Hot take: The Home Furnishings Association (HFA) just dropped a heads-up for its 1,400+ membersâŚ
U.S. President Donald Trump announced 30â50% tariffs on certain furniture & cabinetry starting Oct 1, citing ânational security.â Thatâs basically an extra tax on imports đď¸đ°
For retailers, this could mean passing higher costs to shoppers in the U.S. â think pricier sofas, dining sets, and cabinets at a time when budgets are already tight. Demand could dip, and stores may have to rethink where they source products and how they plan their collections.
One big question: Will wood furniture and casegoods (like TV stands and dressers) be hit by these âassociated productsâ tariffs? The final definition is still TBD, so retailers are playing a waiting game.
Major players in the industry arenât exactly cheering. Dennis Hendriks from luxury wholesaler Eichholtz calls it âwishful thinkingâ to expect domestic upholstery to bounce back quickly â you need factories that can keep up with demand, after all. đ
And Jofranâs John Miranda summed it up like a sports coach stuck with a blank playbook: âWe donât know what game weâre playing⌠how do you make a game plan when the rules keep changing?â âžđ¤ˇââď¸
Bottom line: If youâre eyeing that chic sofa for your WFH setup or a cozy reading nook, keep an eye on those price tags â things might get a bit more expensive thanks to Team Trumpâs tariff play. đ
Reference(s):
cgtn.com