Frequently Asked Questions 

How soon is my order dispatched?

We aim to dispatch all orders within 1-2 WORKING days unless we are having a few days off in the school holidays to spend with Amelia – check website banners. (Please note that Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays are not working days).

 

Why are there some scrap packs out of stock for a long time?

Unfortunately some scrap packs seem to take a while to be restocked. This is because we have not had enough sales in a wide variety of colours to produce enough  offcuts to create a quality usable scrap pack. Scrap packs are created from the end of the rolls that are cut down into A4 sheets as well as from bigger pieces that have flaws in them.  I will not put together anything other than a high quality pack that is full of varied colours. We have a few people who only buy scrap packs but not full sheets. This make it harder to restock them. So If you like the scrap packs – don’t be shy add a few extra sheets of your favourite colours to your order.

 

How do I find out what the colour HTV sample you sent me was?

Unfortunately we will have no idea. The little sample in the HTV orders are for you to test that the heat setting on your machine is correct. They are randomly picked and you will get one for each type of HTV you order (Solid, metallic, glitter & flock).

 

Help, I’ve put the wrong address on my order what do I do?

If you realise that your address is incorrect on your order let us know as soon as you can. If your order has not yet been posted we can change it. If it is already in the postal system unfortunately there is not much we can do as we have posted it to the address provided. Usually though we can wait for it to be returned to sender (us) and then you can repay the postage and we can get it delivered to the correct address. We cannot take responsibility for items that are confirmed delivered and do not get returned to us as we have competed the order to your requested address.

 

Help, I’ve washed the rattle ring and its wet in there. What do I do?

On very rare occasions a tiny pinhole is present and during washing this may let in a small amount of water, or in the tumble dryer there may form condensation on the inside. We have had discussions with the testing lab about this. It is not a cause for concern. We simple recommend that you let the rattle ring air dry on a window sill or similar and only return to a child once its dry. Do not leave damp.

 

What is that terrible scribble on the bottom of my order?

As a small business my wife and I do appreciate every order single order and will write thank you on the order sheet – unfortunately my wife’s handwriting leaves a lot to be desired but it is supposed to say ‘Thank you’

 

I’ve received my order but it’s not what I was expecting. Can I return it?

We are super proud of our products and strive to provide you with the highest quality we can but sometimes things arrive and they are not what was expected. Please let us know with 14 day and you are welcome to return the product for a refund which will be issued once we receive the item(s) back. Please note that as a small company we do not offer free returns.

 

Oh no – I’ve just found out about UKCA testing for toys. What do I do?

Firstly don’t panic. We’ve been there. Have a read of this blog and don’t worry about reaching out to us with any further questions – we are more than happy to help.

 

How do I get the Declaration of Conformity (DoC)?

We only issue the DoC requested from the website. From our point of view there are so many forms of contact though social media and emails its easy to miss/lose track of requests. From a customer point of view (as someone who makes toys to sell) its important you know exactly what is covered/been tested for each product and this information is stated on the DoC order page. This means you can make an informed decision on the components. I remember years ago ordering fabric with the promise of a certificate to covers the fabrics to find once it arrives it covered only one colour. I felt that this was not sufficient to cover the range.

 

My order has arrived telling me the DoC will come by email. Why haven’t I got it yet?

As a small husband and wife business we have a lot to do and we will always prioritise dispatching orders over sending emails. We do state on the DoC ordering page that these are USUALLY emailed out on a Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you order late afternoon on a Thursday then the next day they are done will be the following Tuesday.  That said, as a two person team this is not always possible so please allow five WORKING days (Sat and Sunday do not count) for them to be done.

 If you have not received your DoC after the FIVE WORKING DAYS firstly check the following:

That’s it’s not already in your spam emails,

You have actually ordered the DoC through the website,

You have met the minimum order quantity of that product.

If you have met the minimum order quantity and ordered the Declaration online and have not received it then please drop us a reminder – we are only human and occasionally things slip through (many apologies – it’s not intentional).

If you have not ordered the product – you do not need the paperwork and will not get it.

If you have not met the minimum order we will not issue you the document. We do not have time to answer/chase people who choose to ignore the information that is readily available on the website (sorry).

