HIGH POINT — Reactions to President Trump’s tariff announcement began circulating throughout the furniture, décor and design industries immediately yesterday.
Some reactions were measured, others more responsive, but most are also paired with a “wait and see” approach as the clock ticks down toward the April 9 deadline for reciprocal tax implementation. And furniture industry execs are working with their global partners and legal teams to develop determine what is included, excluded and potentially revised between now and next week’s deadline.
Furniture manufacturers are exploring the implications of the Annex II exemptions provided along with the White House’s announcement about reciprocal tariffs. Numerous wood products are currently classified as exemptions in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and several manufacturers are working with their legal teams to determine if wood furniture falls within the exemption parameters and what that could mean for both upholstery and case goods production.
“The tariffs announcement certainly added more uncertainties to the industry and, as we continue to dig deeper into the details, we believe that there will be more adjustments as we move forward,” said Michael Hsieh, CEO of Lifestyle Enterprise. “The consolation is that this industry has gone through a period like this before and that we have learned valuable lessons from those experiences. Lifestyle will not make any knee-jerk decisions amidst all these uncertainties and risk creating additional confusion with our customers and suppliers. Instead, we are actively gathering and evaluating all the information through every channel as it comes in to plan around any obstacles and positioning ourselves to support our customer base and not distribute the business.
“We believe the industry will see a jump in sales as consumers try to avoid the tariff tax which will benefit the industry and help clean out inventory levels,” Hsieh continued. “Retailers, as in the past, will need to fill the inventory levels regardless of tariff cost because this industry cannot move the manufacturing and the supply chain base overnight. The industry is in this together, and ultimately, we all need products to sell regardless of the new tariff costs.
“We understand that countries like Vietnam are already negotiating with the administration which hopefully will adjust their tariff rate,” he added. “The same is happening with other countries. So, until there is total clarity, we will continue to work with our supply chain to offer quality products and will not reengineer products to sacrifice our quality standards to account for any tariff savings. Our commitment is to navigate through these uncertain times and make adjustments based on accurate information to support our retail partners and, as always, offer the best values in the industry while doing so.”
Vietnam has been an important alternate manufacturing destination for the furniture industry, and one news article circulating among furniture industry executives was Vietnam’s reduction of import taxes on key goods implemented on March 31. The article noted that Vietnam’s “most striking move, however, is the slash of import taxes on wood and wooden products, including coat hangers, chairs, and furniture, from 20%-25% to a uniform 0%.”
“Vietnam is taking a very pro-active approach that we all hope will keep the country tariff free,” said Gabriele Natale, president of Manwah, in response to the story.
Designers strategize to minimize impact
Members of the interior design community are also revisiting business strategies in response to tariff implications.
Jeanne K Chung of Cozy•Stylish•Chic in Pasadena, Calif., said that many in her community are “still grappling with how to rebuild after our recent fires,” adding that “this is what we voted for, and someone has to pay for it, and in most cases, it will be the end user.”
“The reinstated foreign trade tariffs are poised to significantly impact the industry, affecting both imported and domestic products,” Chung said. “We’ve noticed that even our ‘Made in America’ products have components that come from overseas, so it isn’t just our imported lines that are facing price increases. It has affected the industry as a whole.
“We’ve been closely monitoring the situation, engaging with clients to address anticipated price increases, which have been reflected in quotes since early this year,” she added. “With extended lead times on made-to-order items, we’re proactively preparing for tariff-related costs that will already take effect when it comes time to ship. Considering the current economic climate, we anticipate consumers will be increasingly discerning in their purchasing decisions.”
Kyle Barrett, founder of Barrett Bergmann Home in Texarkana, Texas, said that the tariffs will have a significant impact on the design community.
“The reciprocal tariffs will undoubtedly drive up the cost of imported materials, from specialty woods to high-end fixtures,” Barrett said. “For an interior designer, this means tighter budgets, longer lead times and potential compromises on quality for my clients.
“To address this, we’re proactively communicating with our clients about these changes, offering alternative material options, and prioritizing locally sourced products whenever possible,” he continued. “Transparency is key; we’re keeping them informed about pricing shifts and working collaboratively to find creative solutions that maintain both design integrity and budget expectations.”
Christopher Todd Hall of Christopher Todd Design in Henderson, Nev., said that a “trickle up” impact regarding perceived value of product could be one consequence of the tariffs.
“In our industry, this will not impact the luxury market like it will the mid to lower market,” he said. “However, I do think that ‘cheaper’ products will be made even cheaper to be competitive, and that in turn becomes the norm, which trickles up as expectations and perceived value will be lowered, which over time does change the luxury market.
“I am no economist and don’t even pretend to understand a majority of trade relations, but I do know that a need for checks and balances needs to be in place, and I’m just not sure this is the best way to go about it,” Hall continued. “I’m not sure what I think about the effects on my business. Although I’m concerned, I think that negotiations will be fast, and things will level out. I am certainly thinking about ways I can adjust my business practices in order to stay competitive.”
