Footwear stores in Southern California endure the effects of new tariffs from President Donald Trump’s administration, and the vast majority of sneakers come from China.
Dom de Luca, owner of the Fairfax-based Brooklyn Project, fears that the impact of these new tariffs could be fatal for his business. He said he has been warned by vendors who announced a rise in wholesale prices due to the new tariffs.
His vendors are urging buyers to take advantage of current prices. Deluca said the tariffs have already forced the price of some skateboards to be increased by $11.
He expects his biggest seller, sneakers, to be hit by tariffs. According to the American Apparel and Footwear Association, approximately 97% of American footwear and clothing are mainly imported from Asia.
The Nike shoes sold by the Brooklyn Project are made in China, the biggest target of Trump’s latest tariffs.
Deluca said the tariffs would erase his already declining profit margin.
“If you pay for the item and take into account all of the duties and all of that costs, if you have $100, you’re now $35,” Deluca says. “So it’s $100, $35, rent, employees, electricity and insurance, minus 20.”
Deluca said that while he eats most of the cost of skateboarding, the price of the Nike Sneakers is fixed.
Sales Representative Emile Murray said his clients were scared and nervous.
“If sales are low, it’s obviously less,” Murray said. “I have a mortgage, I have a wife and I have a bill.”
Deluca said the US does not have the infrastructure to make imported sneakers.
“In the next three or six months, unfortunately people will be closing. The stores will be out of business.
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