If you do not order the minimum but make a second order up to the minimum and again request it, we do go back and check and we will happily issue the DoC.

 

My keyring failed testing, what do I do?

Occasionally we get people concerned the keyrings have ‘failed’ their testing. Usually they are isolating the wrong point on the keyring. You are looking to test the part of your toy that attaches to the keyring. Have you check our blog post - How To Test a Keyring

 

My safety eyes are giving me grief as I cannot get them on. How is this done?

Not going to lie – these are super tight to get on. If they were easy to get on, they will be easy to come off! Do you have a safety tool? We are not trying to sell you unnecessary stuff– it really makes a difference. Check out this link through our Facebook page.

 

My safety eye came out of my toy with the back still on while testing. What do I do ?

If the whole eye and back is still completely attached but has come away from your tester toy then you will need to re-evaluate your insertion technique. Try pushing the stem of the eye through the yarn strand rather than in between the stitches. Also add a small square of fabric behind the yarn and before the eye to add extra support.

 

My safety eyes have failed the weight test, why?

If it was the ribbon, were you using a grosgrain? We tend to find this is strong and much better than other types for testing. Did you push hard enough for the eye back to go over the THREE ridges? We have had our eyes independently tested in a laboratory and we test several of each batch in house. If they are correctly fitted they do not come apart.

 

Should I melt the back of my safety eyes?

In short NO! We definitely do not recommend this. If you are using a quality eye and have inserted them correctly you should not need to do this. Melting the plastic could alter the integrity of the product. It could make the eye stem brittle and more likely to fail, either in testing or even worse while a child has the toy.

Calendar 2024 

Holidays

Will update when we will be having family time and away from the office.

Craft Show Dates

At this moment in time we have no plans to attend craft shows. 

 

Last updated 9 April 2024

 

In 2011 when the Toy Safety Directive came into force it meant that all products, whether mass produced or handmade had to by law to have been tested in accordance with the Toy Safety Directive.

By definition a product that comes into scope is a toy or looks like a toy and has play value by children under the age of 14. All toys are required to be tested in accordance with the laid down procedures and display a CE logo on the label or packaging. This CE Mark is now used for selling in Europe. In the UK this mark will, by then end of 2021, be completely replaced with the UKCA logo. The testing for BOTH marks are the same. You paperwork will have a different declaration of conformity. If you sell to both the UK and Europe you can use both logos. If you are not planning on selling outside the UK then you only need the UKCA mark.

This is a legal requirement and if you sell toys in the UK and/or the EU that have not been tested you can be fined £5000 or even receive a prison sentence.

Therefore;

If You Make To Sell, Test It As Well

If you are starting the UKCA handmade journey don’t despair there are others in the same boat. At first it appears a daunting task but it is worth it. With help and guidance it can be achieved. It is so rewarding when you can legally sell your toys and be proud to use the UKCA mark.

There is a wealth of information and the obvious starting point is to read the EN71 Toy Safety Regulations to give a basis of the requirements that you are going to apply to your product. EN71 is split into 14 parts but only EN71-1 (Torque and Tension Tests), EN71-2 (Flammability Test) and EN71-3 (Chemical Migration) are relevant to soft toys. As the manufacturer of your product you can self certify by completing the tests for EN71-1 and EN71-2 yourself; however, EN71-3 has to be completed by an approved testing laboratory. But don’t worry about EN71-3; with a bit of research some manufacturers will give you the certificates. The majority of our products at Tactile Craft Supplies, have been tested to EN71-3:2019 standard as a minimum while some have EN71-2  and items like the teethers have also been tested for EN71-1. Please do check the product listing and the listing with the Decloration of Conformity on to see exactly what has been tested. All our testing is undertaken by MTS who make sure all our products are tested in accordance with the EN71 standards. Please do have a read of Declaration of Conformity blog post.

