Tariff Transparency: Our Commitment in an Interconnected World

Dear Rosies,
 
Today, my founder letter is a pretty direct message on a practical matter....drum roll please....tariffs....(confetti! sparklers! bugles!).
 
We live in an interconnected, mycelial world. While our one-of-a-kind healing balms and lotions and oils are made in California, the ingredients come from a global pharmacopeia. Ashwagandha, Damiana, Apricot Kernel Oil—you name it, and chances are it’s globally sourced. Our glass comes from Czechoslovakia and China. While our cartons are made in Sandy Hook, CT, our manufacturing partner buys Forest Steward Certified paper and pulp from many places, including Canada. The trucks that deliver our goods use parts and fuel from 140 countries. I mean, it unfolds into every area. 
 
Because of this global interdependence, our supply chain is deeply impacted by shifting trade policies—many of which are changing suddenly and significantly. In case you're not tracking it, at the end of 2024, the weighted average tariff rate on all US imported goods was 2.42%—a manageable cost that was already built into our pricing structure. That rate has now gone to 29%, which represents a 1,098% increase- and from some countries, the tariffs are as high as 88%.
 
Tariffs, as you know, are not paid by the exporting country. They are paid by the importer. They are meant to induce people to buy more things locally, but frankly, that's not possible. Many of the things we use aren't even grown or available in the USA. This sudden increase in tariffs is effectively a hidden tax increase for all of us, on everything we purchase for our households. And, at Rosebud, this change affects almost everything we create.
 
We believe in transparency. We don't want to bake these tariffs into our prices (as many companies have announced they are doing) because the tariffs seem to be varying wildly right now. So, rather than hiding these added costs inside our pricing and then marking them up, we’re choosing to show them to you clearly. Beginning in mid-April, if you buy on our site, you’ll see a new line in the product description that will be added at checkout: Political Tariff Pass Through. You won’t see the surcharge on the existing inventory. It will begin to appear only as new, tariff-affected inventory arrives. If tariffs go up or down, we will adjust the passthrough. This is not a price increase on your product from us. It’s a direct pass-through of sudden U.S. tariffs on the imported goods that are part of our supply chain. 
 
Most economists have shown that this kind of trade policy is harmful and unsustainable. But we will persevere, and continue to make beautifully crafted offerings that heal and uplift.
 
Thank you for your continued support, for being part of this interconnected ecosystem, and for walking with us in truth, beauty, and care.
 
We wish everyone economic abundance, perfect health and well-being, and beautiful relations with their friends and neighbors. 
 
With gratitude,

Christine, Samantha, Michelle, Kyle, Brittney, Tom, Lisa, Barb, Tim, Geneva
 
Along with the Rose Woman team of growers and makers around the world