Pet Businesses Divided on Tariffs’ Impacts

Yes: 54%

• It will impact pricing on some of our products, but just as important will be the effect of increased prices on everything else in our clients’ lives. MJ Hall, WOOF … cool stuff for dogs, Plano, TX
• Some of the products I use are made in China. William Stewart, I Will Walk Boston, Boston, MA
• We are looking for more made in the USA products. Diane Marcin, Benny’s Pet Depot, Mechanicsburg, PA
• There are bound to be increase in wholesale costs since most of America is made in China these days. My cost will go up and I will pass that cost onto my clients only if I NEED to. Although I always prefer to shop local and USA made, this definitely makes me think twice before making my wholesale purchases. Leel Michelle, Bow Wow Beauty Shoppe, San Diego, CA
• Many of our toys, etc. are made outside of the USA, as well as wallets, etc. We are already getting notices of raised prices due to tariffs. Michele A. Shahar, Bubbie’s Store, Las Vegas, NV
• Not right now but eventually tariffs will affect most everything we use. The US doesn’t make everything we use/need. We import many items we use like vitamin C, spices, herbs. Nancy Okun, Cats n Dogs, Port Charlotte, FL
• It may have a slight impact on toy and accessory costs but probably won’t affect us much. Russell Herman, Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore, Rochester, NY
• I expect we will see some slower sales on some brands, but not by too much. At this point we are going to just roll with it and see what happens. Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
• I know that we will have to increase pricing on several hard goods due to the manufacturer price increases. I think customers expect prices to increase over time, but I think the large price increase will make them think that we are too expensive to shop and they may look elsewhere. It’ll be important for me to educate our staff on tariffs and create signage explaining the price increase since most customers have no idea why things are increasing so dramatically. Kara Holland, Pittsboro Pet Supply, Pittsboro, NC
• So far it has affected the prices of metal cages. Unfortunately due to the volatility of the economy, we have had to take the increase on the chin, which has dipped into our profitability. It may eventually lead to us raising our prices. Doug Staley, Pet Palace of New City, New City, NY
• Most of my stuff is USA made (all foods, treats, etc.), but obviously some toys/collars are made in China. If that’s the case, then I’ll find USA sources of items that would now be the same. I’m fine with them, as a healthier production in the USA is better for the USA economy. I realize I might very well be different than a lot of people on this subject, but we do rely on overseas manufacturing too much. Eric Mack, Purrrfect Bark, Columbus, NC
• I’ve been informed by a couple of suppliers that prices are raising by as much as 25 percent in 2019. We’ll just have to shop around or raise prices. Carol Will, Lola & Penelope’s, Clayton, MO
• I’m starting to see price increases on food earlier this year than usual, so I’m assuming the tariffs are having an effect on steel used in canning. I’m particularly worried about our foods from overseas and Canada, and have been in contact with our reps to stay abreast of the situation. I am looking at lower price margins on these foods so our customers don’t feel the entire brunt of the tariffs. Looking at the “stack it deep, sell it cheap” philosophy. James Henline, Asheville Pet Supply, Asheville, NC

No: 46%

• Price increases are inevitable so I think it will just be seen as that. That said, I do think that very low priced (cheap) products will be less attractive. Dani Edgerton, Paws on Main, Columbiana, OH
• As almost all of my products are U.S.-sourced and made, tariffs are not a major factor for us. Duane Poland, Bones-n-Scones of Palm Springs, Palm Springs, CA
• It’s not the import taxes, but the new minimum wage laws that are going in. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, it is going up to $15 an hour. We already start above minimum wage, but it affects everyone. That is much worse than import taxes. Keth Miller, Bubbly Paws, Minneapolis, MN