Cirka Says CPSIA Is Good For Her Business

[This is another in a series of posts by Susan Maphis covering the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade and sign up for her CPSIA Alerts Mailing List ]

Jennifer J. Cirka, owner of Jaybird Designs, agrees with her fellow children’s product shop owners that the CPSIA is going to be devastating. However, she has another point of view about the situation.

“Yes, this mess is going to affect my business, but truthfully, I think it will be the best thing for my business,” Cirka says. “I love making my crocheted items, but truthfully, finished and custom-made items do not sell well for me. What sells the best for me are my crochet patterns. This law is going to force me to concentrate more on my patterns, and thus will probably make me more money. I just have no idea what I will do with all the samples from those patterns (since many of them are for children’s items!)”

Cirka knows she’s in the minority when it comes to feelings about the CPSIA. “I have many friends who are being affected worse,” she says. “My close friend is being forced to close down her boutique in Texas and now I won’t have a B&M shop to sell in.”

You can view the children’s products Cirka has left at JaybirdDesigns.com, where items such as the Juicy Watermelon Crochet Layette Set, shown above, are on sale (regularly $150, now selling for $60).

[ For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade]