Tariffs make running operations 'less feasible': Small business owner
Share this @internewscast.com


() As tariffs continue to impact major shopping giants like Target and Walmart, small businesses across the U.S. are feeling the effects as well. Busy Baby CEO Beth Benike joined ” Now” to talk about how it’s becoming harder to run her operations.

“The problem is, we are too small,” said Benike. “Manufacturing in the U.S. is very expensive, and in order for the business model to work for the U.S. manufacturers, they need to manufacture things in large volumes. As a startup and very small company, we don’t make enough units to make it worth their time to work with us.”

Benike, an Army veteran, started Busy Baby to give parents products that are within reach and off the ground for their children. All those products were being made in China because no one in the U.S. would make them for her. But things changed for Benike quickly once President Trump took office and implemented tariffs on dozens of countries earlier this month.

“So we never expected 145 tariffs, and it’s been out there for a long time,” she said. “We started a GoFundMe to try and raise money, and unfortunately, we didn’t get anywhere near the goal. The goal was $230,000, I would have had to pay. I’ve never paid a tariff prior to this in the five years of importing products.”

Benike added that her business did raise enough money to support to bring in the products that were being kept in China, but there is still the challenge of getting the products on a ship and getting them to the United States. And with the demand high, her costs have doubled.

“So I need to get this product here, because if I don’t have it, I can’t sell it,” acknowledged Benike. “I can’t pay my bills or my employees.”

With the current tariffs in place, Benike says she is parallel planning, building out an international distribution strategy and selling products in bundles.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Tennessee Legislator Introduces Bill Aiming to Abolish Concealed ‘Junk Fees

In an effort to bring greater transparency to the cost structures of…

Spectacular ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse to Illuminate Skies Over Antarctica, Captivating Both Humans and Penguins

NEW YORK – A celestial spectacle will soon unfold over Antarctica, as…

Seminole County Schools Launch Probe into Controversial Student-Security Guard Video

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County Public Schools is currently examining an…

Hawkins County 911 Confronts Budgetary Challenges

In Hawkins County, Tennessee, the local Emergency Communications team is reaching out…

Breaking News: South Fork’s Boil Water Advisory Officially Lifted by Smyth Co.

SMYTH COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — The Boil Water Notice for residents in…

Indonesia Commits 8,000 Troops to Support Peacekeeping Efforts in Gaza

JAKARTA – In a significant move, Indonesia is gearing up to dispatch…

Trump Rallies Troops at Fort Bragg: Celebrating the Triumph Over Venezuela’s Maduro

President Donald Trump is setting his sights on North Carolina this Friday…

Reforesting Resilience: How 30,000 Trees in 4 Years Can Shield Louisiana’s Coast from Intensifying Storms

MERAUX, La. – Shrouded in morning mist, a grove of young trees…

Unmissable Weekend Events in the Tri-Cities: Galentine’s Market, Chocolate Fest & Songwriters Circle Await!

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Tri-Cities region in Tennessee and Virginia is…

Trump’s March Summit: Latin American Leaders Converge in Florida Before His Strategic China Visit

WASHINGTON – In a strategic move, President Donald Trump has extended invitations…

Genetic Breakthrough Promises Faster Comeback for Iconic American Chestnut Tree

WASHINGTON – Once, the eastern United States was blanketed with towering American…

Buchanan County Board Boosts Appalachian School of Law with New Advancement Plan

Buchanan County’s Board of Supervisors has taken a decisive step in supporting…