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Major orders canceled. Containers of products left stranded overseas. No roadmap for what comes next.The Trump administration raised tariffs on goods from China to 145% in early April. Since then, small business owners who depend on imports from China to survive have become increasingly desperate as they eye dwindling inventory and skyrocketing invoices.President Donald Trump seemed to back down somewhat last week when he said he expected the tariffs to come down “substantially.” That helped set off a rally in the stock market. But for small businesses that operate on razor-thin margins, the back and forth is causing massive upheaval. Some say they could be just months from going out of business altogether. The Massachusetts family-owned game company Game makers are particularly susceptible to the tariffs since the majority of games and toys sold in the U.S. are made in China, according to The Toy Association.WS Game Co., based in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, is a family-owned business that licenses Hasbro board games like Monopoly, Candy Land and Scrabble and creates deluxe versions of them. Its most popular line of games come in boxes that look like vintage books and sell for $40.The company’s games were featured in Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2024 and sold in 14,000 stores in North America, from big national chains to mom-and-pop stores, said owner Jonathan Silva, whose father founded the company in 2000.All of WS Game’s production is done in China. The tariffs have brought the past 25 years of healthy growth to a screeching halt.Over the past three weeks, WS Game has had three containers of finished games, worth $500,000, stranded in China. It lost orders from three of the largest U.S. retailers totaling $16 million in business. And there’s not much Silva can do about it. “As a small business, we don’t have the runway or the capabilities to move manufacturing on a whim,” said Silva, who has 22 employees. He said the tariffs have “disrupted our business and put us on the verge of insolvency” and estimates he has about a four-month runway to stay afloat if nothing changes.“We’re really hoping that cooler heads prevail,” he said. Artificial flowers in Kentucky Jeremy Rice co-owns House, a home-décor shop in Lexington, Kentucky, that specializes in artificial flower arrangements for the home. About 90% of the flowers his business uses are made in China.Rice uses dozens of vendors. The largest are absorbing some of the cost of the tariffs and passing on the rest. One vendor is raising prices by 20% and another 25%. But Rice is expecting smaller vendors to increase prices by much higher percentages.House offers mid-range artificial flowers. A large hydrangea head will retail for $10 to $16, for example. China is the only place that manufacturers higher quality silk flowers. It would take a vendor years to open a factory in a different country or move production somewhere else, Rice said.Rice ordered his holiday décor early this year. But even after stocking up ahead of the tariffs, he only has enough everyday floral inventory in to last two to three months.“After that, I don’t know what we’re going to do,” he said.Rice is concerned that the trade war will wipe out a bunch of mom-and-pop stores, similar to what happened in the Great Recession and the pandemic.“There’s nowhere to turn, there’s nothing to do,” he said. Tea in Michigan A tea shop in a Michigan college town is also caught in the middle of the ongoing tariff fight.“It’s basically just put a big pit in my stomach,” said Lisa McDonald, owner of TeaHaus, located in Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan. McDonald has owned TeaHaus for nearly 18 years and sells tea to customers across the U.S.Americans drank about 86 billion servings of tea in 2024, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.A.. Almost all of that is imported since tea isn’t grown in the U.S. at scale, due to factors ranging from climate to cost.McDonald imports loose-leaf tea from China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and other countries. She says her customer base is “from all over the U.S. and the world.” But she worries there is a limit to what they’ll spend. Her premium teas can cost up to $33 for a 50-gram bag.“I don’t think I can charge $75 for a 50-gram bag of tea, no matter how amazing that tea is,” she said.McDonald understands Trump’s rationale for wanting to use tariffs to spur U.S. manufacturing but says it doesn’t apply to the tea industry.