by Some are imposing small surcharges and price increases, while others are holding off until the final rates are revealed
HIGH POINT — As questions remain unanswered regarding worldwide tariffs, furniture suppliers continue to address the issue of pricing with their customers based on what limited information they have at present.
Some are raising prices with surcharges while others are holding off for the time being, or at least until tariffs are finalized. The goal is to minimize the impact on retailers and consumers before any tariffs take effect beyond the 10% applied to all countries except China in early April. The 10% rate remains in effect until final tariffs are imposed by an early July target date.
China’s rate remains at 145% which sources note now totals 170% with an existing 25% tariff President Trump imposed during his first term.
Just before the April High Point Market, Woodbridge Furniture said it was implementing a tariff surcharge of 5% on the base price of each item impacted, effective May 1 on all new orders. Existing orders received before this date were not affected, said Kevin Hinshaw, company principal.
He added that on June 1, the company will publish a new price list that will replace a current price list in effect since October 2023. He estimated that the new pricing will impact less than half of its more than 1,500 SKUs.
“Please note that the 5% tariff surcharge will remain in effect for the new price list as well,” Hinshaw told customers. “We have not taken this decision lightly and understand this is a volatile and uncertain time. We are doing our best to minimize the impact to your business and are sharing in these tariff costs as well. We are committed to bringing you the best products and services, and recognize the success of your business is directly correlated to the success of our own.”
Upholstery manufacturer Taylor King said that while it is a domestic producer, many of the components and raw materials it uses in its upholstery come from other countries. Because of this situation, company President Nicole Rogers Bailey told customers in late April that it along with its suppliers are trying to pass along any necessary price increases responsibly.
“Most of these price increases are affecting us immediately, regardless of when our product was ordered with each supplier,” she wrote, adding, “Each piece of furniture is unique in its parts and composition of foreign materials, so it would be impossible to issue a specific price increase based on the component parts of each.”
Based on its analysis, it determined a surcharge was the best immediate solution based on the volatility of the situation.
Thus, it is implementing the following measures, which she said could change “as quickly as the tariff situation changes.”
For example, Bailey wrote that all furniture and parts orders received before May 12 will be honored at current pricing and that Taylor King will absorb the added cost. Any furniture and parts received May 12 or after will be subject to a baseline 4% tariff surcharge on the total before-tax price.
In addition, any furniture and parts with fabric from China will receive an additional 10% added to the baseline 4% for a total 14% increase on the total before the tax price. And cut yardage orders for non-China fabric will remain at current grade plus $6 and all China fabric orders will receive a current grade plus $30.
“By honoring our current pricing on acknowledged orders, we are absorbing the current price increase on unfulfilled orders so that you are not burdened by a price change/increase you cannot pass through to your end user,” Bailey wrote.
Crestview Collection told its customers that while it doesn’t have a final answer on how the tariff landscape will impact pricing long term, it is working with its source factories and suppliers to mitigate the impact where possible.
“Our goal is to develop solutions that minimize cost increases, while maintaining the quality and value you’ve come to expect from Crestview,” wrote David Lee, vice president of business development.
He said the company has limited price increases on China-sourced goods to 25% even though the tariff on China-made products has reached as high as 170%. In addition, he noted, the company is implementing a 5% increase on products imported from Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia, which takes effect May 10.
“This adjustment reflects our shared effort to navigate rising costs together, allowing us to continue supporting your business,” he wrote, adding that the company also is working to source more products from lower tariff countries “and as the situation improves, we are committed to responding quickly and responsibly in your best interest.”
Others said they are holding the line on current pricing. For example, just before the April market, Interlude Home told customers that it has more than 90% of its inventory in stock and available to ship. Thus, all confirmed orders through June 30 will be at current pricing, although outstanding quotes at that time “will be subject to any fluctuation, if necessary.”
“Therefore, we will not be adding surcharges, tariffs or price increases at this time,” wrote CEO Carl M. Phillips. “In fact, we are holding prices for all orders through June, the second quarter of 2025.”
Luxury furniture manufacturer Christopher Guy also told customers just before the April market that it is actively monitoring current developments relating to global trade.
It noted that while the landscape remains dynamic, it had no changes in store for its production in Indonesia, or to its delivery or pricing structure and that “operations continue without interruption.”
“Should any policy shift materially impact our operations or delivery terms, we will communicate with full transparency and provide timely updates,” the company said, adding, “As global conversations around trade and tariffs take the spotlight in international headlines, we would like to take a moment to offer clarity, reassurance and a reaffirmation of our continued commitment to you.”
