President Trump Tariff The photography industry is having a significant impact. There are heavy hitters like Lika Increased prices In America (and Canada), and Canon Inc. Prices will increase In response to tariffs, on some of its products, only to name a few examples. However, exceptionally high (145 percent) tariffs on imports from China are having a broad, unexpected effect, even on companies that make their products in the United States, such as Clever supply cum,
Founder and owner of clever supply company, Tod Balsley, Recently taken for threads To expand how tariffs affect their company. Their easy-to-papers posts show how tariffs affect almost every aspect of the business. While clever supply company handles its hands Accommodated camera straps In its Louisville, Kentki workshop, the company conducted a general practice for some of its materials – many Companies, small and large alike. This is a global economy, after all.
Tariff uncertainties are complicated to run a business
“Tariff has made everything more complicated – not only more expensive, but more uncertain,” Balsla explains Petpixel,
“Even though we make our camera strips in the US, we still rely on sour components globally – bakal, rivets, split rings, even peak design hardware we all use is manufactured all abroad, mostly in China. When the tariffs killed those commodities also.
For the effects of tariffs, which, however, was rolled out of the chatla, was at least partially indicated by President Trump, before they became effective, stocked on more hardware and packaging as the clever supply company. However, it is not possible to stock all the necessary materials forever. At some point, the stockpile goes out, and when it happens, the material can double the manufacturing cost of the clever supply.
“It is not possible to pass a 125% markup customer,” Balsla explains. “For a lot of small brands, it can be troublesome.”
While high prices are a problem, for clear reasons, it is equally challenging to deal with uncertainty.
(Clever supply) Payed approximately $ 3,500 in duties to restore one of your bags for this spring. If that shipment arrives a few weeks later, in early April, it will cost us alone to cost about $ 19,700 – not including shipping. ,
“We had big plans for our camera bag line – two successful kickstarter campaigns gave us momentum, and we were ready to launch new designs,” Balsley says Petpixel“But we have to stop both the development of a new prototype and the production of a finished bag that is already market-taiyar. It is incredibly disappointing.”
Balsley says that his company paid around $ 3,500 in duties to restore one of its one. Bags For this spring. If the same shipment “arrives a few weeks later, in early April, it would cost us alone to cost about $ 19,700 – not including shipping.”
“We can’t just absorb it.”
The clever supply company can pay those tariffs and then increase the prices of its goods in turn, as some companies (and then something) will be done. However, the clever supply company will not do so. This will make the company’s products out of its customers’ reach.
“No, tariffs don’t feel like security. They feel a little stuck to me,” Balsla says.
Big tariff bill for other brands
Some companies have also received large tariff bills like the Smart Home Camera Brand Vayz, which were posted on X, earlier known as Twitter, that it paid $ 255,000 in tariffs on the order of imported floodlights of $ 167,000.
Just got our first tariff bill. We imported $ 167k floodlights and then paid $ 255k in tariffs. Last year, any of our founders was paid.
– Wyze (@Wyzecam) 30 April, 2025
Most companies cannot deal with it and only the customer cannot pass the cost. For example, Chinese Astro camera company QHyCCD has stopped shipment in the United States due to tariff, As DPRIV Last week reported,
An uncertain business future
While Balsla understands what the administration is trying to do and admits that it may be effective in limited situations for some industries, they are not sure it will do a lot, but will harm some businesses, including their own.
Tariffs can make Chinese knock-off camera strips more expensive and clever supply company handmade, high-quality offerings more expensive and more, more expensive and more, which Balsla called the “fictional silver layer”. However, it is not optimistic that the position of the tariff will work in favor of the clever supply company.
“Honestly, I doubt,” they say.
While the clever supply company can do a storm season, at least for now, and is in a position to check alternative options, including a meeting with the US-based factories, not every company so lucky to see which components that can be locally moving. Asked if he can start a clever supply company right now, with the uncertainty on the tariff, Balsla says it would have been very difficult without access to the least global supply chains.
“We have been lucky for most of our leather sources from American tanneries, using skins from American cattle-a by-product of the fans industry. So for our camera strap business, which is built in the house here in Louisville, it can still be possible to start. But still, we describe the world-made componns like Hardware and Packaging,” he describes.
For the company’s bag line, “it would be incredibly difficult to launch in the current trade environment.”
(Clever supply) creates products in the US, sources many components domesticly, and has been lean and efficient while trying to expand its product offerings. The company increased safely, took smart decisions, and despite this, it is all still Tariff is actively damaging
The company has some things for this, including making all its camera straps in Kentki and building them in a flexible med-to-order style, showing how disastrous tariffs can be.
The clever supply company is doing so “correct”. It makes products in the US, sources several components domestic, and has been lean and efficient while trying to expand its product offerings. The company increased safely, took smart decisions, and despite this, it is all still Tariffs are actively damaged which is to protect companies like clever supply company, American companies.
Clever supply company navigates chaos
In the short term, Balsley says that all this has been very stressful. Stopping them on new products, but the clever supply company could handle it for now, “hard calls”.
In the long term, it is less clear – for many reasons, not at least, it is difficult to guess how the tariffs will change. The clever supply company immediately started a meeting with the US-based manufacturers for soft goods, such as bags, and they are in conversations. Balsley described the talks as promising.
Customers may not be able to buy products that they want when they want them, but the clever supply company has no plans to give a price to their emotional customer base.
“We are just a small team that are trying to do things correctly – even when the land is shifting. The customer that can expect is transparency. If things take more time, we will tell you. If we change something, we will explain why. And no matter what we will continue to create that we are made with care.”
He remains excited and optimistic, which he says how he goes.
“I am not showing that this is not difficult. This is. But I also know that to complain does not resolve anything. I try to take this mindset: ‘Yes, it’s useless, but it’s business, so what are we going to do about it?’ This entrepreneur is like a deal, right? ”
“We are trying to make a gear that does not just look good, but really supports the creative process – and respects the crafts of photography,” is the conclusion of Balsla.
Image Credit: Surprise Supply Co.