“We can’t grow tea in the U.S. to the extent that we need. We can’t just flip the industry and ‘make tea great again’ in America. It just can’t happen,” she said. Car accessories in Oklahoma Jim Umlauf’s business, 4Knines, based in Oklahoma City, makes vehicle seat covers and cargo liners for dog owners and others. To do so, he needs raw materials such as fabric, coatings and components from China.Umlauf has explored manufacturing in countries other than China since 2018, when Trump first instituted a 25% tariff on goods from China, but has run into complications. In the meantime, 4Knines absorbs the extra cost, which Umlauf says has limited its growth and squeezed its margins.Now, the new tariffs make it nearly impossible to do business. The demand is there, but the company can’t afford to bring over more products.“We only have a limited amount of inventory left, and without some relief, we’ll run out soon,” Umlauf said.As a small business owner who has worked hard to develop a high-quality brand, create jobs and contribute to the community, Umlauf is frustrated. He has tried to contact the White House and other decision-makers to ask for small business support. But he’s gotten zero response.“It’s time for policymakers to consider the full impact of trade policies not just on stock prices or global competitiveness, but on the real people running small businesses,” he said. AP videojournalist Mike Householder in Detroit contributed to this report. Mae Anderson, AP Business Writer
Category:
E-Commerce
Its been more than half a century since it became more common to ship freight in trucks than by train. But when one company decided to start selling its product in the New York City market, it built its own new rail terminal to avoid the cost and emissions of trucking. A truck is not an efficient way to take these types of materials long distance, says Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies. The company makes supplementary cementitious material or SCM, a component added to concrete to make it stronger and longer-lasting. The material is made from fly ash, a type of waste produced from coal plants that the company sources from landfills at locations throughout the country. A truck can hold 20 tons of it; a train, which can move as much as 2,000 tons, cuts emissions by at least 90%, Quasha says. The company wanted to serve the construction market in New York from one of its sites in rural Pennsylvania, as well as another site in Georgia. But since trucking would be cost-prohibitive and more polluting, they turned to the more old-fashioned solution of rail. First, they had to find rail lines that were still in use in the right location. We had to scour the area to find existing infrastructure that could work with our needs, Quasha says. They partnered with a local short-line railroad that owned a rail yard in Queens, not far from the companys concrete customers. Then they built a terminal in the rail yard that would work for their specific needs. Extra train tracks at the terminal allow them to store their product in train cars until its needed. [Photo: New York & Atlantic Railway Co.] The logistics are complicated. To make a delivery from one of the companys sites, in Pennsylvania, the train cant go straight there. There isnt a bridge or tunnel to accommodate a train to Queens, although a long-planned freight tunnel is under construction. After a train reaches New Jersey, the train cars go on a specialized barge with built-in train tracks. A tugboat pushes the barge across the Hudson and East Rivers, and then another locomotive picks up the train cars in Brooklyn. Right now, using this type of material in New York City usually means importing it from countries like Turkey and China. But it makes more sense, environmentally, for it to come from a place like Pennsylvania instead, Quasha says. (It also can avoid tariffs and crowded ports.) Over the last century, coal companies have sent billions of tons of waste to landfills, which Eco Material Technologies reprocesses for use in concrete. It also has the dual benefit of helping clean up the old dumps. When it’s used in concrete, it reduces the need for cement, which has a large carbon footprint. It makes the final concrete stronger, and less expensive. “People say, if these materials are cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and make better concrete, why aren’t they used all the time?” Quasha says. “The answer is supply: Historically, there hasn’t been enough of the material where you need when you need it. You don’t generally have these waste dumps next to midtown Manhattan.” At the new terminal, where deliveries have already started, the company plans to bring in around 50,000 tons of the product each year, on roughly 10 train cars each week.
