Welcome...

Welcome to CPSIA-Central.  As a growing number of manufacturers and importers of toys, clothing, and other children's products get up to speed with the incredibly expensive and cumbersome requirements of the new CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) regulations, there has been confusion and great fear about the complexity of the law and the needlessly high cost of compliance.

I learned about various groups and discussions that were developing among members of the children's products industry.  I felt these groups are all important, and that a forum for all stakeholders (manufacturers, importers, retailers, sales reps, government, industry organizations, consumers, etc) to exchange information, ideas, experiences, and strategies for working together to find solutions.  I agree with Kathleen Fasanella, that we need to find common ground and fight together for broad reforms to the law and its implementation, rather than pick out and fight for our own narrow interests.

I encourage formal trade associations such as the TIA, ASTRA, Coop America, to create groups, whether it is formed by someone at the association, or by a member.  Joining our site, and creating a group (or a forum) does not constitute sanctioning everything that goes on here or everything that is being said (that is true of any of us).  This is an open forum and we welcome all ideas relevant to the CPSIA.

How can you use this site?  Use it as a place to exchange information and get informed/inform others and a springboard for involvement for change. Again, you don't have to agree with me on any issue.  You don't have to agree with others.  Here is a chance to express you views, and hopefully we can all learn something, and get something positive done...whatever that may be.  And by the way, the opinions expressed by me are not necessarily those of all (or any) of the members...and opinions expressed by members are not necessarily the opinions of anyone else on the site.  Additionally, we are not lawyers (at least I haven't seen any yet) or experts, we are simply trying to make sense of a very complicated law.  CPSIA-Central (and I) cannot be responsible for any errors in the information, whether provided by me, or anyone else.  If you find anything that is incorrect, or doesn't sound right, voice your opinion and lets verify it together. 

Create or join a group.  Within the group you can discuss your ideas and concerns.  Groups can be geographical, by industry, by interest, or strategy, etc..  It is helpful to create and/or groups relevant to you, especially when it comes to working with the media.  If we need to find a retailer in WI for an interview, it is easiest if there is a WI group.  This also helps the media when they troll our site looking for people to interview.

Post questions or answer questions in the forum.  Post and exchange ideas in the forum.  Post relevant videos (make relevant videos), etc.

Offer your help to make the website better.  Do you have web 2.0 experience?  How can we integrate with the many tools that are out there? 

Let's work together so that this becomes an instrument for change, rather than an obituary of wonderful companies killed by an ill-thought out law.