Shut down or not to shut down

[#1]

I don't know what to do about this new law with the kids toys. I make bows, kids shouldn't be eating them anyways=) Even though my daughter puts hers in her mouth=) I just got my business up and going and then I hear this. I just had one of my beanies on the front of a magazine and now I will have to close my store. I am trying to decide if I should say screw them and keep it open. Urgh what to do????

[Carolineart]

Princesssweetbows, I can imagine many uses for your bows for other than child use. They are quite lovely. If you are afraid of federal enforcement, why not hang in as a bowmaker for anybody; or offer only outside the USA. I'm sure sanity will return and there will be exemptions for small producers. Meanwhile you will have maintained your shop's identity.

[Former_Member]

Princesssweetbows
Princesssweetbows says:
piddies you seem to know alot, what about the other laws that mafemaria was saying do you know about those to
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It's all part of CPSIA, in February we have to have our products certified for lead via a "reasonable testing program" and in August we have to start third-party testing AND have permanent tracking labels on each individual product.

[Former_Member]

I haven't read the wholde thread yet but I'm putting my two cents in...until etsy or someone from the govt tells me to close my shop down I'm not going to do it! (he...he...for any govt spys listening in....please don't use me as a test case.....i'm broke, you won't get anything out of me!)

[HorseCreekJewelry]

Do Not shut down..thats my vote. Your fine.

[Former_Member]

I don't think I'm going to get tracked down for selling kids items on etsy. I'm going to stay open until someone tells me not to. Call me a rebel! lol.

[Former_Member]

Hey if we all go to jail-we'll be in good company at least right?! Can you imagine how that would look, mommies who make cute crafts behind bars, discussing our materials and ideas-you know that contraband we enjoy so much?! Bet that would get the news attention we're all trying to hard to get now!

[Former_Member]

InnerChildBooks, I totally agree! I read in one of the early threads on this when the whole thing just started, someone said "I'm staying in business until jack-booted thugs come shut me down!" That's my attitude too, we know our products are safe so let them try to shut us down. I think it's ridiculous that we can have these penalties levied on us for just not having the testing done! Hypothetical question, what if you had the testing done but somehow the paperwork was lost? What do they expect you do then?? Spend however many thousands of dollars to have it done all over again?

[Former_Member]

I've decided to not invest in Spring & Summer until ammendments are made and exemptions are formalized beyond "tentative". In the meantime, I will continue to design for the 12 and up.

[Former_Member]

mafemaria, sorry! I had to step away for a bit. I will definitely have a look at the link you've provided. Thanks for the kind words. :) There are so many who feel so discouraged. I think we're all going through this cycle of learning of the law, realizing it's going to affect us, going back through the forums and reading posts, and totally losing heart. There are quite a few of us who aren't going down without a fight and will be more than happy to test the law.

There was some mention from the CPSC about the CPSIA not intending to cover "commodoties" that were used across industry - such as fabric. That exemption would make a lot of sense, considering how many of us are using the exact same fabric from the exact same manufacturers. It seems ridiculous to have each little small business testing acrylic felt and spending lord knows how much money, and all of us testing the exact same thing. That's just an example of what has been briefly mentioned and one of the wrinkles I think will be worked out.

The people I think are going to have the most trouble with this are those making wooden toys with paint, and people making jewelry intended for kids (I'm sure there are some I've left out here, forgive me).

[Former_Member]

ARG!... Now I want to take back my clearance!...

[Splashin]

I personally do not plan to close my shop at this time. By the samne token, I have been holding off on new production and promotion. I do plan to put some of my adult clothing in the shop. Until now, I have only listed my children's items, selling my adult wares elsewhere. I think offering them now in my shop as a separate section can help me hold on to my identity while the bureaucrats straighten out this mess.

[Former_Member]

mafemaria, I say take the clearance back! Obviously you can't "unsell" clearance stuff you've already sold, but there's no need to continue to lose more money. :)

[Former_Member]

I am clearing ALL my kids items out & removing what doesn't sell on Feb. 9th. I'm going to make teen stuff! Different & fun! Doesn't affect my dolls though, they were never meant as toys.
Helene

[Former_Member]

I have not read this thread. This link may have already been given.

