Retailers Respond: How Independent Stores Are Navigating Tariffs in 2025
Following our recent webinar "Tariffs Are Here – Now What?", Dane Cohen, Director of Retail Strategy at Management One, and Marc Weiss, retail industry expert and co-founder of Management One, shared real-world strategies to navigate tariff-driven cost increases. Their conversation offered practical advice to help independent retailers adapt to the changing landscape.
Through registration surveys and live polls, we captured the real-time concerns and strategies of a diverse group of independent retailers — from boutique owners and campus store directors to specialty buyers and CEOs.
Find out what independent stores are currently most concerned about and what strategies they are already putting in place to navigate tariffs in 2025.
What Retailers Are Asking: Concerns and Early Actions
Many retailers voiced critical questions about the impact of tariffs on their business: How will tariffs reshape consumer behavior? Will trade agreements provide relief? How can businesses best prepare for rising costs? Common concerns centered around protecting buying margins, managing supplier relationships, and maintaining customer loyalty amidst price volatility.
When asked about actions already underway, responses ranged from working more closely with suppliers and sourcing locally, to adjusting pricing strategies and guarding margin carefully. While some retailers had already begun to act, others were gathering information, ready to pivot once impacts became more visible.
Real-Time Retailer Strategies: Pricing, Inventory, and Vendor Shifts
During the live session, we asked participants what strategies they already put in place to soften the impact of tariffs and which strategy they were most likely to deploy thereafter.
The two polls revealed a clear trend: pricing strategies and inventory management are the frontlines of defense. Retailers reported using tactics like gradual price adjustments, boosting vendor negotiations, and tightening inventory assortments to offset rising costs without shocking their customer base.
When asked about the strategy they are most likely to put into action next, the focus sharpened even further. Respondents overwhelmingly leaned toward gradually implementing price changes, reducing the number of vendors, and refining their product mix — all moves designed to maintain profitability while navigating uncertain waters with caution.
The Takeaway: Turning Pressure into Opportunity
As tariffs continue to reshape the retail landscape, independent retailers are responding with resilience and strategic action. From adjusting pricing models to sharpening supplier partnerships, their focus remains clear: protect margins, maintain customer trust, and adapt with agility.
As Marc Weiss reminded us during the session: “There’s nothing like having these disruptors in history to realize that there’s always a win if you look for opportunities of success, rather than focus on the losses.”
For more actionable insights, read our recap on the three tariff strategies for independent retailers to turn economic pressure into opportunity or watch the webinar replay to dive deeper into the discussion.
Need help refining your strategy in the face of tariffs?Get a free consultation here to find out how Management One’s inventory planning and POS solutions can help you protect your margins and position your business for growth —even when prices rise.