*Beauty supply stores across the U.S. are bracing for a major blow as new tariffs on Chinese imports are set to take effect, and shoppers may soon feel it in their wallets.
Bahaa Jbara, owner of Beauty Icon KC, is sounding the alarm ahead of the price surge. With 75% of his store’s inventory sourced from China, the newly announced 145% tariff under the Trump Administration spells trouble. For Jbara, the cost increases are unavoidable.
“As a small business owner, we’re trying to survive. But with the prices going up, it’s going to be a struggle,” Jbara admitted, per KSHB.
Though he’s doing what he can to delay passing those costs to customers, he’s realistic about what’s coming. “I’m trying to hold back on everything, from hiking the prices,” he said. “But eventually, I have to hike the prices because I will not survive. I will go out of business.”
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A synthetic wig currently priced at $129.99 could soon cost $200, he explained. “If this wig costs me $100 and I sell it at $130, you’ve got to add another 75%, which means this wig is gonna cost me $175. I’m gonna sell it to you for $200.”
“We are doing our best from sales, to discounts, to variety of products, to having everything that you need, so when you come over here. So we’re trying our best, but it’s still… if the prices are going to hike a lot, we are going to struggle,” Jbara said.
Despite the looming increases, many loyal customers say they’ll stick by their beauty supply stores.
“It is a priority, especially because I’ve got my own business going on,” said one customer. “So if stuff goes up, you just gotta go up yourself just to keep it going.”
Another added, “I don’t want to have to change my prices just so they can feel good about their head. People struggle trying to get their hair done. Everyone should feel good about their hair. That’s the crown.”
Jbara is now exploring suppliers in other countries like Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India to try to offset the impact. Still, he says customers should expect noticeable price hikes starting May 1.
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