Behind the counter: Small business owners speak out about the hidden cost of tariffs
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Running a small business in America has never been easy—it’s a grind of hustle, heart, and hope.
But now, there’s a new curveball shaking Main Street: unpredictable tariffs that hit hard and linger long.
While headlines focus on big-box giants and global power plays, it's the local shops—your favorite potter, soapmaker, or custom T-shirt guru—that are quietly absorbing the blow.
And in a surprising twist? Many are refusing to pass the pain to customers. Even if it hurts.
When Jeremiah and Harriet Chamberlain launched Corvidae Creations, their 3D-printing toy business in Hammond, Louisiana, they expected the usual bumps—marketing woes, printer issues, inventory flukes.
What they didn’t expect? A 145% tariff spike on their Chinese-made essentials.
“The whole point of it, when we went into the toy production, was to make a durable, affordable toy for families and children,” Jeremiah says. When filament costs jumped too, he cut ties with Chinese suppliers and pivoted to American and Canadian vendors.
The payoff? Lower prices for customers—though he had to sacrifice color variety for his lineup of dragons, dinosaurs, and possums.
“Nothing’s going to make me raise prices unless it’s a matter of me having to shut the business down totally,” he says.
Jeremiah isn’t the only one standing firm.
Take Carla Minervini, who runs All Fired Up, a pottery studio in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. When her US-based supplier (which imports from China) hiked prices 7.25%, Carla refused to budge. She’s adapting instead—offering smaller pieces and hunting for cost-saving alternatives.
“I would sell everything off and close my business and make a new life for myself before I would increase my price,” she says..
Over in Indiana, Dan and Ashley Jones of Jeans Day Apparel are living the same reality. With supply costs up 3%, they’ve had to let go of their part-time high school workers and pick up the slack themselves.
“We just don’t know what the future looks like,” Dan says. “It’s the unknown that’s very scary.”
Also read: Prices on these 11 groceries are rising—see if you’re overpaying because of new tariffs!
Across the country, small business owners are getting scrappy.
In Idaho, Amy Grows of Camas Creek Soap Company is stockpiling materials, trimming her soap lineup by 25%, and swapping pricier oils for affordable ones. “I don’t think I need to do that to people,” she says. “It’s just soap.”
And in Illinois, Amelia Morgan of Recognitions Awards and More is in a tight spot. Four of her US suppliers raised prices by 20%. She’s held off as long as possible—but with six employees counting on her, she’s nearing a tipping point.
“We have to make sure that we stay profitable,” she says. “We’ve got people who depend on us to be able to pay the mortgage, be able to buy groceries, make car payments.”
A Main Street Alliance survey shows the damage:
“Small-business owners are operating on such thin margins,” says Richard Trent, executive director of the Alliance.
“The least that we could do is give them a modicum of stability.”
Also read: Well-known retailer quietly halts overseas shipments as surprising new rules hit online shoppers
So why not raise prices?
Simple: loyalty. These businesses don’t just serve customers—they serve communities. And they know that even a slight hike can send shoppers to the nearest online mega-retailer.
For many, this isn’t just business. It’s personal.
But make no mistake: refusing to raise prices takes a toll. Owners are working longer hours, cutting product lines, shelving expansion plans, and making tough staffing calls.
The emotional weight is real—and growing.
Are you a business owner trying to hold the line? Have you felt the ripple effects at your favorite local store? Got a creative solution to share? Drop a comment below. At TheGrayVine, small or big business stories deserve a big spotlight—and your voice matters.
But now, there’s a new curveball shaking Main Street: unpredictable tariffs that hit hard and linger long.
While headlines focus on big-box giants and global power plays, it's the local shops—your favorite potter, soapmaker, or custom T-shirt guru—that are quietly absorbing the blow.
And in a surprising twist? Many are refusing to pass the pain to customers. Even if it hurts.
When Jeremiah and Harriet Chamberlain launched Corvidae Creations, their 3D-printing toy business in Hammond, Louisiana, they expected the usual bumps—marketing woes, printer issues, inventory flukes.
What they didn’t expect? A 145% tariff spike on their Chinese-made essentials.
“The whole point of it, when we went into the toy production, was to make a durable, affordable toy for families and children,” Jeremiah says. When filament costs jumped too, he cut ties with Chinese suppliers and pivoted to American and Canadian vendors.
The payoff? Lower prices for customers—though he had to sacrifice color variety for his lineup of dragons, dinosaurs, and possums.
“Nothing’s going to make me raise prices unless it’s a matter of me having to shut the business down totally,” he says.
Running a small business in America has never been easy—it’s a grind of hustle, heart, and hope. Image Source: Tim Mossholder / Unsplash
Jeremiah isn’t the only one standing firm.
Take Carla Minervini, who runs All Fired Up, a pottery studio in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. When her US-based supplier (which imports from China) hiked prices 7.25%, Carla refused to budge. She’s adapting instead—offering smaller pieces and hunting for cost-saving alternatives.
“I would sell everything off and close my business and make a new life for myself before I would increase my price,” she says..
Over in Indiana, Dan and Ashley Jones of Jeans Day Apparel are living the same reality. With supply costs up 3%, they’ve had to let go of their part-time high school workers and pick up the slack themselves.
“We just don’t know what the future looks like,” Dan says. “It’s the unknown that’s very scary.”
Also read: Prices on these 11 groceries are rising—see if you’re overpaying because of new tariffs!
Across the country, small business owners are getting scrappy.
In Idaho, Amy Grows of Camas Creek Soap Company is stockpiling materials, trimming her soap lineup by 25%, and swapping pricier oils for affordable ones. “I don’t think I need to do that to people,” she says. “It’s just soap.”
And in Illinois, Amelia Morgan of Recognitions Awards and More is in a tight spot. Four of her US suppliers raised prices by 20%. She’s held off as long as possible—but with six employees counting on her, she’s nearing a tipping point.
“We have to make sure that we stay profitable,” she says. “We’ve got people who depend on us to be able to pay the mortgage, be able to buy groceries, make car payments.”
A Main Street Alliance survey shows the damage:
- 81.5% of small business owners say they’ll have to raise prices to survive tariffs.
- 31.5% say layoffs are looming.
“Small-business owners are operating on such thin margins,” says Richard Trent, executive director of the Alliance.
“The least that we could do is give them a modicum of stability.”
Also read: Well-known retailer quietly halts overseas shipments as surprising new rules hit online shoppers
So why not raise prices?
Simple: loyalty. These businesses don’t just serve customers—they serve communities. And they know that even a slight hike can send shoppers to the nearest online mega-retailer.
For many, this isn’t just business. It’s personal.
But make no mistake: refusing to raise prices takes a toll. Owners are working longer hours, cutting product lines, shelving expansion plans, and making tough staffing calls.
The emotional weight is real—and growing.
What can you do?
If you’re a business owner, or just someone who loves to shop small, here’s how to weather the storm:- Talk to Your Customers: Transparency builds loyalty. Share your challenges.
- Rethink Your Supply Chain: Diversify vendors. Don’t get caught flat-footed.
- Get Creative: Smaller products, flexible pricing, bundles—anything to keep things moving.
- Speak Up: Policy matters. Join local groups and advocate for tariff clarity and fairness.
