Will Tariffs Go Through on March 1st? If They Do, Here’s What to Expect.
For over 30 years, I’ve built my business on trust—trust in the materials I source, the partners I work with, and the commitment I’ve made to my customers: to provide the purest, most sustainable organic sleep products without compromise. But since the tariff announcements, I’m facing one of the toughest challenges yet.
And that’s saying something.
Since 1994, CozyPure has weathered some of the biggest storms small businesses could face.
- Dot-com bubble? We survived it.
- 9/11 economic shock? We kept going.
- 2008 recession? We fought through it.
- Mass-market competition from Amazon and cheap imports? We doubled down on quality.
- COVID-19? Supply chain nightmares, factory closures, shipping delays, labor shortages—we pivoted as essential workers making masks.
- Inflation and soaring material costs? We made adjustments while refusing to sacrifice quality.
Every time, we found a way. And now, we’re being hit again—this time by tariffs that could make it impossible to keep prices reasonable for our customers.
A Supply Chain Struggle: Why This Matters
It started just two years ago when I lost my longtime USA-based quilting partner to retirement. The larger company that took over his business quickly proved unreliable, cutting corners and even attempting to use unapproved, non-organic fabric from overseas in our products. I couldn’t allow that. CozyPure customers trust us for a reason, and I refuse to betray that trust. When I found out they were trying to substitute my material, I immediately canceled all orders and severed the relationship. For the record, that US quilting business is no longer operating.
So I searched and searched and searched until finally I found a new partner—just across the border in Canada—who shared our values and could meet the strict organic and fire safety standards required for our industry. It was a relief to have a reliable quilting partner again. Until now.
A Double Blow: How Tariffs Are Threatening Small Businesses Like Mine
The new tariffs that could potentially be implemented has put us in an impossible situation. Here’s how these tariffs will affect my business:
- First, we send our USA sourced organic cotton fabric and organic wool to Canada for quilting. Canada will now have a 25% retaliatory tariff on the materials as they enter their country. Our Canadian contractor pays it, but of course, that cost gets passed on to us.
- Once the materials are quilted, it comes back into the US. The United States then applies 25% tariff on the finished quilted product. That cost falls directly on me.
- End result? A 50% increase in cost before the material even reaches my workshop.
And it doesn’t stop there. Just like most USA manufacturers, we have GAPS in our supply chain for services and/or materials that can’t be found domestically. Sri Lanka, where we source our natural latex (because rubber trees don’t grow here in the United States), could be hit with additional tariffs as well. Most of our USA fabric mills import the raw GOTS-Certified organic cotton (because we don’t have enough GOTS-Certified organic farms available domestically) so the cotton will have a tariff and increase the price of our finished fabrics. Lastly, fuel prices are expected to rise due to tariffs on gas imports from Canada and Mexico, further increasing our shipping costs which are already astronomical. We have a lot of inbound shipping on materials but we have even more outbound shipping to our customers all across the country. So even gas price increases will affect our end product pricing.
Every step of the supply chain is getting squeezed, and the pressure is unbearable.
What This Means for Small Businesses and Consumers
I don’t have the luxury of absorbing these costs. Like many small business owners, I already run on tight margins to offer a premium product at a fair price. And while I deeply believe that investing in quality sleep is one of the most important decisions a person can make, I also know that when inflation hits, people start prioritizing essentials.
This is what worries me most. If small businesses like mine are forced to raise prices significantly, consumers will turn to cheaper alternatives—often mass-produced, lower-quality products planned for obsolescence. That’s not just bad for my business. That’s bad for everyone.
Where Do We Go From Here?
I won’t sugarcoat it: I don’t have a clear answer right now. Every possible solution comes with risks.
Finding a new USA-based quilter? I would if I could, but high-standard, organic-compliant quilting partners are extremely scarce. When I first started working with our US-based quilter, I was his first client to use only wool to meet flame resistance requirements. He was skeptical but amazed when we passed the federal open-flame tests with flying colors. There simply aren’t many quilters in the U.S. who understand this process, and those who do often don’t want to go through the technicalities to make it work.
Absorbing the cost? That’s not sustainable. A 50% increase in our already high organic material prices would make it impossible to pay for raw materials, inventory, shipping, overhead, labor, supplies, and operating costs (rent, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, maintenance, payroll, websites, IT, etc) . It simply can’t be done.
Passing the cost onto customers? This may be our only option, but it risks pushing our products out of reach for many people who want and need a high-quality, durable, modular sleep system. I’ve been in this industry for three decades and I know we offer a premium product at a low price. There’s a reason you can’t find a 100% organic latex mattress in a conventional mattress store… it would cost 2x or 3x more than our price. With that said, even our lower price is high when you are facing challenges to buy food and other essentials.
Advocating for small businesses? Absolutely. But this isn’t just about business owners—it’s about you, the American consumer. These tariffs don’t just impact companies like mine. They drive up prices on everyday goods, making it harder for families to afford essentials. They limit choices, forcing people toward mass-produced, lower-quality options instead of fresh products that are healthier choices—whether it’s food or sleep.
I built CozyPure with the belief that people deserve better—that a healthy home and a good night’s sleep shouldn’t come at the cost of unethical production or skyrocketing prices. But now, small businesses like mine are struggling to keep that promise, and consumers are being hit just as hard.
You shouldn’t have to choose between affordability and quality. You shouldn’t have to decide between putting food on your table or getting a good night’s sleep. And you shouldn’t be forced to give up on supporting American-made products just because trade policies make them unaffordable.
When you have the choice, and the price difference isn’t drastic, consider supporting small, local businesses. Unlike big corporations that can absorb costs or shift production overseas, we operate on thinner margins and reinvest in our communities, creating jobs and keeping money circulating locally. The CEO of a small business doesn’t make 100 times—or even 10 times—more than their staff. In fact, many small business owners earn the same or even less than their employees because they’re prioritizing fair wages, ethical production, and quality over excessive profits. Many small businesses take pride in craftsmanship, personalized service, and a direct connection to the people they serve—values that simply don’t exist at the corporate level. Every purchase from a small business helps keep those principles alive and strengthens the backbone of our economy.
Fun Fact:Did you know that even products labeled “Made in America” often rely on imported parts or services? Many U.S. manufacturers source key components—like fabrics, hardware, or specialized craftsmanship—from other countries due to supply chain gaps or a lack of domestic alternatives. So when tariffs hit, they don’t just affect imports—they drive up costs for American-made goods, too.
When people have to choose between food and utilities to keep a roof over their heads, of course, that comes first. We understand that.
After 34 years in business, overcoming recessions, supply chain collapses, rising costs, corporate takeovers, and everything in between, we can only have humble hope that we’ll make it through this challenge, too. We don’t take our longevity for granted—it’s because of you, our customers, who have supported ethical, sustainable, and quality craftsmanship through thick and thin. We’ll keep doing everything in our power to continue providing healthy, nontoxic sleep solutions that last. But we also know that small businesses everywhere are facing immense pressure, and this is a moment that will shape the future of consumer choices.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We’ll keep fighting for what matters—because a good night’s sleep should never be a luxury, and ethical craftsmanship should never be out of reach.
If this continues, it won’t just be small businesses that suffer—it will be everyday people who work hard, stretch their budgets, and want the best for their families. That’s why we all need to stay informed, support local when we can, and demand trade policies that put American businesses and American consumers first. Let’s hope these tariffs don’t go into affect.
Because when small businesses disappear, it’s not just jobs or products that vanish—it’s our choices, our communities, and the ability to invest in things that truly matter.
Wishing you comfort,
Cheryl