DENHAM SPRINGS — Vanessa Lewis never expected international trade policy to threaten the fairytale world she’s built — but now, tariffs might force her to make some tough choices.
Lewis owns a small business that provides princess character experiences for events and parties, and like many small business owners, she’s now navigating the ripple effects of newly imposed tariffs on imported goods.
“Most of our most-booked characters are Elsa and Ariel,” Lewis explained. “Their costumes aren’t the big ball gowns, so we order them from a Chinese distributor called Angel Seeker — like most of the princess industry does.”
Recently, that process has become far more complicated. Upon visiting Angel Seeker’s website, Lewis was greeted with a warning: orders shipped to the U.S. would now be subject to tariffs — taxes imposed by the U.S. government on imported goods.
What Are Tariffs?
Tariffs are fees placed on goods imported from other countries. Governments typically use them to protect domestic industries, encourage local manufacturing, or as leverage in trade negotiations. However, while tariffs are designed to strengthen national economies, they often have unintended consequences — especially for small businesses that rely on affordable international suppliers.
For Lewis, those consequences are already real.
“I had to tell my team to be extra careful with the costumes we have,” she said. “Because I honestly don’t know when we’ll be able to replace them.”
A Belle Dress and a Missed Opportunity
Another blow came when Lewis spotted a rare opportunity to purchase a new Belle gown from a favorite costume commissioner in Canada — a $1,200 dress from Needle Little Magic.
“I was ready to buy it, I told her ‘Sold. Put me down’,” Lewis said. “But then I realized — wait, will there be a tariff on this too?”
After speaking with the post office, the Canadian seller confirmed: yes, Lewis would be responsible for paying an additional 25% in tariffs, which would bring the total cost to upwards of $1,600.
“My budget was $1,000, and I had stretched it to $1,200. But I just couldn’t justify another several hundred dollars,” she said. “I had to walk away.”
The setback was disappointing for both buyer and seller. The Canadian commissioner lost a rare U.S. sale, and Lewis was left without the costume she urgently needed. Domestic options exist, but come with their own hurdles. One U.S.-based dressmaker has a two-year waitlist.
A Bleak Forecast for Small Businesses
Lewis worries these tariffs could spell disaster for others in her industry.
“There will be small businesses that go out of business because they can’t afford these tariffs,” she said. “And if the end game is to create more manufacturing jobs in the U.S., have we really improved anybody’s situation?”
Even if the tariffs are part of a longer-term economic strategy, Lewis said they’re causing short-term pain that could have permanent consequences.
“Let’s say, several years from now, this does help the country,” she said. “What happens to all the small people in between who fell? In the meantime, you’re killing off the very real businesses that do exist and rely on these products.”
For now, Lewis is focused on preservation. She’s extending the life of current costumes, leaning on community support, and hoping public pressure might sway policy decisions in favor of small business owners.
While her industry may be whimsical, she feels their problems are very real. “And right now, it’s survival mode.”
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