Category:
E-Commerce
The rumors are true: Anheuser-Busch confirmed on Tuesday that its viral sensation Busch Light Apple will be back in stores in May for the first time since 2022. Thats welcome news to the legions of diehard fans who have been appealing the St. Louis-based beer maker to bring the apple-flavored lager back to stores for the past three years. “Before Busch Light Apple was taken off shelves, our fans chased down trucks to get their hands on it,” Krystyn Stowe, head of marketing at Busch Family & Natural Family at Anheuser-Busch, said in a statement to Fast Company. “They created Facebook groups with thousands of members to mourn the loss of their favorite beer, and Reddit threads became a new home for those looking to connect with others who miss the signature sweet taste of Busch Light Apple.” In recent weeks, people have taken to social media to share that theyve apparently found early-release cans of Busch Light Apple on shelves or videos of the beer on assembly lines. Such posts have typically sparked large numbers of comments from fans asking where the beer can be located. Its a bit tricky to unpeel what exactly kicked off the rumor mill this spring that “Babble”as fans call itmight be revived this year. However, in mid-March, a user on the X platform shared a photo that he said was from a December 2024 Anheuser-Busch meeting indicating a return of the fan-favorite beverage. That photo was subsequently shared widely across various social media platforms. To be fair, some fans were hoping it was a sign of good things to come as far back as October when Busch Beer celebrated National Apple Day with a photo of a bushel of the beer and apples on Instagram. One in every three comments on Busch Lights social posts is from fans urging us to bring back Busch Light Apple, and weve read every single one, Stowe added in a statement. But the good-news announcement comes some news that might disappoint: The company promises that Bapple will only be available while supplies last and urges fans to stock up. That said, Busch tells Fast Company that fans can expect to see the beer in stores “all summer long.” Busch league of fans All of this fervor might leave some of you scratching your heads in confusion: People are this passionate about . . . a Busch beverage? Oh, you have no idea. Something special seemingly happened when the Busch brand dropped its first flavored beer from the family tree in July 2020. Whether its the taste, the timing of the beverage launch, or the companys announcement that lampooned an Apple keynote presentation of new tech product launches, the beverage soon amassed a loyal Busch league of fans. How loyal? A lot of people toss around the word favorite when describing the lager thats made with real apple extract. And while theres seemingly a market for everything on eBay, some people have recently sold Bapple merchandise for $200 and up, while empty cans or even an empty box case could fetch $10. Apple tie-in This year, Anheuser-Busch has once again played up that Apple tie-in, enlisting a perhaps-unlikely spokesperson for the beverages rebirth: Ronald G.Wayne, who cofounded the tech giant alongside Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. Wayne, now 90, liquidated his 10% stake in Apple in 1976 for just $800 and hes parlaying a billion-dollar mistake that happened nearly 50 years ago as a selling point for fans to stock up on Busch Light Apple. This time, Im not missing out on a great, Apple-related opportunity, Wayne says in the YouTube ad before pointing to a pallet of Bapple and calling it a real good investment. When and where will Busch Light Apple beer be available? For fans who cant wait to get their hands on a cold can of Bapple, the Busch website has a locator feature to search for any brew, including Busch Light Apple, by zip code.
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E-Commerce
Enthusiasm peaks in the early days of a new job. New hires are creative, motivated, and often, a fresh dose of optimism compared to their more tenured teammates. Yet, in a matter of weeks, that initial enthusiasm plunges by an average of 22%. The innovation and discretionary effort that comes with new-hire enthusiasm are a strategic advantage for any organization. But to be impactful, new-hire energy must last beyond the first few weeks. Here are four tips to preserve that early days enthusiasm: 1. Give Context, Not Just Content Too often, new teammates find out how it works here through pushback, sideways glances, and a slap on the wrist over red tape they didnt know existed. As a result, the motivation to drive results is quickly outweighed by the fear of reputational risk or political consequence. Its a preventable comedown. Effective onboarding must go beyond role-specific content. Organizational context is what gives new teammates the foundation to dive in effectively. In the onboarding process, answer questions like: How do different teams typically work together (or not)? Are there cultural norms around offering feedback? Is the decision-making hierarchy fluid or more rigid? What metrics are most important to the organization? (Beyond individual OKRs) Who determines whats considered urgent, and how is that typically communicated? This foundation enables new hires to make an impact fast, without fear of stepping on a cultural landmine. 2. Prove a Failure Tolerance If your organization needs to progress, failure inevitably comes with the territory. Yet, the prospect of failing can send a shockwave through someone eager to impress. A Move fast and break things poster does not have enough credibility to inspire risk-taking. Instead, prove an organizational failure tolerance by citing specific examples in onboarding. Share stories about failed launches, the buggy beta version, or internal projects that didnt pan out. Talk about what was learned, how the organization adapted, and most importantly, that the people behind those efforts are still here. 3. Follow-up on the Invitation for New Ideas The onboarding process can be overwhelming. Between setting up passwords, learning names, and attempting to decipher health insurance, there isnt much brain space left for innovation in the first few days. If you want new hires to speak up and bring a fresh perspective, follow up on that invitation after theyve had time to settle in. Go beyond Got any ideas? Ask pointed questions that show your interest in their perspective. Try prompts like: Im curious about your take on thisdo you think were missing anything? If you could start this (project, process, product) from scratch, what would you change? Were there any moments where you thought, Why do we do it this way? Showing new hires that We want new ideas!” isnt just a perfunctory corporate welcome. 4. Share the Metrics, But Dont Start the Clock Ambitious new hires want to know the criteria for success. Even if they dont ask, share the metrics a new hire will (eventually) be evaluated against. Whether its delivery timeline, revenue targets, or client satisfaction, be clear about what good looks like. But dont start the clock right away. Give new hires time to build relationships and develop a meaningful understanding of how to achieve those numbers effectively. If metrics are not shared up front and only surface during a later performance review, it can feel like the rules are being made up mid-game. On the flip side, starting assessment on the first day can feel overwhelming or even unfair. Align early on key metrics of success, but delay starting the “clock” for 6090 days in performance-based roles. Be transparent, but not premature in applying pressure. Will every day of work be as exciting as day one? Probably not. The adrenaline of a new job is impossible to sustain. Yet, with intentionality, preserving new-hire enthusiasm is possible.
