Can your Margins Survive Tariffs?

Hello Readers 🥰

Welcome to today's edition, bringing the latest growth stories fresh to your inbox.

If your pal sent this to you, then subscribe to be the savviest marketer in the room😉

In Partnership with Outskill

📉 The List of Names Is Growing Every Week, Nearly 700,000 Layoffs in 5 Months

In just five months, nearly 700,000 layoffs have been announced, an 80% surge from last year. Entire departments have vanished. Even top performers aren’t immune. Waiting for the economy to “settle” isn’t a plan. The smartest move now is gaining skills companies can’t afford to lose.

Right now, that skillset is AI mastery, and this World’s First 16‑Hour LIVE AI Upskilling Sprint will get you there in one weekend:

✅ Learn how AI really works by exploring 10+ AI tools, LLM models, and practical use cases

✅ Build and ship products faster, in days instead of months

✅ Create AI Agents that handle repetitive work and free up 20+ hours weekly

✅ Design professional images and videos for business, social media, and marketing

✅ Turn these skills into $10K/month by consulting or starting an AI services business

By Monday, you’ll know how to work faster, automate more, and create results others can’t match.

Led by experts from Amazon, Microsoft, and SamurAI, and rated 4.9/5 by global learners. 

It includes $5,100+ in AI tools, a 3,000+ Prompt Bible, and your own AI Toolkit Builder, free.

📅 Sat & Sun, 10 AM – 7 PM

Secure one of 500 free seats and start your AI sprint this weekend!

Tariff Tsunami Is Real

New trade policies have reshaped e-commerce logistics. A flat 10% import tariff now applies broadly, with higher rates targeting specific countries. The de minimis exemption for low-cost parcels has been removed, meaning every shipment, no matter how small, is now dutiable and inspected. Here’s how three T-shirt business models are adapting:

1️⃣ China-Importing DTC Brand
Import duties have surged, raising landed unit costs by nearly 30%. Margins shrink, CAC climbs, and a $2 retail hike only partially offsets the pressure.

Adaptation tactics:

• Source outside China
• Renegotiate FOB pricing with suppliers.
• Redesign using more U.S.-sourced components
• Shift to hybrid fulfillment like importing blanks and customizing locally

2️⃣ Domestic Manufacturer
Despite U.S. assembly, imported dyes and trims now carry tariffs. A modest cost increase per unit adds up over large volumes and eats into annual profits.

Adaptation tactics:

• Source dyes and trims locally or from low-risk trade partners
• Eliminate specialty packaging and imported embellishments.
• Justify higher prices through premium storytelling.
• Optimize operations and reduce waste to protect margins

3️⃣ Dropshipping Brand (Temu-style)
Without de minimis, every small parcel faces customs. That $3 duty wipes out one-third of the profit and causes major delays.

Adaptation tactics:

• Shift to U.S.-based 3PLs for bulk shipping
• Raise AOV with bundles or shipping thresholds.
• Source from non-tariff countries
• Build a brand that commands higher perceived value

The Takeaway
Tariffs are squeezing e-commerce from all sides. Surviving means adapting fast. Brands must rethink sourcing, pricing, and fulfillment or risk being priced out of the market.

Creating a Lead Generation Plan

Create a comprehensive lead generation plan that targets [Industry/Niche] by identifying key demographics, leveraging [Marketing Channels], and crafting compelling offers. Outline steps to nurture leads through [Specific Funnel Stages], ensuring maximum conversion. Consider the current trends in [Market Trends] to optimize your strategy.

Industry/Niche - [Insert here]

Marketing Channels - [Insert here]

Specific Funnel Stages - [Insert here]

Market Trends - [Insert here]

We'd love to hear your feedback on today's issue! Simply reply to this email and share your thoughts on how we can improve our content and format.

Have a great day, and we'll be back again with more such content 😍