I closed my business after 44 years.
Jennifer Bergman, owner of a specialty toy store in Manhattan, describes how Trump-era tariffs devastated her family business. Founded by her mother in 1981, the shop had relied heavily on toys manufactured in China, including bestsellers like scooters. When tariffs hit, shipments were delayed, costs rose sharply—sometimes by 40%—and as a small retailer, she lacked the resources to stockpile inventory like larger competitors. Combined with declining sales and the unpredictability of new policies, Bergman ultimately closed the store on July 31 after 44 years in business.