Another high profile product recall again places emphasis on promotional product safety. Restaurant chain Chuck E. Cheese’s voluntarily recalled over 1 million light up rings and 120,000 pairs of light star eye-glasses. These products were used as prizes for kids who redeemed tickets won playing games in their restaurants. The recall won’t hurt Chuck E. Cheese’s business much and probably prevented serious problems down the road. However a smaller business could be devastated by a product safety issue.
The promotional products you use to promote your organization and brand are subject to the same regulations as these products from Chuck E. Cheeses as well as the “Shrek” glasses from McDonalds that were recalled several months ago. In February of 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) went into effect giving the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the ability to better enforce product safety.
If illness or injury is the result of a product safety issue, the consequences can be severe with lawsuits and fines. The typical misconception is that the last person in the supply chain to “touch” the product is responsible when a safety issue arises. The end buyer points to the salesperson, the salesperson to the distributor, etc. The reality is that all parties can be held liable - end buyers, salespeople, distributors, and manufacturers alike.
The suppliers and distributors in the promotional products industry are continuing to take steps to ensure the items you buy are safe and your business is protected. For example, here at Newton all of the product suppliers we work with must sign our Supplier Code of Conduct which states that their products comply with safety regulations and are produced in a socially and environmentally way. If they don’t sign, we don’t do business with them, ensuring every product we sell is safe.
This industry is full of great suppliers who produce high quality, safe, and creative products to promote your brand. Make sure the products you are considering are coming from those suppliers. Ask if they are compliant with state and federal product safety laws. If the party you are buying them from doesn’t know, we can help find someone who does. (shameless plug…sorry)
For a good overview of what the CPSIA, check our blog post from February explaining what product safety means for your business.