Category:
E-Commerce
Spicy pickle soda. Dirty protein soda. Cereal milk soda. These arent your standard mocktail offeringsbut thats exactly the point. On May 12, Olipop will launch its first-ever soda drive-thru in Los Angeles, offering an array of offbeat, internet-inspired drinks and limited-edition mocktails, with the first drink free to the public. The pop-up event taps into the internets growing obsession with so-called beverage goblin culture, which has people cycling through multiple drinks at once for hydration, energy, and fun. Theres just so much chatter around just these internet drinks and the whole like beverage goblin trend, where people have their hydration drink, their fun drink, and their caffeine on their desk, said Steven Vigilante, Olipops director of strategic partnerships. This is a reflection of that . . . Giving people an opportunity to actually do something, get out of the house and go try one of these for free. The drive-thru mocktail menu leans into the experimental, including three different flavors. Theres the Cereal Milk Soda, which is an orange cream Olipop mixed with vanilla almond milk, rimmed with vanilla frosting, and topped with fruit cereal. There’s also the Dirty Protein Soda, which is an orange cream with Koias vanilla bean protein shake. And there’s the Spicy Pickle Soda, a mix of pickle and jalapeo juice with Olipops vintage cola. While the novelty drinks are temporary, one fan favorite is making a permanent return. Olipops 12-ounce orange cream flavor, which first went viral in 2021, is officially joining the brands year-round lineup. Fans have been asking for its comeback on social media: Love this bestie but pls bring back orange cream, wrote one Instagram user. Another added, Next bring back orange cream pls . . . Ive never tasted anything better in my life. Starting April 29, its back permanently in the flavor lineup. [Photo: Olipop] The event also relates to the resurgence of soda culturespecifically, the dirty soda trend that blew up following the release of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in late 2024. The reality series highlighted the oversize soda drinks popular in Utah, where chains like Swig and Sodalicious serve highly customized soft drinks mixed with flavored syrups and cream. Olipops orange cream soda fits right in with the trend. Creamy fruit flavors are the best for dirty sodas. They mix really well with the creamer. And we just thought this would be a fun way to do it. It’s like a kickoff this summer, Vigilante said. This is a beverage brand and a product that people need to try and touch and feel and taste. Adding to the event, Olipop is teaming up with Crocs for a limited-edition merch drop. The collaboration includes bright orange Bae Clogs in an Orangesicle colorway and exclusive Jibbitz charms. The items wont be sold online or in stores, as only a limited number will be given away at the drive-thru while supplies last. Attendees can also try a drink designed for the occasion: the Orange Dreamsicle Crocs-Taila mix of Olipops orange cream, half and half, vanilla syrup, whipped cream, and a branded popsicle. For those unable to attend in person, Olipop will run a virtual version of the event from May 12 through May 19. Online participants can enter to win a drive-thru kit or a case of the returning orange cream flavor. The event was originally planned for January, but postponed due to wildfires in Los Angeles. Now, it’s being used in association with the companys community-first approach. We are using this drive-thru as a way to create a nice community event in L.A. and give back to some of the folks who were impacted by the fires, said Vigilante.
Category:
E-Commerce
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