With the ongoing pressures businesses feel to get ahead of the looming tariffs, our CEO and founder at Boxzooka, Brendan Heegan, has been sharing industry advice on the de minimis rule with Vogue Business, fashion industry tariffs with Glossy, and now, Retail Customer Experience.

Chief editor Judy Mottl asked him to talk about how the retail industry can mitigate consumers’ reactions to changing company policies in the Retail Customer Experience article, “Tariffs in retail: What retailers should do as consumers react, experts offer advice.”

From sourcing and pricing strategies to shifts in consumer behavior, the ripple effects of trade policy are being felt across every part of the supply chain. The May 6, 2025, Retail Customer Experience reports on the state of the current economy.

The current pause in the US-China trade war has many feeling hopeful, but retailers and shoppers are still hesitant. 70% of U.S. adults expect higher prices due to tariffs, and 43% already report increased prices. As a result, more than 40% of consumers have already changed spending habits, with many citing worries about inflation as a driving factor.

In this interview, Brendan explained that one of the biggest challenges for retailers is the uncertainty surrounding the details, timing, and scale of tariff increases. Brands are reevaluating production plans and exploring new sourcing strategies, especially those currently relying on imports from China. 

How Retailers Can Stay Competitive Amid Rising Tariffs

Boxzooka helps our customers with our tech-driven, data-backed 3PL shipping, warehousing, and logistics, but we’re also there to share the insights we’ve gathered from decades in this industry.

Brendan was asked to provide his perspective on how brands are adjusting — and how Boxzooka is helping them do it. Two examples include bundling with Boxzooka’s kitting services and Boxzooka’s access to lower-cost SKUs. 

Beyond that, some of Boxzooka’s larger clients took action early, bringing in product in late 2024 and early 2025 to stay ahead of possible cost hikes. Smaller brands, however, are being more cautious, especially since consumer demand for non-essential products is dropping off.

How Boxzooka Is Helping Retailers Turn Tariff Trouble Into Opportunity

Boxzooka is an award-winning third-party logistics (3PL) provider helping eCommerce companies adapt to global supply chain changes, remain compliant with regulations, and scale successfully.

Our 3PL services include:

• eCommerce Fulfillment
• Pick and Pack
• Kitting
• Cross-Border Shipping
• Custom Technology Integrations
• and more

With our strategically located fulfillment centers and our proprietary logistics platform, at Boxzooka, we have the tools and flexibility brands need to stay afloat and stay ahead of the competition.

Interested in how our 3PL services can serve you? Let’s talk about how we can help your brand.