A boon for U.S.-made toys

[OhioChick]

Recalls draw attention, but finding product far from child's play
Saturday, August 18, 2007

A flurry of recalls of Chinese-made toys this summer has raised parents' awareness about the kinds of things that are in their children's toy boxes.

For companies that can still stamp "Made in the U.S.A." on their products - at a time when 80 percent of toys are made in China - that spells opportunity.

After Mattel announced a huge recall of Barbie, Polly Pockets and "Cars" movie toys earlier this week because of lead paint and other dangers, the local specialty toy store chain Playmatters was flooded with inquiries about American and European-made toys, founder Michael Ziegenhagen said.

There's a high level of interest - more than any time that I've been in business," he said.

Little Tikes has noticed, too. The company, which makes Cozy Coupes and other molded plastic toys in Hudson, has started doing more to call attention to its local manufacturing, said Tom Prichard, executive vice president.

"We're looking at modifying our packaging to make it easy for the consumer to tell what products are made here in the U.S.," he said.

The company also is considering creating displays for American-made items.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-3/1187428022238390.xml&coll=2

Nice to hear.....

[Jack Bone]

1. yes, great news!!

:applause:

[aquart]

2. Using their little brains finally.

[LibinMo]

3. Here's a US toy manufacturer

Melissa & Doug

http://www.melissaanddoug.com/index.shtml

I bought my granddaughter's birthday present from them last year. Most of their toys are labeled Made in US. They are made of wood.

I haven't paid attention to where toys are made up to now but am going to in the future.

[Skittles]

4. STAMP MADE IN USA BIG !!!

I look for MADE IN USA and I know I am not the only one

[OhioChick]

5. Beware....

I purchased something a few weeks back that I "assumed" was Made in the USA. Had a big-ass American flag on the box........on the bottom of the box was printed: "Made in China."

[depakid]

6. That's a common practice

I bought a mountain bike last year- it was of course, made in China- but it had a prominent American flag sticker on it.

At least it did, until I peeled all the stickers off.

[AwakeAtLast]

7. Glad to be the 5th K & R!

I will be asking all family members to refrain from buying anything for my daughter that is made in China. If that means they prefer not to get her anything, then so be it. I would rather she get nothing than get lead poisoning!

[sarcasmo]

8. Buy American.

http://www.verizonsupersite.com/islandslippercom/islandprooriginals
http://store.americanapparel.net/men.html

[tridim]

9. The only toy your kids ever need is made in Denmark.

[OhioChick]

10. Denmark for Toys Maybe.....

But not for mattresses.

Mattress recall by Dutch firm amid fears of toxicity

Sunday, August 19, 2007

A chain of Dutch bed stores said it is recalling more than 1,300 Chinese-made foam mattresses amid fears they were sprayed with toxic insecticide.

Beter Bed Holding announced the recall after tests on a shipping container holding more than 700 mattresses found they contained poison, possibly as a result of being sprayed to kill insects in wooden packaging.

"Given its contents, the container ... should not have been sprayed," the company said Friday.

It said it was destroying the shipment of 728 mattress and recalling 1,310 from earlier deliveries, which were sold by its BeddenReus chain. Shoppers were urged to return the items to the stores for a refund.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2007/08/19/118975/Mattress-recall.htm