As we celebrate 20 years of partnership and progress, we want to thank you for being an essential part of the tgbBRANDS community. Together, we’ve weathered many challenges—from Covid to supply chain disruptions—and today, we’re navigating another: rising tariffs on imported goods.

While recent tariff rates have been reduced from a high of 145% to 30% for a limited time, the added costs continue to significantly impact businesses like ours. To maintain the quality, service, and value you expect, starting July 1, 2025, we will implement an 8% import tax surcharge on all orders to help offset these ongoing costs. This approach allows flexibility should tariffs shift again and helps us avoid raising prices on individual products. Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about the surcharge and how it may affect your orders. As always, your Territory Sales Manager and our Customer Service Team are here to help.

Have prices been raised due to new tariffs? 

Prices for our Fall/Winter Collections were set based on preexisting tariff rates at the end of 2024. The import tax surcharge partially offsets this year’s added tariff costs. As rates have been fluid and rapidly changing, we chose to apply a surcharge rather than continually adjusting prices.

What tariff surcharges will I see on my invoice and when do they start? 

Orders that start shipping July 1st, 2025 will have an 8% surcharge will be added during shipment. This applies to products only, not freight. Opportunity buys written on a separate order are exempt and will not have any surcharge  

What products are affected by the new tariffs requiring a surcharge? 

All products shipping on July 1 or later are affected including COCO + CARMEN, Whispers and Ginger Snaps.   

What products are not affected by the new tariffs requiring a surcharge? 

Opportunity buys written on a separate order will not have a surcharge added. These are existing items that arrived at our warehouse prior to increased tariffs.

Is the tariff surcharge applied to my freight costs? 

No, tariff surcharge applies to product cost only.

What happens when the 90-day pause is over? 

At this time, we do not know what actions will be taken once the 90-day pause ends. We are closely monitoring the situation and hope for a favorable resolution. As always, we are committed to transparency and will provide timely updates should there be any changes that affect pricing or supply.

Why are you using tariff surcharges instead of a price increase? 

Implementing a temporary tariff surcharge allows us to be more transparent and flexible. Instead of raising prices across the board, surcharges isolate the specific costs directly tied to the increased import tariffs. This way, if tariffs are reduced or removed in the future, we can adjust accordingly without permanently inflating our product pricing.

Why can’t tgbBRANDS absorb the tariff impact rather than passing it to your customers? 

The newly imposed tariff rates represent a significant and unexpected increase in the overall cost structure of many products. We are doing everything we can to minimize the impact. The 8% surcharge only partially offsets these added costs. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the 90-day pause and potential future changes introduces further financial risk. Rather than implementing permanent price increases, this approach helps us maintain transparency and flexibility while continuing to offer quality products and reliable service. 

I pre-booked Seasonal orders months ago, why couldn’t you have bought my inventory before the tariffs? 

We understand your concern and appreciate your early commitment to seasonal orders. While orders may be placed months in advance, actual production and shipment timelines are often coordinated closer to the delivery window to ensure accurate forecasting, inventory management, and product freshness. Unfortunately, the timing of the tariff changes coincided with the production and import phase for many of these items. As a result, the surcharges are being applied to goods affected during that timeframe, even for pre-booked orders.

Will there be tariff surcharges applied to orders placed and shipped prior to July 1? 

No, no surcharge will be added to any orders that ship prior to July 1st. 

Are new tariff costs being marked up? Is tgbBRANDS making more money? 

No. The 8% tariff surcharge does not fully cover the added costs from today’s new 30% tariffs. We are absorbing some of this added expense as well as managing through increased costs and complexities brought on by these changes throughout the shipping and supply chains.

Why are some other companies not charging a tariff surcharge? 

There are several reasons why some companies may not be implementing a separate tariff surcharge at this time. These may include: 

• Selling primarily domestically produced products that aren’t impacted by the new tariffs 
• Choosing to increase product prices instead of listing a separate surcharge 
• Fulfilling orders if they have existing on-hand inventory purchased before the tariff changes 
• Offering fewer or no new imported products currently subject to these additional costs 

Each company’s sourcing strategy and timing are different. At tgbBRANDS, we believe a transparent surcharge approach is the most flexible and fair way to address these evolving challenges.

Will I still receive my pre-orders? Will it be on time or delayed?

Yes, we still plan to ship all Fall/Winter pre-orders. The majority of these goods are scheduled to arrive on time and as expected. While we are closely monitoring the ongoing supply chain situation, we do not anticipate significant delays at this time and will communicate promptly if anything changes.

Can I negotiate the surcharge fee based on order size? 

Unfortunately, we’re unable to adjust the surcharge. We are already absorbing a significant portion of the increased tariff costs—more than half in many cases—to help minimize the impact on our customers. This ensures fairness and consistency across all orders during this challenging period.