Small Businesses Sound Alarm Over Trump's Tariffs Ahead of Crunchy Holiday Season
As holiday shoppers gear up to splurge on gifts and festive treats, many small business owners are bracing themselves for a bleak winter. The impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs has been devastating, with prices skyrocketing and sales dwindling.
For many entrepreneurs, the holiday season is their only lifeline. But this year, the threat of rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and logistical nightmares looms large. Toys, decorations, and other festive goodies are among the hardest-hit sectors, as smaller businesses struggle to absorb the tariffs' impact.
"I've invested a fortune in my business," said Joann Cartiglia, owner of Queen's Treasures, a toy company in New York. "Now I have zero hope of retirement." Her sentiments echo those of Jared Hendricks, who runs Village Lighting Co, specializing in holiday lights and decorations. With tariff costs exceeding $1 million this year, his business is now "working for tariffs" rather than profits.
Industry leaders warn that the problem is far from over. Next year's tariffs will be even worse if relief isn't granted, according to Hendricks. American manufacturers are ill-equipped to take on the task of producing Christmas goods, and the complex supply chain would require billions of dollars in decades to build up.
Boyd Stephenson, owner of Game Kastle College Park, agrees that his firm's costs have soared due to tariffs. Manufacturers and publishers can't absorb price increases or pass them on to customers, leaving many struggling to stay afloat.
A recent survey of 1,048 small businesses found that 71% expect tariffs to harm consumer spending this holiday season, with 44% expecting a very negative impact. Fourteen percent have raised prices due to tariffs, and 74% are worried about their business surviving in the next year.
The White House maintains that tariff costs will be passed on to foreign exporters who rely on access to the US market. However, for small businesses, the reality is stark – and dire. With no clear end in sight to the trade tensions, America's smallest enterprises are fighting for survival.
As holiday shoppers gear up to splurge on gifts and festive treats, many small business owners are bracing themselves for a bleak winter. The impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs has been devastating, with prices skyrocketing and sales dwindling.
For many entrepreneurs, the holiday season is their only lifeline. But this year, the threat of rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and logistical nightmares looms large. Toys, decorations, and other festive goodies are among the hardest-hit sectors, as smaller businesses struggle to absorb the tariffs' impact.
"I've invested a fortune in my business," said Joann Cartiglia, owner of Queen's Treasures, a toy company in New York. "Now I have zero hope of retirement." Her sentiments echo those of Jared Hendricks, who runs Village Lighting Co, specializing in holiday lights and decorations. With tariff costs exceeding $1 million this year, his business is now "working for tariffs" rather than profits.
Industry leaders warn that the problem is far from over. Next year's tariffs will be even worse if relief isn't granted, according to Hendricks. American manufacturers are ill-equipped to take on the task of producing Christmas goods, and the complex supply chain would require billions of dollars in decades to build up.
Boyd Stephenson, owner of Game Kastle College Park, agrees that his firm's costs have soared due to tariffs. Manufacturers and publishers can't absorb price increases or pass them on to customers, leaving many struggling to stay afloat.
A recent survey of 1,048 small businesses found that 71% expect tariffs to harm consumer spending this holiday season, with 44% expecting a very negative impact. Fourteen percent have raised prices due to tariffs, and 74% are worried about their business surviving in the next year.
The White House maintains that tariff costs will be passed on to foreign exporters who rely on access to the US market. However, for small businesses, the reality is stark – and dire. With no clear end in sight to the trade tensions, America's smallest enterprises are fighting for survival.
. Seriously though, can you blame small businesses for being worried? I mean, they're already working with thin margins as it is, and now they gotta deal with these crazy tariffs on top of everything else 
. It's like trying to make a cake while having your ingredients stolen by the neighbors 
. They need some relief, pronto!
. I went to this place last weekend and it was like they really understood what people want in a cafe. Anyway, back to Trump's tariffs... I'm not sure why we're even discussing it when there are so many other things that need attention. Like, have you seen the new video game releases? Some of them look SO good! 
. Small businesses already struggling & now tariffs are gonna make things WORSE 
. They're not just talking about a little extra expense, they're talking about making or breaking their livelihoods 
. And the White House is all like "it's on them" 
. Like, come on... how many times can we keep pushing our own people down before someone does something? 
tariffs are already stressing out small businesses, and now they're bracing themselves for even more. like, what's the point of even trying if they're just gonna get crushed by tariffs? 
it's not just about them either - it's about the consumers who are stuck with higher prices because of these tariffs. can't we just find a way to work together and make things less stressful? 
my aunt owns a small shop, she's always stressing about this stuff, and it's really affecting her business...
. I mean, $1 million tariffs on holiday lights and decorations? That's crazy! 
I can imagine how hard it must be for business owners to absorb these costs and still expect customers to buy from them. The idea that manufacturers and publishers can't just absorb the price increases or pass them on to customers seems a bit far-fetched, you know? 
How are they supposed to make ends meet when their costs go through the roof? 
the holiday season is literally the only thing that keeps these small businesses afloat 
and expecting them to just absorb the losses 
come on, that's just not how it works 
. Small businesses are getting crushed under the weight of these tariffs and I'm not surprised - who wouldn't want to add $1 million to their debt? 
. I feel bad for Joann Cartiglia and Jared Hendricks, they sound like they're stuck in a never-ending nightmare. Tariffs are no joke, but can't we just get along with our trade partners instead of piling on more stress? 
You know, without the added stress of trying to stay afloat because of Trump's trade policies 
.
. When small businesses could thrive without worrying about tariffs and supply chain issues, you know? It's like, they're the backbone of our economy or something 
. We should be supporting them, not piling on more stress with these tariff things 
.
... I mean, what's the point of having tariffs if it just makes their lives harder? It's like they're being forced to pay more for a product that's already pretty expensive. And yeah, American manufacturers are not exactly known for their efficiency (btw, have you seen those old factory tours on YouTube?). But still, this is just basic economics 101 - if tariffs are gonna hurt sales, then maybe the US should think about lowering them or something?
Tariffs are killing their profits, and it's not just the toy companies that are getting hit – other festive goodies are feeling the pinch too 
. And what about Boyd Stephenson? He's worried about his business surviving in the next year? That's just devastating 
. The White House says it's all about foreign exporters, but let's be real, America's smallest enterprises are the ones suffering here 
. We need some relief ASAP, stat! #TariffsAreDevastating #SmallBusinessSurvival #HolidaySeasonStruggles