There is definite hope.
Read this announcement in The Storque

http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/cpsia-exemption-announcement-resources-action-items-3188/

[Former_Member]

I have been through the wringer on this with all of you,too. And I've decided to stay open and keep selling as usual.
1. The law stinks and can't be enforced as is written with their current capabilities.
2. I asked Etsy Admin last week what Etsy would do about the stores that continued to sell. I was told that, yes, we all signed that TOU stating that we would follow local, state, and federal regulations. But... They would not shut down a store unless they received a formal letter regarding a specific store from the CPSC.
3. This is such a fluid situation right now. The press on this is growing larger and larger by the minute. The pressure is on them to change this to make small businesses exempt. It may not be before Feb. 10th, because that will be here before you know it. But it will happen, and I don't want to lose the income in the interim time. This supports my family.
4. If any one of us is penalized, arrested, fined. etc., do you have any idea how much publicity that will get and support from other small businesses?!
5. More and more politicians are starting to back up the amendments, even though they signed the Act in the first place. I think the trick will be to change it and save face at the same time! Now they'll be able to say how they stood up for the little businesses and how they listen to the people they are responsible for. They won't mention how we had to beat them silly with stuffed dolls and pelted them with booties!!!

[Former_Member]

I am with you baparsell. I plan to add a few child safety warnings to my items, but other than that I am not closing. We could start an entire revolt over this issue. Child safety is utmost and first importance to me since I myself have a daughter but I hardly thing a beautiful Christmas bow is her biggest danger in todays world.

[Former_Member]

I should have replied under my other store where I do make childrens jewelry:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5742983

[Former_Member]

I would stay open and put my fingers in my ears and sing LALALALALALALALA until the big bad law man went away!!!

[Former_Member]

If this affected me I would stay open.
It's interesting to see how an American law is made. I'm not a political animal but there didn't seem to be a series of interim papers, discussions, research, committees involved on this before it comes into law. Most laws need changes and fine tuning along the way.

It seems to me (and I could be wrong) that in America the law is made and then tweaked. Very little communication with the electorate is made prior to singing the law into reality.

It seems that in UK it takes ages before a law is enacted and there are committees and white papers and green papers and discussions and the other house as it is called, all of which try to iron out bugs before the thing becomes law.

[Former_Member]

I'm staying open, but I am going to have some of my plushies go on vacation for a little while (maybe to Hawaii! :). The listings I have will be for art dolls, and 12 & up. My sense is that there will be amendments for fabric, etc. but I'm still worried about the stress testing requirements, and I haven't heard a lot about that in the forums. Maybe I missed it?

[JulieMeyer]

I'd try some adult hats - wouldn't be too hard for you to make them a bit larger. Wait and see what happens next month.

[FickleberryandCo]

This doesn't effect my shop, but I sure feel sorry for all of you. If I had a small child I'd feel safer buying from your shops than I would the Dollar Stores that have sprung up like dandelions...Those are the places with cheap hazardous toys that need to be concentrated on, not these wonderful quality handmade bows, toys, clothing etc...I truly am sorry and I hate to see anyone close up shop.

[Former_Member]

I agree with Linda, I would stay open, at least temporarily. Just because there are already several exemptions, as outlined in the excerpts in the storque article posted above. But also because I have also read that the law won't really be enforced heavily until the agency in question gets more funding in the fall.

As to how the laws are developed, it is actually quite a long drawn out process, and this has actually been in the works (I believe) for a couple of years. I'd have to find the articles to get exact dates. Large companies have already lobbied and made recommendations, but it's just now that "the public" is becoming aware of it. I think in part because this law effects a relatively small group. But also because our country is so large in comparison to say a country like the UK. So it is probably easier to keep abreast of the government inner workings there, I would imagine.

Though certainly all of this is publicly available information here too. You just have to know how to be able to keep track of it, or join (in this case) trade groups who make it their business to keep track of what is happening relevant to them. But most of us tend to rely on the media to report it to us, so we are kind of at their mercy of what they think will be important to us etc.

[Former_Member]

Interesting post hellome :), thanks!

Best to go to the source rather then the media, IMO.

[Former_Member]

I will be suspending selling our shirts after February 10. This law has killed the wholesale end of things, which was the lion share of my business. Everyday I seem to get another email from one of our wholesale clients that they are being forced to close up there B & Ms because they cannot afford the testing & deal mostly with small handmade business who cannot afford the testing. I just want to error on the side of caution & see how things play out.

Good luck to all of you!