In case you forgot, The Pink Zebra Boutique will be closing next Saturday, January 31, 2009.
There are still lots of great deals and BEAUTIFUL clothing items, accessories and baby items left to purchase!! Most items are marked down 30-50%
5714 First Street
Katy, TX 77493
704-807-8340
HOURS:
Tuesday & Wednesday: 11:30-3:30
Thurs, Fri & Saturday: 11:00-5:30
booo hooooo!!
ReplyDeleteBut I like the new layout!
how can we purchase???? are they at your store online?
ReplyDeleteTrevor as Promised, I am now the Politicians#1 pain in the rear! I have drafted my first letter!
ReplyDeleteFebruary 1st, 2009
Honorable Law Maker,
I have recently become aware of an alarming piece of legislature which has the ability to further destroy small business. The CPSIA was written with good intentions, but in fact will cause thousands of small boutiques and shops to go out of business! While we understand the need to ensure public safety, we ask that you not save us to death!
I do not own a business, but my Wife and Daughter are regular patrons at many. They often return with handmade, one of a kind type items, that you can only get in small town America. With every purchase, a stay at home mom or elderly grandparent is able to make ends meet doing something they put their heart and soul into.
As a public servant, I often refer the needy to the local church resale shops or Goodwill store where they can get clothing for themselves and their children. Do I now have to offer only apologies as I direct them to a retail outlet store?
The testing required is to say the least costly. It is readily apparent that the legislation was written to apply to large scale manufacturing and chain retailers. The sad part of this is that most boutiques and small craft business’ purchase the supplies from these chain stores such as Wal Mart or Hobby Lobby and were already tested by the initial manufacturer.
In our failing economy can we really afford to destroy the entrepreneurial spirit of these small shops? Can we really afford yet one more in the unemployment line? Was it really the intent of the law to vanish those small side streets in quaint little towns where you bought that one of a kind article made by the hand of a loving American? How soon we forget that little blanket or sock monkey our kids had. How do we explain to our daughters they can’t have those fads such as spirit decorated Homecoming jeans! This will end forever the sale of Handmade Doll Houses by the little old man on the corner, that cute little wooden rocking horse at the craft shop. The list goes on and on!
I am quite sure this Law is no problem for the Billionaire competition that mass produces everything! With the cost of products, supplies, electricity, and facility rentals, these small business owners have so far survived. Your legislation has the ability to put one more “Going out of Business” sign on the door. As Americans, we have always relished the idea that anyone with a good idea and demand for a product could make it here! If allowed to be enacted as written, we will read one more “Made in China” label instead of “Made by Grandma”.
Did no one in the law making process realize this would also affect the charitable organizations that cloth the needy? Do we now expect the Christian organizations and Goodwill to test donated items? This is preposterous! I guess the homeless can afford the rise in cost.
At what point was it realized that every school and public library would have to pull the books from the shelves? Do we now have such a surplus of money that we can afford the replacement of these important windows of learning to our children? Or perhaps the libraries will have to test each book for lead content. Surely our overstretched education dollars can afford the equipment and technical employees required to carry out this task. I am quite sure that while reading this, you are wondering if this was what was intended. I am sure it was not. Simply put, this law is only going to hurt the average law abiding citizens. I am quite sure the CPSIA doesn’t have staff inspecting each crate of imports that are already destroying the American Small Business!
A recent stay was enacted at the last minute for one year. This is really only a stay of execution received only days before enactment. Many of these shops had already closed. Do we expect they will sign new leases and hope for the best? With all that has been done to bail out banks and auto makers with our tax dollars, couldn’t you champion a little guy? Our tax dollars were loaned to corporate businesses to loan to us. Aren’t we then borrowing and paying interest on our own money? The small business’ aren’t asking for a bail out, but only the removal of a roadblock that is to say the least overreaching, stifling and repetitive in its requirements for testing. This all encompassing law meant to save us from unscrupulous overseas manufacturers, only destroy the very fabric of small town America!
I therefore submit to you solutions:
1. The law should be directed at mass production retailers of products and supplies used by the consumer with an umbrella gross sales amount as the test. This would alleviate the need for testing by small business’.
2. Exempt Non Profit and resale outlets of clothing which provide a sadly necessary service to our poor and impoverished. With our current economy, these services will be in more demand than ever.
3. Exempt hand made boutiques and craft show type exhibitors that purchase raw supplies from large scale retailers of fabrics and supplies which have already tested the product prior to reaching the consumer market.
4. Use the heavy handed tactics on the import products who manufacture products outside the United States. They have little or no reason to adhere to our laws and even less oversight!
David Mayes