Small business “job creators” tend to be an overwhelmingly Republican constituency.
Give them what they voted for – good and hard.
intercst
11 Likes
Depends on your business.
I have 2 small businesses.
One is essentially tariff immune since it is a vacation rental. Not dependent on Canada nor Mexico for tourists, my major markets are Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Nashville, and Chicago. You could argue tariffs could affect anything I have to repair or replace but that would be a minimal cost compared to overall inflation that has occurred the past couple years.
Second business is a trailer park/storage facility. More susceptible to repair prices but not by much. Not like I’m replacing Subzero refridgerators or hard wood flooring. Pretty much the cheapest option at nearby Big Box Store. Again, inflation has been a bigger factor so far. Plus, with oil and gas exploration still strong, just had a drilling company come and rent out 3 units long term for OVER asking price. Can’t figure the one out but not arguing either.
Then throw in an article the other day on a hand dryer manufacturer, Xlerator, totally American made, complete supply chain begins and ends in USA, no issues.
Like any scenario, all depends.
1 Like
If they really need to be that selfish…and self centered…
We can send prayers.
Almost the least we can do.
It does but you’d be surprised. There is a local high-end ice cream shop called Molly Moon. They use locally sourced, organic products–except for the compostable cups and utensils which come from China. Moon says the tariffs will cost her half of her annual profits.. "We can’t operate like this. We won’t be profitable.”
This is why Putin is so insistent on tariffs. It is an effective way to target American small businesses, which creates about 2/3s of the jobs in this country.
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Not to point out the obvious, but Molly could switch to plastic cups and spoons for the duration.
DB2
3 Likes
Not surprising as tariffs seem to be reeking havoc in China.
Not in Seattle. Disposable food service items are required to be compostable.
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[quote=“DrBob2, post:5, topic:116188”]
Not to point out the obvious, but Molly could switch to plastic cups and spoons for the duration.
[/quote]
Not in Seattle. Disposable food service items are required to be compostable.
We old phartz remember ice cream coming in a paper cup, with a flat, wood, spoon.
Steve
7 Likes
Unfortunately, we don’t make stuff like that in the US. Instead of making paper cups, people have jobs as physical therapists and software engineers. Hopefully, if the tariffs kick in good and hard we can get back to making T-shirts and Hot Wheels like we did back when this country was great.
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Perhaps customers could adjust to eating their ice cream from a cone?
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Where do most plastic cups and spoons come from?
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Molly’s customers are likely attracted to her business’ complete eco and “green vibe”.
But providing cones, either paper or baked, as the default sounds lovely to me. The hysteria comes from the overlap of insane greens and insane sTrumpters. The rest of us should calm down.
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fwiw, the beverage cups at Arby’s, except for the largest, are waxed paper. Had lunch there yesterday. Coffee cups at Tim’s are also paper.
Steve
1 Like
I have a genetic adverse reaction to using disposable plastic crap. We just had a thread about plastic building up in human brains, and it is building up everywhere else too. From the deepest parts of the ocean to polar bear blubber, you can’t get away from it. Future humans will look back at the waste current humans generate and conclude we are nuts. Eliminating a city’s worth of crappy disposal plastic utensils won’t make that big of a difference but it is worthwhile start.
Being a human in 2025, I generate an enormous volume of plastic waste. But I find that eliminating plastic waste often times is easer and cheaper than using disposable plastic. Bar shampoo and toothpaste tablets are both easier than their wasteful counterparts (especially for travel in the case of toothpaste). Same with dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. I use powered hand soap (mixed with water) which is slighter less convenient than the plastic jug kind, but only slightly.
A few years ago I went to the local Cash and Carry and got a couple dozen each metal knives, forks, and spoons for about $20. Guests at backyard parties get to use actual silverware instead of crappy plastic utensils that don’t do the job. Same story cups (they are plastic, just not disposable) I have a dishwasher that cleans them for me. It isn’t that much harder than filling up plastic bags with plastic garbage. I’ve spared the lives of untold legions of red Solo cups.
(shakes fist at cloud)
You can still buy paper cups, no problem. We just don’t make them here anymore. If the tariffs work as planned, wages will be driven down to the point where it will become cost effective to make disposable junk domestically again.
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Switch to cones and the problem is solved.
I’m with you on this. We use plain silverware and (try) to never get any plastic.
But I suggest the business just raise prices by about $0.12. A Google search shows plenty of compostable cups for about $80 per 1000. They are probably even cheaper when bought in larger quantities and/or with a recurring weekly order.
Mike
2 Likes
When I went to Wendy’s drive up, for a salad, they always threw plastic knife and fork in the bag. When I got home, I tossed the plastic stuff in a kitchen drawer, and used my stainless flatware to eat the salad. Now, when I go to Wendy’s, and eat in the dining room, I take along a knife and fork from that stash, and use them, rather than taking new plastic ware from the store’s inventory.
Steve
3 Likes
Happy National Small Business Week!
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Small Business Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners as they grow our Nation’s economy.”
Nothing to worry about, it’s small business week, they’ll pull through just fine. Don’t look up…
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