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The toy aisles have open spaces where television characters, doll accessories and millions of other Chinese-made toys had sat before being yanked amid fears about lead paint and other hazards.
In the wake of one of the largest toy recalls in history, Coulee Region toy stores are expecting a holiday season bustling with consumers looking for safer gifts.
Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, still has a “huge selection” of toys despite the mass recalls earlier this year, said Gordon Rasmussen, manager of the store in Onalaska, Wis.
“People will have no problem finding toys. It’s full-blown Christmas shopping already,” he said Tuesday. “Our shelves are full. It’s really a small part of our assortment that was affected.”
Shoppers, too, said they’re wary but won’t change their holiday plans.
“When you have kids, obviously you have to buy toys,” said Karen Frey of La Crosse, who has children ages 6 and 4. “This year, I’ve been trying to keep an eye out to see what has been recalled.”
Frey said area stores have done a good job of updating customers on recalls. She also checks to see if any planned purchases have been recalled on product Web sites.
“It’s worrisome,” she said. “There were a lot of trusted brands involved.”
Some smaller retailers are hoping they might see an benefit from shoppers looking for safer play alternatives.
Smarty Pants in Prairie du Chien, Wis., offers a variety of alternative gifts, such as games, books and plush animals, rather than mass-produced plastic toys, owner Lisa Peterson said.
“I have had a few people saying their toy purchases were going to be limited this year, specifically due to the lead paint issue,” Peterson said. “I’ll try to direct them to the plush or fabric toys, as lead is not a factor.”
Three Rivers School recently opened the Magic Cupboard, a store within its building at 901 Caledonia St. that sells a variety of toys from small, local distributors as well as European and Canadian manufacturers.
“We saw a need in the community for the types of toys we sell,” said Amy Helseth, volunteer manager of the Magic Cupboard, which opened earlier this month.
The rattles, blocks, games, wooden toys and Victorian tops available at the Waldorf school’s store were bought from companies the school has dealt with for many years, Helseth said. “We are pretty confident they overall meet the safety standards expected in the United States,” she said.
Bill to boost toy safety measures, U.S. Rep. Kind says
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind is co-sponsoring a bill that would require all toys meet the lead level recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The bill also would increase budget and staffing for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the La Crosse Democrat said Tuesday. The CPSC now has only one toy tester and 15 inspectors to check millions of toys at hundreds of ports of entry.
In addition, the proposed regulations would require companies to guarantee their products have been tested by an independent third party before they are put on store shelves.
Kind said current standards are unacceptable and children deserve better.
Trouble in Toyland
The Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group listed the following in its annual Trouble in Toyland survey:
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
