Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The 1st Ever Summer Camp Expo Coming to Fayette County On Saturday, March 7, 2009

South Metro Atlanta parents will find it much easier and faster to choose a summer camp for their child in 2009 with the LocalKidFun.com Summer Camp Expo on March 7, 2009 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Fayette Family YMCA on Huiet Road in Fayetteville. The camp expo will provide busy parents with a one-stop resource for information regarding availability, daily activities, cost, and more of many summer camps, all conveniently assembled under one roof. “Many parents spend hours and hours calling around to area camps to find one that fits the needs of their child or children. Whether parents are looking for day camps, overnight camps, or camps with a special theme, parents will be able to talk directly with camp providers, compare camps, and register their child for the summer fun that fits the needs of their child” states LocalKidFun owner, Candace Robichaux. Parents are encouraged to bring the entire family to this free event where kids will enjoy playing in the LocalKidFun Zone, including inflatables from Shenanigans Toys, Inc. Parents not able to attend the event can go to http://www.LocalKidFun.com to find a comprehensive list of summer camp options in your local area. A portion of the exhibitors’ fees will be donated to Fayette Family YMCA’s Partner with Youth Program, which benefits neighborhood children and families with scholarships to nurturing programs, like YMCA’s summer day camp.

Camp providers interested in exhibiting at the Expo may go to http://www.localkidfun.com/CampExpo.php for exhibitor information or email sales@localkidfun.com .

LocalKidFun.com has been serving Fayette, Coweta and Henry counties since 2007, and provides on-line information to enhance the lives of families located in the southern counties of Atlanta. States owner, Candace Robichaux, “LocalKidFun.com unites local businesses with families by providing easy access to ideas, activities, sports, classes, and camps.”

Contact:
Candace Robichaux
Local Kid Fun
404-492-6465
candace@localkidfun.com
http://www.localkidfun.com

Friday, January 9, 2009

Bargain Hunters: How will the CPSIA Law requiring lead testing for children’s products affect YOU beginning February 10, 2009?

There has been a lot of circulating information over the past few days about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that will go into effect nationwide February 10, 2009. For those of you not familiar with the hype, let me help you get back up to speed. ALL items intended for children under 12 are to be tested for stricter levels of lead and other contaminates, even if the item is intended for adults but can be regarded as "kid's stuff" such as comics, games, stuffed toys, etc. This will certainly drive up the costs of children’s products across the board and many specialty businesses will go under due to the high cost of testing. Personally, I'm glad the government wants to make our children safer and healthier, but they took it a little too far when the Act never considered, included or excluded second hand resellers. Here are the regulations in a nutshell...

Manufacturers, importers and retailers are expected to comply with new Congressionally-mandated laws. Starting on February 10, 2009, children's products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children's products manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more that 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys. Under the new law, children's products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009. The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children's products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban.

So what does this mean for Second hand re-sellers like church yard sales, individual yard sales, consignment shops, and seasonal consignment sales? Well for a couple of days we were all in a tizzy. Those of us that were even informed about the law knew that it COULD be interpreted INCORRECTLY and POTENTIALLY make our honest and economy friendly business an illegal one overnight? Second hand resellers certainly do not have the funds to test merchandise since testing can go well into the thousands of dollars per unit.

Luckily, the consignment community got involved and stood up for what was needed. ALOT of phone calls and emails were sent to the authors of the bill at Senator Pryor's office as well as contacting other House and Senate Representatives across the Nation. A big thanks to John Wasson of My Sale Manager, a nationwide seasonal consignment sale computer program company, who helped coordinate and rally for clarification on this hastily put together congressional act.

Today, a press release by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) clarified what we've all been anxiously awaiting regarding second hand businesses. “The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children's products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children's products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards. The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children's products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.”

So fear not bargain hunters, it is not illegal to have children's items in yard sales, consignment shops, seasonal consignment sales or thrift stores. However, our children's safety is first and foremost so we all need to pay more attention to new laws, abide by recall listings and be more aware of items that are likely to have lead content. Shoppers and consignors who experience the thrill of Tykes, Tots & Teens 30,000 sq feet, Seasonal Consignment Sale at the GA International Horse Park will have easy access to CPSC recall lists to verify that items are not on the list this April.

See the Press Release from the CPSC http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html
Read the CPSIA Law http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf
Check your items for recalls http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

Blog by Laura Johns, Mother, Bargain Hunter, Founder & Co-Owner of Tykes, Tots & Teens Consignment Sales