Marketplace All-in-One How shifting tariff policy hits one Pennsylvania business
Nov 4, 2025
Ben Nepler, co-founder of True Places, shares insights on how shifting tariff policies impact his Pennsylvania-based folding chair company. He discusses the challenges of moving production from China to Cambodia, highlighting the unpredictability of tariff changes that disrupt planning. Nepler explains why domestic manufacturing isn't a viable option due to cost and infrastructure issues. As Supreme Court hearings loom, he reflects on the potential consequences for U.S. jobs and the ongoing tariff rollercoaster affecting small businesses.
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Switching Factories To Cambodia
- Ben Nepler described moving True Places' manufacturing from China to Cambodia after a year-long transition.
- He said tariffs then swung wildly, making planning nearly impossible.
Tariff Volatility Breaks Planning
- Tariff rates for products from Cambodia jumped repeatedly within months, creating extreme unpredictability.
- Nepler warned that constant rule changes make long-term planning and pricing unworkable.
Domestic Production Isn't Plug-and-Play
- Domestic manufacturing for their product category currently doesn't exist at scale in the U.S.
- Building that capability would raise costs by orders of magnitude and require new supply chains.