You may have heard in the news about something called "tariffs," and I wanted to take a minute to talk about what that means, and how it will affect us at Mama & Roo’s!
You can hear me, Alexandra, founder of Mama & Roo's, talk about this and some product news in the video below:
Mama & Roo's is an American brand. All inventory is shipped to us here in North Carolina. We then receive it, store it as needed, and ship from NC to our customers.
Over the years we've had partners based in the US, Germany, Poland, and other parts of the world, and we've had a good system for importing. Historically, customs costs have been a small enough percentage that we see them as the cost of doing business, and they have not factored heavily into the prices we show our customers.
Unfortunately, our federal government has announced that a 25% tariff will be placed across all EU imports. This means that the cost for me to bring goods into America from our EU brands will be charged a 25% tax on the shipment value. Ethically made products already have some of the lowest margins of any product- it costs money to pay people fairly, have safe working conditions, and use safe, strong materials that won't harm sensitive babies, children, and their families. Businesses that only sell ethically made products, like Mama & Roo's, have fewer options when it comes to pricing compared to other brands that cut corners and thus have much lower costs (at the detriment of people and the planet!). A 25% tax on imports means that we cannot continue carrying these EU brands at our current pricing - it would be unsustainable and would force us to close.
Most tariff policies in the past have announced reasonable limits to what this means - specific industries with different tax rates, a threshold under which no fees are collected, and other nuances. They also often allow for more time to adjust to these changes, and changes are usually not this drastic. So far, none of this has been announced, so we must work under the assumption that, effective April 2nd, any additional incoming shipments will be taxed at this much higher rate.
In addition to this, other complications in the supply chain set up from these trade issues have caused the actual cost of some of our most popular items to go up, in some cases as much as 20%. We fully support that the brands we work with are doing their best to also care for their families and employees, and unfortunately we cannot absorb these extra costs, especially not in combination with much higher customs fees.
What this means is - pricing at Mama & Roo's will be increasing by 15-45% across our EU product lines (including LennyLamb and Girasol). Some of our brands (like Didymos) have unfortunately chosen not to supply to the US until the tariff situation settles down. We will continue to keep in contact with them to order in when it is possible again.
The good news is - when you order from Mama & Roo's as a US customer, you never have to worry about being charged customs or other fees at delivery. I know this can be confusing, especially when there are companies that aren't honest about where their shipments come from. At Mama & Roo's, your items ship from the US to you - any shipping, tariffs, duties, or customs fees have already been paid when Mama & Roo's imported them originally. The price you pay at checkout with Mama & Roo's is the price - no extra surprise fees or unexpected costs!
Any product already here will be sold at the current pricing for now - after all, we've already paid to have it sent here and delivered! And we do have plenty of product here, as we store everything here in NC.
But, starting today, we will be adjusting to the new pricing. We will apply automatic discount codes to keep items to around the current pricing while they are still in-stock with pre-April tariffs and pricing. These codes will be removed as new stock arrives, meaning our fastest-moving products will see product pricing changes first. I won't be able to get to everything at once, but if you're wondering why things are looking the way they are, that's why! I'm not trying to trick anyone - there's just a lot of tech involved, and I'm trying to make a fair buffer while we wait to see what happens with these tariff changes on the way.
What that means is - if you're on the fence, order now! This is your last chance to get items at current prices before they go up.
Other Updates
We will continue to provide high quality products and support for you at every step of the way, and we have great things coming. First and foremost, we are really excited about the product updates we will be able to announce next month! You will see changes to our product pages on some of our most popular items as we prepare for this exciting change. I have already had a sneak peek into what's coming, and I know you will absolutely love it - it's something you all have been asking for for a long time, and I'm very glad to be bringing it to you next month!
A high quality carrier is an investment in you and your baby’s well-being, used for many many hours over years, and can even be passed on to other families. When you divide the cost of your carrier over the many hours you'll use it, and factor in how much it will save you in time, stress, and wear and tear on your body - plus the fact that you'll likely be able to sell it to another family when you're done - and our high quality baby carriers are still an easy "yes," even at the updated pricing on the way.
You can’t get this time with your little one back- let us help you enjoy every moment with a beautiful, comfortable baby carrier for you and your baby. You deserve nice things - and with babywearing as a tool, you'll be able to accomplish so much. Even if it just means a day with a little less crying and a little more love <3. What you do as a parent matters, and we're here for you, every step of the way.
Thank you for being here! At Mama & Roo's, we value honesty, integrity, and transparency. If we can answer any questions for you, please reach out - we're happy to help! We're a very small brand that's so grateful to be able to support so many families like yours.
We couldn't be here without you and the amazing things you are doing to raise your beautiful babies with compassion, gentleness, and loving care. When you wear your baby, you are literally growing their brain and teaching them that the world is a loving place just waiting for them to find their place in it. Wow! You. are. incredible. And I'm so grateful to be a part of this journey with you.
Thank you for your understanding, your compassion, and your grace as we navigate these challenges together. Babywearing matters - that's why we do what we do. Thank you!