Small US retailers hit hard by tariff chaos this holiday season
This holiday season, small US retailers are running low on inventory because tariffs on Chinese imports have been all over the place—jumping from 180% in April to just 20% by summer.
Brands like Loftie have had to cut their stock to only a 10th of what they need, and many stores scrambled for new suppliers before circling back to China.
The result? Dangerously low inventory during the most important shopping months of the year.
Why should you care?
For small businesses, these unpredictable tariffs are more than just a headache—they're threatening survival.
Over a third of small retailers now face high bankruptcy risk (way higher than big chains), and nearly half are stressed about inflation.
Many are being forced into tough choices like job cuts or axing product lines.
If these local shops can't catch a break, it could mean fewer jobs and less variety for everyone—not just this season, but beyond.