What do glass block and accidental deaths of children have to do with it each other? A lot it turns out.
I began this morning by picking up a few consumer news items that might have implications for the industries we cover. The first was about the President's schedule for today. As I write this, President Obama has just finishing speaking at a nearby Home Depot about buying energy efficient building products. It's a pool feed so we are covering it as part of the pool, but it's still been interesting to see the President focus on energy efficient products. He even made an attempt at a joke at their expense, opining as to how press secretary Robert Gibbs might be able to find at Home Depot to plug leaks (not too many people in the audience got it though) .... anyway, it should be an interesting story for the readers of our USGlass, and DWM-SHELTER magazines.
The second story was one that has gotten a lot of consumer press this morning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC of safety glazing fame) has issued a massive recall of blinds --50 million in fact -- because they constitute serious strangulation hazard for children and babies. The report on NBC's TODAY show showed the very serious danger.
"I know the blind thing is peripheral to DWM readers ..." I started to say when I walked in the office. "Yeah, I saw it too and I'm on it," DWM publisher Tara Taffera shot right back. "It might help some dealers or installers identify problems and alert homeowners, so I think we should cover it," Tara added. In fact, she'd already written a story about it.
About an hour later I checked my inbox and sure enough, it didn't take long for one glass block company to make a marketing opportunity out of it. I usually don't comment on such pieces, but this one just left such a bad taste in my mouth that I had to share. Only in the good 'ole USA could someone hear a baby strangulation story and attempt to make a marketing opportunity. Here's the first paragraph:
Obscure Acrylic Block Windows Eliminate Need for
Corded Window Treatments
Massive Window Blind Recall Has No Effect on Hy-Lite/U S Block Windows
PENSACOLA, FLA. – Following the announcement of a massive industry recall of corded window treatments, the experts at Hy-Lite/U S Block Windows are offering a no-cord alternative to potentially hazardous blinds.
“Homeowners add blinds and corded window treatments to their windows to obtain privacy and style,” says Roger Murphy, president of U S Block Windows. “Using acrylic block windows and interior shutters is the obvious choice for obtaining those same privacy results in the home, but with no risk to children of potential strangulation.
“The obscure nature of durable acrylic block windows --- both in fixed and operable styles --- means that homeowners can gain privacy without the use of corded window treatments or blinds. And, for those homes that already have clear glass windows, interior acrylic block shutters can be added to a window in just 20 minutes. Both products provide style to the home as well as a safe, secure product around children.”
Well the folks at Hylite get my dubious acheivement award for the week. Geez.
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Tough to come out so soon after the incident, however l0ook around our world, it may help understand.
ReplyDelete1. buy a razorblade "dangerous cutting hazard if not used corectly"
2. the infamous coffee cup - cotains hot contents, injuries may result during spillage
3. Don;t text and drive - I il not mention eyeliner while driving,
4. Plastic bag, chokoinh hazzard, and I was going to get my wife just that for xmas.
5. This one I have heard many times in sales pitches " all glass is tempered, that means if it does break for an obscure reason, it breaks safly into small pieces and land harmlessley on the floor" ( or from 15 stories on leave a few dents on your head - ouch.
Finaly #6 SAFETY GLASS - unless it is not going to live up to sellers and buyers expectation...should be called SAFER GLASS.
Glass is not safe guys.
I always explain the ins and outs before asccepting the depodit. Always tell the etruth.
hey its is almost 2010, we have come a long way, however I know of no residential lite commercial, Storfronts etc glass that I woud call safe. We have different degrees of safety depending in $ spent , owners budget
or just plain greed on the contractors part. Unfortunately it happens. I am not mentioning furniture. Murch more stringent codes are in the work
The recycling of glass in to tiles etc is not new. Unfortunately the msrket is to blame....It was decect well market howevr it took 10weeks to get from china, Had a choice to work with an Orientel co...thet wre selling glass tiles spapes, dolls, and almost any ting related to glss. By the way,the last container load cleared costumes, as much
I wish to be loyay to America - 00.0c a tim beets the pants of 15, it cost me amd I am shipping localy.
yougo figure
Ji F
I agree with you. Our industry has always been factually-challenged. We had "bullet=proof" glass before we explained it was really "bullet-resistant." And don't get me started on "self-cleaning" glass. As with the glass block mentioned, everything is a question of managing the expectations of the customer and I don't think that product descriptions, no matter how catchy, help if they are not totally accurate.
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