Member-only story
Merry Christmas — NOT
Christmas Is Cancelled
Around 80% of toys sold in America are made in China
The production of toys, Christmas trees and decorations is usually in full swing by now. It takes four to five months to manufacture, package and ship products to the United States. Toy makers, children’s shops and specialty retailers are pausing orders for the winter holidays as the import taxes cascade through supply chains.
Holiday sales are crucial to the bottom line
Product shortages and higher prices predicted by numerous companies have left American business owners consulting bankruptcy lawyers.
Kara Dyer is the founder of Storytime Toys (Concord MA). Storytime makes children’s books with play-set puzzles. Christmas holiday sales are about two-thirds of their annual revenue. She explained, “I’m going to hold out hope for another two weeks that the tariffs will be removed… I will definitely not place an order if the tariffs are in effect.” Dyer usually places a large holiday order with her Chinese factory in the first 2 weeks of April to assure Storytime has enough inventory by mid-July.
Jennifer Bergman, owner of West Side Kids (NYC), said if tariffs remain, Christmas will be like “something we’ve never experienced…
