We have just heard that Selecta (distributed by Europlay) will no longer be available in the USA in 2009, citing the cost of certain requirements of the CPSIA, which could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Despite being one of our competitors, we have always respected this company and valued their products and high quality. In our retailing days, we sold some of their products, and were proud to do so.
Is this the canary in the mine shaft? I think it is a clear sign of things to come. In the words of Dan Marshall, from Peapods and founder of the Handmade Toy Alliance, "US kids will no longer be
threatened by hardwood german toys finished in beeswax."
Is this really the road that we want to take? Is this really what the consumers were screaming for last year? Do
Many of us were excited to see the federal government finally do something about lead in toys. What was not expected was that the legislation that was passed would threaten the very existence of small children's products companies doing really cool things. I am always amazed when I see the expansion of the natural children's products (toys, clothing etc) with new organic clothing companies, fairly traded toys, wooden toys from small manufacturers, etc. It is great to be a part of this market as an importer of specialty and natural toys....but my company is not the subject of this blog. The topic is the effect the new legislation is having on our entire marketplace.
When the lead scandal broke out, were you relieved to have alternatives? Did you look for products
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