No Tariff Tantrums Here

Hey folks, I’m diving into tariffs today! Those sneaky little taxes slapped onto imported goods, as if they’re itching to jazz up our messy economic stew. Maybe you’ve flipped through the news—or skimmed it while faking global trade expertise like I do—and you’re wondering if tariffs will soon jack up your favorite BMS Imaginarium prices to small-yacht levels. So, pour yourself a coffee, kick back, and let me, your trusty shopkeeper, try to explain it in such a way to keep your eyes from glazing over like donuts at a health food convention. And let’s be real, I have know idea what I’m about to talk about.

This article is not intended to show support for or against the tariff issue going on with the US. I’m running a business, not a partisan rodeo. So no comments about what side of the political aisle I am on. Also, Partisan Rodeo would be a good name for a country rock band.

The Rundown

Imagine the import business as a manic whack-a-mole arcade game. Every day, a new policy shoots up, and businesses like mine are left swinging mallets, trying to keep costs from spiraling into the stratosphere. Tariffs dominate 2025’s chatter, ever since the U.S. twisted the trade-protectionism knob to eleven. Picture this: the trade-weighted average tariff leaps from a mellow 2% to a fiery 24% quicker than I can yell “supply chain meltdown!” China faces tariffs so steep—145% on some stuff!—you’d think the government’s stacking paperwork and dollar bills into a fortress. Over in Canada and Mexico, a 25% tariff stings, but the USMCA deal lets some goods slip through unscathed. It’s a rollercoaster out there, and I’m just running my store to keep it rolling smoothly.

How Does This Affect The Store?

Here’s the good news, my merch-loving friends: we’re not caught in the tariff tornado…yet. I’ve made it my mission to stock products fulfilled right here in the good ol’ U.S.A., where the only thing we import is questionable fast-food trends. Most of our gear—t-shirts, mugs, and towels so far—comes from domestic suppliers who don’t have to wrestle with customs forms or international shipping delays. And the 3D Printed products are manufactured by me directly. So, for the bulk of our inventory, tariffs are about as relevant as a snow shovel in Miami.

Now, I’ve got to come clean about one little exception: our workshop aprons. Those bad boys, with their rugged canvas and pockets deep enough to smuggle a sandwich, are fulfilled in either Latvia or Spain. Why? Well, my Print-On-Demand pals call the shots on where these aprons are made, and for now, they’re rolling with Latvia and Spain. I’m scratching my head wondering why there’s no U.S. facility stitching these beauties, so I’ve fired off a request for answers faster than you can say ‘shipping surcharge.’ Stay tuned—I’m on the case! For now, our aprons take a transatlantic journey to get to you, which means they could get tangled in the tariff net someday.

But don’t start panic-buying aprons just yet (Or you could, I won’t argue)! As of today—April 12, 2025—there’s no tariff hike hitting our aprons, and that means no price jumps for you. Zero. Nada. Zilch. The only thing going up is my blood pressure from trying to keep track of daily trade news. Seriously, following these tariff updates is like trying to herd cats while riding a unicycle and juggling flaming torches.

Here’s the deal, though: the import world changes faster than my kid’s opinion on what’s “cool.” If tariffs start eyeballing our aprons—or any other product—I’ll be on it like a hawk watching a chicken picnic. You’ll hear from me the second anything shifts, whether it’s through an email, a post on this site, or me standing on a soapbox in the town square (just kidding about that last one…probably). Transparency is my middle name. Actually, it’s Michael, but you get the point.

Conclusion

So, what’s the takeaway? Keep rocking those workshop aprons without a care in the world. Build that birdhouse, paint that masterpiece, or just strut around looking like the coolest craftsperson on the block. We’re tariff-free for now, and I’m doing everything short of wrestling bureaucrats to keep it that way. If you’ve got questions or just want to chat about the absurdity of global trade over a virtual donut, drop me a line. Until then, shop happy and stay creative.

-Brian