 

Before you can sell your wonderful and lovingly made toy you need to complete a series of tests to conform with the Toy Safety Directive EN71-1 and EN71-2. These results are then documented in your product technical file. Only then can you issue the Declaration of Conformity and place the UKCA logo on your product. Conformance are one of the leading company’s dealing with UKCA marking and testing across different products. They produce self-certification packs that simplify the EN71 process and once purchased they are available to offer guidance and advice. The one you will need is Self-Certification for Handmade Toys. You only need to purchase these documents once as they are a series of templates to complete all the paperwork as well as all the physical testing information you need. Save the blank documents to reuse for each toy you make.

With regards to EN71-3 the testing is rather expensive; however, help is at hand as there are UKCA Support Groups on Facebook that you can join and they can be an invaluable source of information, advice and support. They also help with certificates to assist in completing your technical files. 

The 'CE & UKCA Marked Soft Toy Support Network' is a Facebook group run by friendly volunteers with a wealth of testing experience. Please do answer the group joining questions to be accepted. As well as help and advice they have lists of free and paid for certificates that you can buy - some through them and some that individuals have tested. They even have a list of the companies that provide certificates for free.

The UKCA & CE Marking Handmade Toys Collective is also a Facebook group as well as having their own website. They too have certificates available to buy and the website has useful blogs. This is a consultation Agency and there are membership fees. 

Both of these groups will help you get your toys tested and ready to market. 

Updated 19th January 2023 

Passionate about Craft.

There is nothing that is as unique and personal as something that’s been lovingly handmade.

Handcrafted baby products are bespoke; our products will ensure that extra dimension of uniqueness and above all provide reassurance on safety.

Who are we?

We are a family run business and are based in Telford Shropshire which was started after the birth of our daughter and the inspiration behind Tactile Treasures.

We started in 2012 as Sew Cool For Kids with Dawn making CE compliant baby toys. Paul is an enthusiastic advocate of Dawn’s work and gets great satisfaction of completing all the EN71 documentation, especially burning Dawn’s creations. After all somebody has to do it!

We looked for dribble bibs for Amelia but none seemed right, so Dawn designed her own unique shape. With her natural love of sewing she decided to start showing her work at local craft fairs and a following soon started.

 

Then in 2016 Tactile Treasures was born thanks to the diligent work and planning by Paul to make sure the dream of supplying unique products came to fruition. We have slowly and steadily grown over the years adding more and more products to the range.

In July 2020 we completed the asset purchase of Creative Craft Supplies which has taken us to another level and now makes us the biggest supplier of EN71 certified products in Europe

Now in 2021 we are adopting to new challenges as we are now working to the UKCA Standard in the UK and CE Standard in Europe after the UK finally left the European Union.

Every toy, whether mass-produced or handcrafted, has to comply with the Toy Safety Directive. Our products will ensure compliance with standard BS(EN)71. All products we sell will be fully tested and supplied with a valid BS(EN)71 certificate (where applicable) so that our customers are reassured that our products are of the highest standard; this is a crucial aspect of our business strategy; ensuring our customers products are compliant with this important health and safety standard.

We make a commitment that we would source and test quality products that will be available to both the CE and UKCA compliant makers as well as the personal home, one off a kind projects so that quality, affordable and baby SAFE products are available for all. Certificates for your technical files will be issued for all the items you purchase should you need them (Due to the unfortunate abuse of the free certificates are few are now purchased certificate - the majority still remain free).

Keep In Touch

Sign up to our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages to be the first to hear about Tactile Treasures updates, products, competitions and special offers.

Something you would like, tell us and if possible we will source, test and supply!

Head Office: Contact Information

Company registration number: 10085481

Telephone: 07742 994638

The EU Distance Selling Directive protects your purchase. This means that you have the right to cancel an order from the moment it is placed until seven working days from the day after you receive your goods.

In the event of any goods delivered not to your requirements or as per your order, we must be notified within 7 days of receipt. In the unlikely event that your product is faulty please contact us within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or replacement. Individual products may also be protected with additional warranties which will be stated on their packaging. Should you wish to return an item, please contact us initially, repackage and return to us at our address. Please also include a covering note and order number.

If we receive no such notification the customer will be deemed to have accepted the items as satisfactory. We cannot be held liable for any consequential loss caused by late delivery or failure to deliver by the company’s appointed carrier.