Tariff Increase Announcement

Dear Mint Partners,

Are we having fun yet?

We've held off on price increases for as long as possible, but we're unfortunately forced to apply an increase to off set these newest rounds of tariff s that will total between 150%-176% on our products, as our containers make their way to us.

In the 36 years Flying Circle Inc. has been in business (and my 26 years with Flying Circle and Mint!--I'm now running them both--eek), I'd have to say this year ranks in the top 3 scariest periods of business ownership, with Covid disruption fun coming in as a close #2.

During our last adjustment for new tariff s in 2018, our small family business absorbed 20% of the original 25% tariff increase, and we've continued to absorb those costs for the last several years (even without a retail website!). However, with additional tariff s that will now average over 160% (the latest additions are stacked on top of the preexisting tariff s and duties) we must now adjust our wholesale prices. We will try to keep increases within the 15-20% range as long as possible, but absorbing such a huge tariff will likely be unsustainable for long.

As always, we remain committed to supporting our wholesale customers and have never introduced a competing retail website or sold out to etsy, Amazon, big box, or liquidators, like our competitors have done. If we had built a retail website or used other retail outlets to compete with our wholesale customer (you), it would be much easier to off set the increases in overhead without impacting your wholesale price.

As you are probably already aware, another unfortunate impact of this trade war will be nationwide shortages of all kinds of aff ordable, readily-available goods we all enjoy. Like every other company that imports their designs (big and small), we anticipate asking our factories to hold production and hold containers overseas until this tariff situation stabilizes, which will very likely create inventory shortages and empty shelves during our critical back to school and holiday shopping seasons.

It's been year after year of challenges-- some that are out of our control--but I am grateful to have the challenges and grateful for every one of your orders that we have the privilege to pick and pack and ship your way. As always, we're in this together--please email me if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.

Christi Chittim

Christine Chittim
President & CEO / Mint
CEO/ Flying Circle Inc.