Small business owners must decide whether to raise prices to cover costs or shoulder the burden themselves.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Local designer Renata Gasparian created one of the most popular clothing lines in Charlotte, but now, the small business owner is navigating tariffs with some big questions and even bigger concerns.
When Gasparian moved to Charlotteย from Brazil, she was quickly noticed for her fashion sense.
โEverywhere I went, people would compliment me on my outfits,โ Gasparian said.ย
With help from her father and co-owner, Nelson Gasparian, Renata Gasparian launched her new brand, RENATA by Renata Gasparian.ย
Renata Gasparian’s designs represent the melding of her two homes.
โItโs a mix of Brazilian soul with southern charm,โ Renata Gasparian said.
Renata Gasparian started designing her clothing line about five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. After finishing the designs, she sent the patterns to be manufactured in a factory in India, then launched it out of her home.ย
“When the world shut down is when I started,โ Renata Gasparian said. โI started from my house in my bonus room.”
RENATA has outgrown her bonus room and since moved into a retail space on East Boulevard.ย
But, with bigger business came bigger problems.
The Gasparians were suddenly hit with much higher costs and wait times to get goods from U.S. Customs.
โIt took us a much longer time to receive the product,” Renata Gasparian said. “They didnโt even know in Customs. They were unsure how to release the shipment.โ
Ultimately, the Gasparians had to shell out a lot more than they were used to paying just to get the shipment released.ย
With the extra fees and tariffs tacked onto Renata Gasparian’s clothing line, the Gasparians have to decide if they will raise prices to cover the rising costs.
“We have already seen tariffs up down then up again so we donโt know whatโs the next step,” Nelson Gasparian said. โI think its too early. We donโt know if this is final or if there are other things coming up we are not aware of.”ย
The father-daughter duo was hoping to grow RENATA with more retail options but now, like so many small businesses, theyโre taking a wait-and-see approach.
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Contact Michelle Boudin at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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