Tariffs are already taking a major toll on small businesses, with categories like apparel, housewares, baby products, pet care, and toys hit hard because they often have their products manufactured in the countries where tariffs are being imposed. The up-and-down nature of the tariff announcements has also simply made it impossible for small brands to plan inventory and forecast for major selling events like Amazon Prime Day, back to school, and holiday shopping.
Consider the story of Rinseroo, a popular slip-on shower hose that makes rinsing tubs, showers, and even pets a breeze. In the same year that they wowed the sharks on “Shark Tank” and walked away with the coveted Golden Ticket, the possibility of astronomically high tariffs on Southest Asian imports took them to a near state of emergency.
Co-founder Lisa Lane says while she’s not opposed to the concept of tariffs, they could unfairly hit small businesses hard. For Rinseroo, producing the product domestically isn't realistic. “I've gotten quotes. It's not just more expensive—it's wildly more expensive. The materials, the tooling, the infrastructure—it's just not there for a business of my size.”
