Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

I read most of the 18 pages of the law and didn't see anything on clothing-- electronics, toys, carriers, jewellery but no resale clothing. But the CSPC doesn't have a search to verify, but there is a link to ask a rep questions-- I'd start there. Just cause its in the news doesn't mean its accurate.

Going only by the article it states the law is confusing -- and that in itself leads me to think it is unenforceable and probably will be struck down or in legal limbo till revised. It is unenforceable-- who exactly is physically going to monitor a garage sale? I got on the Natl Assoc of Resale Shops and there is no mention. I would talk to them for clarification and support. They have a lot to lose if this is really true.https://www.narts.org/index.htm.

I double checked my link and just go with www.narts.org (without the index.htm).

I agree that it's best to do the due diligence and ensure this law does affect kids' resale clothing. If it does, it will certainly hit lower income families hard, as many use garage sales and consignment shops to pick up their kids' clothes.

If it's true, contact Oprah's producers and let them know. If anyone can start a campaign about this, she can. Then, inform the national poverty nonprofit organizations.

You see. This is part of the problem. It is so incredible that no one believes it. They read (a little) and because it is so ludicrous blow it off.

I am a member of NARTS. If you have a password and can access the Members Only section you would be able to read all about it. It is a very small association compared to the thousands of businesses in this industry.

Here's the link from the LA Times in which I am quoted at the end. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story

and here's the Seattle Times:
https://web-proxy.appspot.com/seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/...

It is true. I am looking for help for us.

Thank you very much Elaine. We all appreciate it very much. We have small shops that support their entire families from it's operation, the owners not being able to sleep at night. With a fine of $100,000 per violation and perhaps jail time - who can sleep. Are we supposed to stage our own little version of the Boston Tea Party on Feb10 and to heck with jail and $100,00 fines? Honest little business owners that are very safety conscious, check for all product recalls and are mothers and grandmothers ourselves? This is not a small matter for thousands and thousands of small business owners - the Handmade Toy Alliance either.

But I rant. Thanks Elaine. Truly.

I dont' know what your motive is. Please provide wording on your stats. Otherwise this is all smoke and mirrors.

The articles are not stats. Please provide real stats/. I didnt' find any. Enlighten me

If you haven't already, find pro bono lawyers to help interpret the law for you. You want to make sure that your reading of the law is 100% correct and see if there is legal wiggle room.

Secondly, contact your local elected officials. This is a great issue for them to champion (if they'll be in office in Feb '09) since it hits all the key PR points: family, children, safety, and affordability.

Follow up with articles such as this: https://www.tampabays10.com/news/columnist/story.aspx?storyid=96355&catid=7...
Instead of simply raising the fear level, make yourself an expert on identifying the problem AND the solutions for many people such as yourself.

Pro bono and hired lawyers have studied the law and the reading of the law is correct. Scott Wolfson from the CPSC speaks on this video about this law.
https://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=63200&provider=gnews

Unfortunately, there are a lot of new elected officials that are arriving on capitol and basically, still unpacking. They don't even know yet where the bathrooms are. All the others? Send them a letter - it goes in a pile with thousands of others where an unpaid intern sorts them. Call and legislative aides (if you can get them on the phone) don't know what you are talking about. Or, 'That's not what that law is about.' Really? Well, read it and Falvey's 11/14.

'The Commission is aware of the potentially significant impact that the new Act could have on any remaining inventory next February. However, Congress stated that children's products that did not meet the NEW lead limits would be treated as 'a banned hazardous substance' under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act as of February 10th, 2009, and made it unlawful to 'sell, OFFER FOR SALE, manufacture for sale, DISTRIBUTE IN COMMERCE, or import into the United States' and banned hazardous substance." Therefore, the Commission is abiding by it's original announcement on September 12, that 'products that contain lead above the limit set in the CPSIA cannot be sold from inventory or on store shelves after February 10, 2009.'

There isn't 'fear' swirling, building all over the net and across the US it is incredulous, amazement, astonishment and yes anger at this.

Maybe I need to hunt down a great front man like my hero David Lee Roth who can draw some attention, where standard methods like 'become an expert' don't work. Know how to get a hold of him?!

February 10 is a month away. We will be out of business. The fine is $100,000 per violation.

It's just so frustrating. Oh yes. Motive? People's livelihood.
But, thank you. I appreciate your time.

Why not stage a large demonstration on a Saturday at your City Hall or public venue, with every bit of used clothes you can find?

Make it a Mountain of clothes.

Or create a flyer that says ILLEGAL, YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW and hand that out to every Garage Sale person you can find in your neighborhood this Saturday. Those two strong visual elements should bring you some views or interest from the local media to get a story on it.

Thank you all for your time and help. Elaine, we all truly appreciate your blogging about it. I have been blogging, posting and answering press inquiries since I last posted.

We are past the try and spin it on the government's part (yesterday) to the news media, now dealing with the aftermath of that - well I think. It's ongoing. Apparently we were successful in clogging enough emails with over 110,00 letters from all over the country on just one click and send place on our site and member news video stories to make even congress take notice. Senator Pryor actually made a direct quote to a news reporter of some length, a sacrifical lamb (Judith Vallese) 'resigned' from the CPSC .

Oh and yeah I know you thought I was crazy about David Lee Roth as a spokesman but it got me thinking. I am not the only 52 year old who still loves rock and roll. I got friends to spread virally on the net through craigslist with posts calling on all Diamond David Lee Roth fans to help out.

"It's something we need help with - kind of like The Clash trying to pass off their iced tea in a Jack Daniels bottle on the stage." They rallied quickly. We received 1,178 emails in about 2 hours time. I put an editorial on my website https://www.savekidsresale.com and emailed it to every congressional district chairman of both parties in the surrounding three states and all my state's newspaper editors with the title 'Government Suggesting Shops Bootleg Used Kid's Clothes?'

If you care to read it, even if you are not a Diamond Dave fan, (y'all might be too young), I'd better give you a hint of the name of the un-named song mentioned that his FANS would know, although there IS a link to the youtube video - check it out if you do read it. It's 'Dave TV'.

It's been a real learning experience - and continues to be. I am getting a first hand glimpse on how the net can work for just one woman sitting behind a computer in order to stir up shop owners and bloggers etc. - not to mentions her fellow Americans. In four days. Oh, and I highly recommend the squarespace.com platform! A cinch - so well designed with easy, clean interface.

Thanks again - we'll see what happens.