Talking Tariffs: How are PIAG members handling them?

Today is the day a new round of U.S.-imposed tariffs is scheduled to go into effect. This follows several months of fresh tariffs on foreign-made products that have leaders in all industries, including print, trying to figure things out.

PIAG asked several members to share how their company is handling changing business conditions in the short term and whether it has impacted their long-range planning.

We are assessing the impact of tariffs on our supply chain and exploring alternative suppliers, but so far, we have not made any major adjustments.

Mike Thomas, Vice President
Communicorp (Aflac)
Columbus, GA

We are proactively communicating with our customers that they should expect pricing uncertainty in the short-to-medium term as a result of already imposed and potential tariffs.

Messaging from the current administration will lead us to pause, cancel, or delay virtually all capital investments. The uncertainty caused by already imposed and potential tariffs is going to be felt across our supply/value chain.

We remain optimistic about our specific business but recognize we are working against a headwind.

Patrick Blackburne, Owner
Canterbury Press
Atlanta, GA

We continue with normal day-to-day operations, but we are closely monitoring material costs and supply chain shifts and have discussed better offerings with vendors. While we remain confident in continued growth, we anticipate economic fluctuations and are taking a cautious approach to planning. We have cut extraneous spending and are focusing on keeping more cash flow positive.

We’ve decided to temporarily pause capital expenditures and hold off on new equipment purchases unless absolutely necessary. This approach allows us to stay agile while still positioning ourselves for long-term success.

Keith Sullivan, Owner
Sull Graphics
Ball Ground, GA

In the short term, we are reviewing all our suppliers and building a list of where we can buy products with the least amount of price increases. Materials for graphic printing purposes come from a variety of sources, and we have seen some increases already.

We are exploring ways to help our customers drive visibility to the business or organization. Providing suggestions on what materials would best fit their needs. At the end of the day, we have to continue to push forward.

Littie Brown, Owner
SpeedPro Marietta
Marietta, GA

We are thinking about adding a caveat concerning tariffs on some of our quotes that could be affected. We are talking to our primary suppliers on a regular basis. Otherwise, we’re watching and waiting. There’s just too much uncertainty right now and not enough data to decide on any strategic shifts.

Mark Pope, President
Graphic Solutions Group
Kennesaw, GA

So far, we have not seen any significant price increases from our suppliers. But we’re monitoring the situation closely.

David Midler, Owner
Presentech
Atlanta, GA