Tariffs Take a Toll on Valentine’s Day Sales

Valentine’s Day usually brings a spike in sales for small shops that sell flowers, chocolates and cards. Yet many owners are feeling the pinch as February 14 approaches because of new import duties that were announced earlier this year. Three small‑business owners shared how the changing tariffs have caused confusion and higher costs, cutting into their profits. One owner of a chocolate factory in North Carolina said the holiday period normally accounts for about 10 % of his yearly revenue. He now expects sales in mid‑February to fall because the tariffs have increased the price of his cocoa beans by more than double.The first signs of trouble appeared when the tariffs were announced in April and then kept being revised for different countries. The chocolate maker’s suppliers began charging a higher price to protect themselves against the possibility that the government would raise duties later. This “hedge” pushed the cost of a ton of cocoa from $5, 800 to $15, 000. A florist in Black Mountain also feels the impact, though in a different way. Her business imports tulip bulbs from the Netherlands. When duties were applied, she was hit with an extra 15 % tax that added $7, 000 to the cost of a single order. Even though she had already paid for the bulbs, the new tariff forced her to pay again before shipping. These examples illustrate how tariffs can strain small businesses that rely on imported goods. The added expenses squeeze tight budgets and threaten the sales boost that Valentine’s Day usually brings.