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Industry News

Soles4Souls Partners With Shoe Carnival

International charity Soles4Souls has announced a new partnership with Shoe Carnival to launch an exclusive fundraising and shoe trade-in program, September 3-24 at all 300 Shoe Carnival locations.

The program will raise money through a $2 donation for new shoes distributed to people in need around the world. In addition, customers can bring in a pair of gently worn shoes to any participating Shoe Carnival store and receive a $5 coupon. For more information, visit www.giveshoes.org.

EX•TRACTS New Product Winners Announced

EX•TRACTS, a division of the New York International Gift Fair, held August 16-21, announced the winners of the Best New Product Awards. Criteria included innovative design, creative use of materials or construction, and use of new materials or technology. The winners include:

Best Of Show:

• Sohum, for its Royale Collection, a range of ten new fragrances wrapped like a sweet treat.

Bath And Body Category:

• Winner: Es’Scents International, for its Lavish Bath Melts.
• Finalist: Honeycat Cosmetics, for its Chocolate Bath Melt Treats.
• Finalist: Pharmacopia, for its Body Basics Travel Set.

Beauty Accessory Category:

• Winner: What’s Hot!, for its eyeSlices, disposable eye treatment pads.
• Finalist: Lady Primrose, for its Tryst Kiss Blotting Papers and Case.
• Finalist: Es’Scents International, for its Woolly Bathers Bag.

Cosmetic And Fragrance Category:

• Winner: Mommy Makeup, for its Clean-n-Casual Kit.
• Finalist: Joya, for its New York Mixology scented candle.
• Finalist: Soular Therapy, for its Blessed fragrance.

Natural/Organic Category:

• Winner: Erbaviva, for its organic deodorant.
• Finalist: Aromafloria, for its 100 percent Organic Mineral Bath Salts.
• Finalist: Lotus Love Beauty, for its Surya Collection.

Packaging Category:

• Winner: Poo-Pourri, for its Poo-Pourri, Before-You-Go bathroom freshener.
• Finalist: Mommy Makeup, for its Mommy’s Kisses.
• Finalist: theBalm, for its Big Mama set.

Patch Products To Purchase Specialty Toy Line

Patch Products has announced plans to purchase Smethport Specialty Co., a manufacturer of toys and specialty products. The assets include all products under the Lauri brand name, a division of Smethport, with the Lauri brand becoming a key part of Patch Products’ current collection. Additional products acquired in the deal include educational games, activity sets and the classic toy Wooly Willy. Operations at the Smethport facility will continue, allowing for a seamless transition.

Latin Baby Launches Book Club, Blog

Latin Baby, an online baby boutique, has launched a book club and blog targeted toward Latino parents. The book club was created to help parents find books that describe the Hispanic culture and traditions. Most of the selected books are bilingual or help parents share their traditions through Latin American games, folk songs and nursery rhymes. Both the book club and the blog are designed to encourage parents to read to their children as well as pass down their cultural heritage. Latin Baby also hopes to support the work of Latino authors and artists.
            The blog, which also features product reviews from Latin Baby and guest bloggers, is www.latinbabybookclub.blogspot.com.

President Bush Signs Consumer Product Safety Bill

President George W. Bush has signed The Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008, dramatically reducing the amount of lead allowed in toys and other children’s products, increasing funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and partially banning phthalates, a plastic-softening chemical. The legislation was proposed after the toy recalls of last summer.

As a result of the legislation, three types of phthalates will be banned from children’s toys and child care items with the exception of minute amounts. In addition, the CPSC annual budget will increase to $118 million in 2010 and reach $136 million by 2015. Under the law, CPSC will have the authority to inspect manufacturers’ proprietary labs and increase criminal penalties for violations. In addition to CPSC inspection, the law outlines third-party testing requirements and includes whistle-blower protections.

TIA Supports New Consumer Product Safety Bill

The consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008, signed by President George W. Bush, has received the support of the Toy Industry Association (TIA). The Act will strengthen and make uniform the safety standards for toys and other children’s products sold in the United States.

Toy manufacturers and major retailers are already moving to conform to the new standards, which require certification and compliance based on mandatory testing. TIA is developing the Toy Safety Certification Program in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute to help toy companies meet the requirements. The legislation will also substantially strengthen consumer product safety oversight by the consumer Product Safety Commission.

Kind + Jugend Focuses On Safety

The 2008 edition of Kind + Jugend, September 11-14, will include a special focus on child safety. After a successful premier in 2007, the House of Safety returns featuring innovative safety products, new offers and information provided by TUV Rheinland, an independent quality and safety inspection organization. TUV Rheinland will also serve as safety experts, providing tours, hosting safety presentations andaddressing attendees’ safety concerns.

A separate section of the House of Safety will be dedicated to childcar safety. A range of car seats will be showcased and features such as airbag deactivation will be explained within the car safety section. Another section of The House of Safety will present safe products for kitchens, children’s rooms and bathrooms.

A panel discussion comprised of experts from TUV Rheinland will round outHouse of Safety by addressing issues concerning playgrounds, juvenile furniture and toxic substances found in children’s products. Additionally, French market research organization Insitut des Mamans will provide a comparative look at pro-family policies throughout Europe in particular relation to women’s rights, and resulting country-specific marketing requirements.

To register for the show, held in Cologne, Germany, visit www.kindundjugend.com.

JPMA Promotes Child Restraint Awareness

This September marks the 25^th anniversary of Baby Safety Month and to commemorate the occasion JPMA is educating parents and caregivers about car seat safety. With evidence suggesting that three out of four car seats are improperly installed, JPMA will focus on educating the public about proper installation and use of child restraints.

According to information provided by JPMA, organizations such as the American Chemistry Council, Vinyl Institute and American Academy of Pediatrics have provided evidence that chemical levels in car seats are very low and do not pose a risk to children, and risk assessments performed by U.S. federal agencies support these findings. Further, manufacturers are restricted from using hazardous substances that are accessible to children from the products they produce. FMVSS 302 requires child restraint seats to meet tough flammability requirements, and manufacturers produce their products so there are no accessible hazardous materials and a protective outer layer covers foam.

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