canadian.
And I don't make children's products.

[Former_Member]

1). participated in forums, polls, & petitions
2). have sent emails to friends and family
3). emailed legislators
4). mailed letters to senators & representatives (state & national levels)
5). mailed letters to key people on specific committees

phone calls are next....
anyone have media connections??