Last year, one of my corporate clients was a company that made products in the USA. When I was first approached to work with them in my media buying business, I was both intrigued and excited—my father started a manufacturing business back in 1971, and it’s been in the family ever since.

Needless to say, I’m definitely a supporter of American-made products.

But after Trump was elected for his second term, I was told that my client would be cutting their entire seven-figure advertising budget for 2025. Why? Tariffs. Their number one competitor was based in China.

The client believed the new tariffs would give them a pricing advantage, freeing them from the need to advertise. They planned to reinvest that budget elsewhere in the company, confident that they would now win the pricing war with China that had plagued them for years—and become even more successful than they already were.

It’s been a strange year for my corporate clients. I’ve seen a lot of delays, as key decision-makers are waiting to see what happens with Trump and the tariffs.

That means I’m often in a holding pattern these days, unable to move forward until those decisions are finalized. Many of my industry colleagues are in the same position.

I know you, as a small business owner, are also experiencing frustrating circumstances. It’s hard to plan or make decisions when you don’t know where these tariffs will land.

Tariffs are impacting us all in different ways, which makes it hard for us to plan ahead. However, there is opportunity in every market! We just need to find it…with patience.

IN A MAIN STREET MINUTE

• Walmart wants your stuff: They want to help US entrepreneurs get their products into their stores via their Grow With Us program. Visit the link to learn more about the process.

• The SBA is currently offering manufacturing grants for US small businesses. You must apply for the grant. Deadline to apply is May 27th. See link for details.

• Shopify’s Guide to Navigating Tariffs: Doesn’t matter if you use Shopify or not, there’s some good information in here for you, esp. if you sell physical products.

• Consumers Are Concerned About Tariffs: According to Vogue Business, the NRF (National Retail Foundation) published a survey in March 2025 that found 81% were worried about small businesses closing due to the economy.

• Many Small Business Owners Contemplate Highlighting Trumps Tariffs On Receipts: But that may not be right for all small businesses. Some may prefer to offer their customers a pricing disclaimer, as to not invite pushback.

• Redditors in the Small Business Thread Are Discussing Tariffs: There’s some interesting discussion here for those of you who want to know how others are dealing with the pricing adjustments that come along with tariffs.

TARIFFYING TIMES

It’s no secret the world is turned upside down at the moment thanks to Trump’s tariff plan. It’s almost impossible to keep up with all the updates. But recently, two things happened that I thought were noteworthy:

Haley Pavone, founder of Pashion Footwear and former Shark Tank contestant, is one of many small business owners who are ticked off about tariffs.

@haley_pavone

I wish this was even remotely exaggerated. Small business owners are so. Freakin. Tired. #entreprenuer #smallbusiness #tradewar #founder #... See more

Thursday 5/1/25 was the US Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Small Business Day event.

This year’s event was worth watching, esp. if you’re interested in what their position is on tariffs. Here is the video for more information:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been a vocal critic of the recent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, emphasizing the detrimental impact on small businesses. In a letter to the White House, the Chamber warned of "irreparable harm" to small businesses and a potential economic recession, calling for immediate tariff relief.

Key Points from the Chamber's Position from the letter:

• Automatic Exclusions for Small Businesses: The Chamber has urged the administration to grant automatic tariff exclusions for small business importers, arguing that these businesses lack the financial capacity to absorb increased costs or quickly adjust supply chains.

• Exemptions for Unavailable Domestic Products: They advocate for exemptions on products that cannot be sourced domestically or are not readily available in the U.S., to prevent further strain on small businesses reliant on such imports. These exemptions apply to products, such as coffee and bananas, that neither will nor can ever be produced domestically.

• Expedited Exclusion Process: The Chamber recommends establishing a swift process for companies to apply for exclusions if tariffs pose significant risks to U.S. employment, emphasizing the urgency of protecting American jobs.

Despite these appeals, the White House has dismissed the Chamber's push for immediate tariff relief, instead highlighting tax relief measures from extending the 2017 tax cuts as the primary support for small businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), under Administrator Kelly Loeffler, has publicly supported the Trump administration's tariff policies, asserting that they benefit small businesses. In a recent interview, Loeffler emphasized that extending the 2017 tax cuts would "tremendously" aid small businesses and portrayed President Trump as a champion of Main Street over Wall Street.

From my point of view: As Haley Pavone said, supply chains don’t grow overnight. This entire tariff creation process will take time. I’m glad to see small business owners are advocating for themselves, and I’m glad the Chamber of Commerce has their back. But will the Trump Administration listen?

Extending the 2017 tax cuts for small businesses is a start - but it isn’t the solution. Small businesses are already used to Trump’s 2017 taxes, which means extending them isn’t going to give them financial relief needed during this transition. They’ve become the norm.

There needs to be something else to help small business owners bridge the financial gap at this time. And what is that, exactly? 🤷🏻‍♀️

For all I know, maybe Trump’s tariffs are exactly what the US economy needs. But clearly, as many small businesses have stated, we need to connect the dots during the transition period. How can we do that in a way that won’t destroy small businesses?

SPOTLIGHT ON THE 4 P’S: PRODUCT, PLACE, PRICE AND PROMOTION 

Each of the 4 P’s of marketing are impacted by these tariffs.

Below, I outline some things to think about, and even help you come up with an action plan. I’m not just asking myself these questions, but also trying to put myself in my clients’ shoes as a service provider, to understand what they may be going through.

Are you a service-based business? You think this just applies to those who only make products? Think again! It’ll likely find a way to impact you, too. Tariffs are affecting businesses in surprising ways.

Bottom line: There will be winners and losers under these circumstances. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Remember to stay informed and remain patient.

I created a Tariff Survival Guide - It will help you figure out how each of the 4 P’s will be impacted by tariffs.

We will be taking a deep dive as to how AI can help save your business time and money in an upcoming newsletter. It’s such a hot topic-all small business owners should be aware of what it entails. With that said, here is more information about The Rundown AI that may be of interest to you-check it out and subscribe:

Learn how to make AI work for you

AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 1,000,000+ professionals read The Rundown AI – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to use it in just 5 minutes a day.

Sign up to start learning.