Small Businesses Sound Alarm Over Tariffs Amid Holiday Season
As Christmas shopping season kicks off, many small business owners are bracing themselves for a tough holiday season due to the escalating tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The increased costs of tariffs have hit popular goods such as toys, lights, and decorations hard, driving a "massive" number of small firms out of business.
Industry leaders say that tariffs have made it difficult for small businesses to absorb the costs, with many relying heavily on margins to stay afloat. The holiday season is typically a lucrative time for retailers, but with tariff increases, many are concerned about their ability to break even.
"I honestly feel the government is putting me out of business," said Joann Cartiglia, owner of Queen's Treasures, a toy company in Ticonderoga, New York. "My husband and I have invested a lot of our retirement money into this business, and now I have absolutely no hope of retirement."
Cartiglia's sentiments are echoed by other small business owners who are struggling to cope with the increased costs. Jared Hendricks, owner of Village Lighting Co in West Valley City, Utah, estimates that his tariff costs are approaching $1 million so far this year.
"At this point, we've kind of transitioned from working for profits to working for tariffs," said Hendricks. "We are just in business to pay off our tariff debt."
The impact of tariffs is not limited to small businesses alone. A survey of 1,048 small businesses conducted by Small Business for America's Future found that 71% of small business owners expect tariffs to have a negative impact on consumer spending this holiday season.
About 44% of small businesses surveyed reported raising prices due to tariffs, and 74% reported being worried about their business surviving over the next 12 months. The survey also revealed that 44% of small businesses reported being affected by tariffs, with many struggling to pass on increased costs to customers.
As Christmas shopping season begins, many small business owners are holding their breath, hoping that strong holiday sales will ease the impact of a tough year. However, with tariff increases showing no signs of abating, many fear for the future of their businesses.
"The administration has consistently maintained that the cost of tariffs will ultimately be paid by foreign exporters," said a White House spokesperson. "As tariffs secure new trade deals and trillions in investments to make and hire in America, the administration is simultaneously implementing a pro-growth agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, and energy abundance for big and small businesses alike to thrive again."
As Christmas shopping season kicks off, many small business owners are bracing themselves for a tough holiday season due to the escalating tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The increased costs of tariffs have hit popular goods such as toys, lights, and decorations hard, driving a "massive" number of small firms out of business.
Industry leaders say that tariffs have made it difficult for small businesses to absorb the costs, with many relying heavily on margins to stay afloat. The holiday season is typically a lucrative time for retailers, but with tariff increases, many are concerned about their ability to break even.
"I honestly feel the government is putting me out of business," said Joann Cartiglia, owner of Queen's Treasures, a toy company in Ticonderoga, New York. "My husband and I have invested a lot of our retirement money into this business, and now I have absolutely no hope of retirement."
Cartiglia's sentiments are echoed by other small business owners who are struggling to cope with the increased costs. Jared Hendricks, owner of Village Lighting Co in West Valley City, Utah, estimates that his tariff costs are approaching $1 million so far this year.
"At this point, we've kind of transitioned from working for profits to working for tariffs," said Hendricks. "We are just in business to pay off our tariff debt."
The impact of tariffs is not limited to small businesses alone. A survey of 1,048 small businesses conducted by Small Business for America's Future found that 71% of small business owners expect tariffs to have a negative impact on consumer spending this holiday season.
About 44% of small businesses surveyed reported raising prices due to tariffs, and 74% reported being worried about their business surviving over the next 12 months. The survey also revealed that 44% of small businesses reported being affected by tariffs, with many struggling to pass on increased costs to customers.
As Christmas shopping season begins, many small business owners are holding their breath, hoping that strong holiday sales will ease the impact of a tough year. However, with tariff increases showing no signs of abating, many fear for the future of their businesses.
"The administration has consistently maintained that the cost of tariffs will ultimately be paid by foreign exporters," said a White House spokesperson. "As tariffs secure new trade deals and trillions in investments to make and hire in America, the administration is simultaneously implementing a pro-growth agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, and energy abundance for big and small businesses alike to thrive again."
like they're already on thin ice with holiday season profits and now tariffs just knocked 'em down lol. i feel bad for joann and jared, their stories sound so relatable... i mean who wouldn't want to save up for retirement but instead its all about paying off tariff debt 
anyway, u think the gov is gonna do anything to help small biz owners or r we stuck with this tariff situation forever? 
I remember when my uncle's store used to sell all sorts of fun toys during Christmas. Now it's like they're struggling to stay afloat. These tariffs are really hurting small business owners, especially those who have invested their life savings into their companies. 
$1 million in tariff costs is crazy! How are they supposed to pay that off? And the fact that 71% of small businesses expect tariffs to affect consumer spending during the holiday season is worrying. It's like Christmas shopping is going to be a disaster this year. 
I just hope some sort of solution comes along soon or people might lose their favorite holiday traditions forever. 
. It's like the government is playing a game of "let them fail" 
. I just hope someone steps in before it's too late for these businesses...
CRUSH them. I'm literally shaking with frustration thinking about all those poor biz owners having to deal with this on top of everything else. The fact that some of them are even resorting to "working for tariffs" like it's some kind of sad business joke is just... 
ugh, how can we help support these people?! 
. And honestly, I think the government is just trying to weed out all the weak and inefficient businesses that can't compete in the modern market 
. They need to adapt or get left behind. Jared Hendricks's attitude towards his business being run for tariff debt is kinda refreshing? I mean, who wouldn't want to focus on paying off debt instead of making money? 
I mean, can't they see how this is affecting small business owners? It's like they're putting their livelihoods on the line for some politics. The fact that people have to invest their retirement money into a business just to stay afloat is crazy. And what's with all these tariff hikes? Is it really necessary? 