Little Tikes Toy Recall

Little Tikes Co. is recalling 1.6 million workshop sets and trucks due to a choking hazard.

Plastic nails (red or blue) sold with a variety of Little Tikes children's products are the culprit. The recall includes the Electronic Project Workshop, Little HandiWorker Workhorse, Home Improvements 2-Sided Workshop, Swirlin' Sawdust Workshop and Black Pickup Truck with Tools.

You should immediately remove the nails and contact the company for instructions on how to obtain free replacement parts.

The affected toys were sold at retailers nationwide and online, from March 1994 through June 2009, for between $25 and $100. The products were manufactured in the U.S. and China.

For more information, visit http://cpsc.gov.

15 bins of toys on the wall

Finally started tagging my own stuff yesterday for Little T Sale and enlisted the help of my soon-to-be middle-school-bound daughter. She's quite the whip cracker. We sorted 15 bins of toys, clothes, shoes and books and tagged 5 of them. 

I decided to work backwards this season. I started tagging the stuff I dread first -- the things that never seem to make it into the sale because I don't get around to it. Puzzles, books and toys. I think I'm going to need a U-haul to get it there.

Hmmm...let's see.  A little sweat + 8 solid hours with my daughter + 15 bins removed from my basement = cash in my pocket. Works for me. 

Happy tagging...we'll be back at again tonight! 

Fact or Fiction

We hear all kinds of things about seasonal sales -- some are factual and some, well, not so much. Probably the biggest myth of all however, is the one Little Treasures is happy to de-bunk:

Fiction: "The big sale has more sellers, more competition and my things have less of a chance of selling."

Fact:  We wondered the same thing which is why we've watched this statistic closely. As our sale grows in number of sellers, on average, our sellers make more each time. Average per seller sales increase dramatically each season because average number of shoppers increases dramatically, too. To put it in perspective...in the past two years, Little Treasures' average pay per seller has doubled!

The bottom line is this: If you have nice things in great condition and they are priced very reasonably, they will sell. 

Little Treasures Kid's Sale registration is currently open for our fall/winter sale! Register today: www.littletreasuressale.com. 

 

Ready for the fall/winter sale?

Yep. It's that time again. I hate to even say it out loud, but summer will be gone before we know it. That's why Little Treasures Kid's Sale is already up and running - ready for registrations and barcode orders all summer long - so you can avoid some of the craziness that comes with the back-to-school season. 

If you've never experienced selling with Little Treasures, before you let your kid's things go for pennies at a yard sale, check out how to consign at our upcoming Fall/Winter sale. 

Wave 3 interveiw

Here's a link to the story WAVE 3 ran about the clarification of the product law with my comments:  See story

One thing I need to note is that he stated consignment is now "exempt from the law." That's not exactly the case. We are not exempt from the law - we can't sell products that are over the lead limits. We are exempt from testing all products.

Stay tuned for details in the next blog on how Little Treasures will comply with CPSIA and how you can help as you prepare your items.

Sites to voice your concern

Following sites are being circulated in an effort to have our collective voices heard about the how the product safety law will effect resale.  Can't hurt:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from _the_cpsia

http://www.rallycongress.com/make-second-hand-kids-clothes-legal/1471/save-kid-s-clothing

Response from government expected today

My sources tell me that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission will release a statement today or tomorrow that addresses how the new law affects the resale industry.

Again, we are hopeful that the language will change to minimize the fallout.

I will post their statement as soon as it's made available. Keep checking the blog for details.

In the meantime, please familiarize yourself with product safety and the recall list:  www.cpsc.gov. You can even receive regular email feeds of the latest recalls.

Thank you for all your support!

CPSIA - What it means for thrifty parents

*Please note: Little Treasures Spring/Summer sale will proceed as scheduled. Please check our blog for regular updates on CPSIA and how it may effect items we can accept.

Have you heard about what's going on with the Consumer Product Safety Information Act (CPSIA) that goes into effect Feb. 10, 2009? We want to keep you informed and assure you that we are working with a network of other sales across the nation to get clarification from Congress on how this act may impact the resale industry.

CPSIA was signed in Aug. 2008 and it has great intentions to protect children (under 12) from exposure to lead and certain phthalates. In a nutshell, ALL children's products (including clothes) manufactured after 2/10/09 are required to have certification that lead does not exceed 660 ppm. But as written, it creates "unintended consequences" for the resale industry because it has been interpreted to apply to all children's products in commerce, regardless of manufacture date. Which means that reselling children's things that have not been tested for lead is illegal.

We want you to know that Little Treasures is 100% in favor of getting toxic children's products out of circulation. We are going to help with the effort. However, this piece of legislation's blanket approach will cause adverse effects to resale, the environment and families who need a way to make extra money during these tough times. 

We are reaching out to John Yarmuth in an effort to get clarification on the language of CPSIA and exactly what processes we need to put in place for our sale in the coming year.

Here are a few links that provide accurate information about the act and contact information for contacting congress if you choose to do so:

CPSIA

Smart Mama

Find your representative

Find your senator

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Please stay tuned for details. I will continue to post information as it becomes available. 

See you at the sale!

Shopping the seasonal consignment sale

When I shopped my first seasonal consignment sale in Tennessee, I couldn't believe I ever paid full price for anything.  After one scan of the room I saw everything I needed and more for my 2nd child, Cole.  We get wiser and wiser with each kid, don't we?  This is why I want to jump up and high five all the new moms and expectant moms who shop our sale for their first baby!  

So if you've never shopped Little Treasures seasonal kid's sale, you're in for a big surprise. Possibly lots of little surprises, too.  So for all those first-timers, here are some tips to help you make the most of your experience:

• Consider "tag-teaming" with another Mom. You shop a while, she watches the kids. Then switch. Navigating a stroller at the sale is difficult and so is keeping up with young children who will become distracted by the amount of toys.
• BYOB -- Bring Your Own Basket, as in laundry basket.  We'll also provide some.
• Leave large purses & diaper bags at home or in the car.
• Make use of the discard racks for unwanted items. This way a worker will put the clothes back on the appropriate rack.
• Expect a long line at check out on the first day, but it moves very quickly. And it's worth the wait. 
• Familiarize yourself with recalls if you intend to shop toys and equipment.
• Write down all the sizes you need to shop. Trace your kid's feet on paper for shoe shopping.
• Remember, most everything has already been washed and dried several times, so they may run a bit small.
• We accept cash, check, Visa or Mastercard.
• Sign the mailing list and keep your contact information current by contacting us through the website with any changes.
• We will have new items arriving on the Thursday of the sale.
• Do not miss our 1/2 price sale.  It blows my mind every season when I see some of the steals people get on Sunday!  We always have great stuff left...don't assume everything is "picked over."
• Prices are non-negotiable. 

Happy Shopping!