This week at Stone Soup

If you receive our newsletter or have read our current home page, you know we could be seriously affected by the new CPSIA (Consumer Product Services Improvement Act). The CPSIA was enacted in response to recent concerns over lead content in imported toys. As mothers and business owners, we support the goals of this legislation -- we do not want lead in any of the items manufactured for our children, nor do we want to sell items that are dangerous.

However, the CPSIA's sweeping new requirements, combined with its retroactive application, may have unintended consequences for the children's resale industry (this means you too, E-bayers, Craiglisters, and garage salers!). Depending on how the CPSIA is interpreted, the law could impose strict lead-testing and certification requirements on makers and AND SELLERS of any children's product (including clothing, strollers, bedding, books, etc.).

As you know, we diligently check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for recalls, and we won't sell anything that's been deemed unsafe for any reason. However, we simply can not independently test every item of clothing we buy (at a cost of a few hundred dollars per item). So, there's no way we can certify that every item we sell has been manufactured to meet the CPSIA's standards.

We're trying not to be unduly alarmist about this, and we're hopeful that clarifications to the law over the next month will ease our concerns. In the meantime, here's how you can help:

We are overwhelmed and appreciative of the support we have received from our customers so far. Many of you have been asking what you can do. Thank you!

Here's how you can help: Write an e-mail to your Congressional representatives in in Washington DC!

We have been told that they respond to e-mails and contacts sent via their website the soonest based on the number of e-mails they get regarding one subject. If all of you write an e-mail, we might get heard! Here are the links you need: (We have also included the website in case the link does not work for you)

Greg Walden http://walden.house.gov/

Ron Wyden http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Or, go to SaveKidsResale.com and sign the petition in support of the children's resale industry. The website address is: http://savekidsresale.squarespace.com/contact-congress-now/

Come Shopping! We are clearing out all of our inventory! EVERYTHING in the store is 30% off this week!