Tariff Impact and Our Commitment to You

• Posted on 6 May 2025
• By LynAnne + The HumanKind Team
• 0

We have been getting questions about whether the tariffs will impact our business. As a nonprofit with a mission to buy handcrafted goods from artisans around the world, the answer is yes; tariffs of any amount will absolutely affect us. 

We source most of our goods from producers in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and a small percentage from marginalized populations here in the U.S. We purchase through fair trade enterprises, both nonprofits and social enterprises, that are working directly with artisans and producers. For the most part, these fair trade suppliers are responsible for importing goods to the U.S. and they pay the tariff costs. When costs go up, many of them don’t have a choice but to raise prices for us.

As we navigate our way through these potentially higher costs, we have heard questions about how we might pivot. Questions like:

Can you change your business to source only USA-made products?

Can you negotiate prices to keep costs down?

Can you place large orders now to get products ahead of tariffs?

The answer to all of these questions is "no."

Can you change your business to source only USA-made products?

No. 95% of our products are imported, and that is a deliberate decision and part of our mission as a nonprofit. We source from artisans and farmers around the world because we are committed to purchasing from producers who have historically been left out of the mainstream economy. People in developing countries (countries that have been negatively affected by imperialism) face greater barriers to accessing markets for their goods. Fair trade steps in to build a bridge between producers and customers, and our commitment to the producers is non-negotiable.

Can you negotiate prices to keep costs down?

No. Our business model is built on paying producers fairly. We will not force them to work for less money. When you look at the entire supply chain of fair trade enterprises—artisans, wholesale suppliers and retailers—no one is getting rich off of this. We set prices to be fair and to be financially sustainable, but our margins are slim because our entire goal is to put the most money in the hands of the producers.

Can you place large orders now to get products ahead of tariffs?

No. Our suppliers are committed to providing artisans with consistent income over time. It is not feasible or fair to ramp up production now and then completely halt orders later. 

Our commitment to you:

We will not raise prices unless we absolutely need to. We will not use this as an opportunity to make more money. We believe our pricing is fair and based on actual product worth. Our profit margins are only used to cover our costs, which we try to keep low by employing a small staff alongside a team of volunteers. As a result, we are financially unable to absorb higher costs of goods, and if our suppliers are forced to raise prices, you will likely see some of our prices go up as well.

To you, our customers and our supporters, we are grateful that you are on this journey with us. Together we can continue to provide fair wages to artisans and farmers who depend on fair trade for their livelihoods.

Sincerely,

LynAnne + The HumanKind Team