Wendy Glaister of Wendy Glaister Interiors in Modesto, Calif., said that the tariff issue “has loomed over us all for quite a while.” She added that the first quarter of 2025 was “very much about educating our clients about making purchases before the start of Q2 if they wanted to avoid price increases due to tariffs.”
“In our first experience with Trump presidency tariffs, I remember walking into my local slab yard and all of the (Chinese) quartz was gone,” Glaister said. “Because our vendor relied so heavily on inexpensive quartz to drive sales volume, there was almost nothing to sell. I walked out of the showroom filled with fear; I couldn’t find what I needed at the price point my clients could afford. What would that do to my business? My clients are ‘normal’ people, not superstars with extravagant budgets.
“The same feeling of unknowing came during the pandemic, when framing lumber rose 40% overnight and many other materials followed,” she continued. “A commercial project that I’d just broken ground on went over budget by $70,000 in framing lumber alone. The glass industry gave their retailers a month’s notice to buy any and all of the glass they could, in anticipation of a 40% increase.”
These earlier experiences are helping Glaister navigate the uncertainty, and she noted that “holding our breath to see what may be and how things will evolve is natural.” Recalling the financial crisis of 2008-2012, the earlier Trump tariffs and high inflation, Glaister said she thinks it is “unrealistic to believe that things will always be in a growth state.”
“What I have learned through all of it is this: Things will likely slow down. Clients in a ‘normal’ range of income, looking to improve their homes, may choose to wait until they feel as though the ‘adjustment’ has been absorbed somewhat into the economy and their budgets,” she said. “People with higher incomes and greater resources will likely not be dissuaded by the increases. Homes already drawn with architects on land that’s been purchased; companies with expansion plans that are funded; industries that provide services that are indispensable (healthcare for one) will proceed as planned.
“Is it unpleasant? Yes. Scary? Definitely. Will we find a way through? We will. It’s a difficult time, and we have to take the long-range view. Nothing lasts forever. We can hold each other in compassion and lift each other up in friendship and prayer. And we will be okay in the long run.”
Kim Radovich, Kim Radovich Interiors in Huntington, N.Y., voiced her concern.
“This is yet another blow to an already existing potential crisis,” Radovich said. “We have already received price increases from many of our vendors, and this will make it even more challenging to provide clients with quality products that fit our existing project budgets. Since raw materials and assembled components for many products might be sourced from multiple countries, the fear is that these tariffs will further complicate the supply chain and increase costs for interior design firms. As someone who prioritizes providing the best service and high-quality furniture and furnishings to my customers, these challenges ahead are indeed concerning.”
Conversations illustrate concern, opportunities
As part of one social media exchange, several individuals who work in and in collaboration with the home furnishings industry offered their responses to the tariffs.
Morgan Kenn is director of account services for a furniture manufacturer and started her response to an exchange referencing her reaction.
“This is going to be rough,” Kenn said, adding, “Supply chains aren’t rebuilt overnight, and in the meantime, businesses — especially in industries like furniture — will face even more challenges. … I’m all for strengthening American industries, but not through policies that make it even harder for businesses to survive in an already struggling market.
“Whether we like it or not, the industry has already shifted, and reversing decades of offshoring isn’t something that happens overnight,” she said. “I’d love to see more U.S. manufacturing, but I also know firsthand how difficult the current economic landscape is for sales reps, retailers, and suppliers alike.
“High Point wasn’t chosen for market because of its vacation appeal,” continued Kenn. “It was the beating heart of the American furniture industry, surrounded by factories that made it easy to go from showroom to production in the same day. That era is long gone, and what replaced it wasn’t just about finding cheaper labor; it was about entire supply chains evolving to meet global demand. China proved it could make high-end furniture, then Vietnam became the next big manufacturing hub, and now we’re seeing companies diversify even further, looking at places like Indonesia, India and Mexico.
“Supply chains can be built quickly when there’s enough incentive, but the question is whether the U.S. can realistically compete at scale. I’m not convinced that we can replace what’s been lost at the speed or efficiency necessary to keep businesses afloat. The only thing I know for sure is that we’re all about to find out. I just hope this doesn’t fail miserably because the people who will feel it the most aren’t the policymakers; it’s the ones of us actually out here trying to sell furniture.”
In the same social thread, Algenon Cash, a managing director at Wharton Gladden & Company, an investment banking firm, offered an interesting counterpoint to the “return manufacturing to the U.S.” conversation.
“We seem to forget that right now America is the leader in advanced manufacturing and that’s what we need to continue focusing on in this knowledge and technology driven economy,” Cash said. “I can promise you if companies successfully onshore manufacturing jobs, then it won’t be humans in those plants designing and assembling furniture, it will be artificial intelligence and robots. The only way to maintain price expectations while onshoring production is with automation.”
Designers Today editor Andrea Lillo contributed to this story.
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Credit: homeaccentstoday.com
