When tariffs threatened to hike costs for his China-made shower heads, Afina CEO Ramon van Meer faced a dilemma: shift production to the U.S. or risk pricing out customers. But a market survey delivered a plot twist 🎬—not one of his customers agreed to pay extra for American-made alternatives.
Van Meer’s $129 filtered shower head, currently manufactured in China, became a case study in consumer priorities. With tariffs pushing prices higher, he explored U.S. production—only to find that ‘Made in America’ branding couldn’t justify a steeper price tag for buyers. 💡 "The loyalty is to their wallets, not geography," he concluded.
This revelation highlights a growing challenge for businesses caught in trade tensions. While tariffs aim to boost domestic manufacturing, consumers—especially budget-conscious Gen Z and millennials—aren’t always willing to foot the bill. 📉 Analysts say the trend could reshape how companies balance cost, patriotism, and global supply chains.
Could this signal a broader shift? As one Reddit user quipped: "My bank account doesn’t care about geopolitics." 🔥
