In Los Angeles, a beloved toy store with over three decades of history is grappling with declining profits, triggered by the U.S. government's newly imposed tariff policies.
Despite surviving fierce competition from e-commerce giants, the store now faces rising operational costs that threaten its survival, a direct result of the newly imposed tariff policies.
Owner Louis Calderon keeps a close eye on his computer, diligently tracking the latest tariff updates. With most of his products sourced from China, Calderon is wrestling with the growing uncertainty over how much his next shipment costs might rise due to the newly imposed tariffs.
"Because all my distributors already told me that everything is going to go up in price. So, I have to be smart of what I buy and what I don't buy. I mean I try to carry everything but with tariffs going up, I mean I try to be the lowest price possible. But I'm going to have to raise my prices, which is a bummer," said the shop sower.
The price hike is troubling not only for Calderon but also for his loyal customers. Many are beginning to hesitate, unsure if they can continue to afford the rising costs.
"Wages, you know, is not that high up here. But it will be a little hiccup, yeah, it'll be a little hard because prices they are already high," said Stephen Perez, a loyal patron.
Despite the looming financial strain, Calderon remains cautiously hopeful. While he managed to weather the e-commerce boom, he fears these tariffs might deliver a fatal blow.
For now, his remaining stock offers a temporary lifeline, but Calderon is deeply worried about his business's long-term survival.
"The one thing that I'm worried about is if we ever do close because of this, which hopefully won't happen," he said.
Los Angeles toy store fights for survival amid U.S. tariff impact
Los Angeles toy store fights for survival amid U.S. tariff impact
