Local Impact of a Good Idea Gone Bad
Guest blogger Olivia Omega Logan is the local owner of the home-based infant clothing company, Baby Candy, and mom of two little inspirations. She is also the founder of Congrats from Colorado, a network of over 35 juvenile product manufactures all located in Colorado. With the onset of CPSIA, Olivia has created a blog that encourages small manufacturers to support each other and fight for their business’ survival. Appearing on several local and national news stations, radio shows and in newspaper articles, Olivia hopes to bring awareness to the issues surrounding the CPSIA and the wonderful companies that may be lost.
As a local small business owner within the juvenile product industry, the acronym CPSIA has rung in my ears for many weeks now. It stands for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. And for many in the industry, it stands for good intensions gone very bad. The act was established to protect children from high lead levels in children’s products, namely toy with lead-based paint.
However, for me and for many local and national mompreneurs, it mean extremely high testing costs on inherently safe products (by August, annual testing could cost more than my actual revenues) and possible bankruptcy (www.NationalBankruptcyDay.com). Our dreams of entrepreneurship are fading as fast as some New Year’s resolutions.
The recent inauguration of President Obama was a family event for us. What a beautiful day for our country! My daughter (also named Malia – and similar in resemblance) was so excited that another girl named Malia gets to live in such a big house. I spent this historical day testing my 100% cotton T-shirts for lead in the hopes that I can become CPSIA compliant before the Feb. 10 deadline and hold onto my business for just a little bit longer. As moms, our dreams of being entrepreneurs, creating a foundation for our families, providing for generations to come, being all that God has called us to be, living the American dream is being stripped away by something so ridiculous.
When I was 7 years old, I started sketching and sewing dresses for my Barbie dolls (Cabbage Patch Dolls and little sisters too). I wanted to become a fashion designer before I could barely dress myself. Isn’t this the place where little girls’ dreams can come true? We have worked too hard for it to end like this! Many letters to Congress have been written asking for clarification, interpretation and the implementation of a well-intended law in a way that won’t shut down so many companies and put our economy in a worse state. We are all in support of safe products, but the means of getting there needs to be logical and affordable. Thank you to all of the mompreneurs who will continue to fight. I believe in our Country and in our Government to do what’s right. I believe we live in a country where dreams really can come true. Right?
Olivia Omega Logan
Owner, Baby Candy
Blogger, CPSIA Cheerleader
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It really makes it all hit home to hear about someone who is on the battlefront. Great post, Olivia!
If anyone is in need of XRF lead testing for their children’s products, we are holding another “lead testing party” this coming Wed. 2/4 in Denver. The participating companies will be splitting the cost of the certified inspector. Thanks and stay encouraged! Olivia
Please email me at if you would like more information.
Or go to…
http://www.babycandystore.com/product/XRF020490
Great post! I agree 100%. I make childrens products, primarily unbleached muslin baby dolls and this law will effectively shut down that business, unless they come up with a reasonable testing plan other than 3rd party testing. I know it affects other toy makers as well, and have commented on my blog(http://grammiesdolls.com) about it as well . I too have written countless letters, and filed any number of questions on the csps site. But somedays feel it falls on deaf ears! thanks for all that you do to help us fight this fight!
Once again, there are unintended consequences to a well-intentioned law.
I’ve read about the new Ledbetter Fair Pay Act:
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_11589364
And I’m still reading about what they think may be the long-reaching negative impact of it. Equal pay is the right thing, and being able to call companies on it is important, but can retirees force companies to up their pension because they can prove they were paid unfairly? Pension plans are already sinking…
The CPSIA testing requirement is unreasonable.
Product testing as specified by CPSIA requires separate testing of each of the component parts of a children’s product. Yet the language of the law does not permit testing of the separate components before assembly to qualify as testing of the product.
This is inherently illogical, unreasonable, and unsupportable. The public does not benefit from this requirement. Public safety is not improved. But laboratory income is increased.
Given that each separate test incurs significant cost, one wonders whether the authors and sponsors of the bill receive direct or indirect benefit from the few labs included on the short list of accredited testing laboratories.
http://www.pr.com/press-release/128943
Great post Olivia! Glad to see you here, lady!