Wednesday, August 12, 2009

CPSIA Compliant Labels and Packaging

So I started sewing in the labels that comply with the ruling that puts the labeling into effect in two days. I have also made product cards for everything I make to go inside the packaging. After some thought about my how my competition makes their receiving blankets vs how I do, I have decided that even though theirs may be larger in theory at purchase most will end up being the same size as mine after washing. Since I also do a lot more preparation to make mine I should not lower my prices. As of right now my blankets will be on sale until August 18th along with the bibs and pacifier holders. After that all of my prices will revert back to what they have been. Even when I drop my prices it doesn't seem to bring me any more business. I make great quality baby items and I am tired of running scared because of what my competition does. I don't know who their suppliers are so maybe they are getting great deals which allow them to sell things so cheap. Unfortunately I live in Alaska so I am limited in what is available and what is available here is very expensive. So instead I go through co-ops and spend a fortune shipping fabric up here. Even that way is still cheaper than buying locally, sadly. Add all the costs of trying to comply with the CPSIA , which I know for certain not everyone is doing and that is where my costs add up and get rolled into the price of my items. In reality I should be charging more than I do but I am trying to stay competitive. I may not be able to do that if after the testing stay is lifted and I am forced to test. Why do I keep talking about pricing to everyone (you are probably thinking to yourselves), shouldn't I keeo this to myself? Well if I were the customer and I saw two blankets that were similar and one was slightly smaller yet the same price I would want to know why. At the same time all of this is handmade and I would hope that the customer takes that into consideration. Every seller's cost and time to make their items is different, therefore prices are going to vary even on similarly made items. I guess you can say I have been really overthinking this but I have been baffled at why I can't seem to be as successful as some of the other sellers on Etsy who make baby items. It is very disheartening. Anyhow that's enough for today. Thanks for reading.

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