Section 1: Respondent Profile
Meet the respondents

Section 1: Respondent Profile
Completed
The analysis has now been generated. Check out the results below.
Section 1: Respondent Profile
We surveyed 97 US-based e-commerce business owners and decision-makers who source products internationally.
Key criteria for participation in the tariff impact study
Cashew has analyzed the data captured in your study and summarized it into key points that align with your original research goals and hypotheses.
Supply Chain Diversification: Established Businesses Prioritizing Geographic Resilience
High-Impact Tariff Profile: Mid-Career Decision-Makers Implementing Aggressive Price Adjustments
Operational Resilience Profile: Large Enterprises Requiring Significant Changes to Maintain Viability
Explore each question's results in detail. Uncover patterns, analyze responses, and gain actionable insights from your research data.
Survey skews toward larger businesses with 25.8% in $50M-$70M range and 15.5% representing billion-dollar enterprises
Enterprise-Dominated Survey Sample with Strong Mid-Market Representation
Over 60% of respondents represent companies with annual revenues exceeding $50 million, with the highest concentration (25.77%) in the $50M-$70M range. This revenue distribution indicates the survey primarily captures perspectives from established mid-market and enterprise businesses, with minimal representation from small businesses under $10M (14.43%).
Nearly half (44.33%) have operated for 10+ years, while early-stage businesses (0-1 years) are completely absent from the sample
Mature Business Landscape with Limited New Entrants
The survey reveals a mature market dominated by established businesses, with 84.54% of respondents operating for 5+ years. The complete absence of startups (0-1 years) and limited representation of growth-stage businesses (15.46%) suggests either market entry barriers or sampling bias. This maturity profile indicates a stable but potentially stagnant competitive environment.
Cost reduction and tariff avoidance driving consideration of Vietnam, Mexico, and India as primary alternatives
Vietnam Emerges as Strategic Manufacturing Alternative Amid Tariff Concerns
Analysis of manufacturing partner changes reveals Vietnam as the leading alternative destination (mentioned by ~18% of respondents), followed by Mexico (10%) and India (9%). This shift is primarily driven by tariff mitigation strategies, with businesses seeking cost efficiency while maintaining quality standards. The data indicates a cautious but deliberate supply chain diversification trend away from high-tariff regions.
Companies adopting multiple strategies simultaneously (2.33 per respondent) with dual sourcing for critical products (59%) as the second most popular approach
Local Sourcing Dominates Supply Chain Resilience Strategies
72% of brands plan to increase local sourcing in the next 12 months, making it the most preferred strategy to reduce single supplier dependency. This strong preference for local sourcing, combined with the fact that companies are implementing multiple strategies simultaneously (2.33 options per respondent), indicates a comprehensive approach to supply chain risk management with a focus on geographic proximity. This trend has significant implications for logistics planning, inventory management, and supplier relationship development.
79.38% report moderate to major concern, with 42.27% citing tariffs as a major business challenge
Tariffs Represent Critical Business Concern
79.38% of businesses report tariffs as a moderate or major concern, indicating widespread impact on operations and profitability. This strong majority suggests tariffs are significantly affecting business planning and cost structures across industries. Companies should prioritize tariff management strategies in their financial and supply chain planning. Confidence Level: High based on clear response pattern and adequate sample size.
10% median price increase reveals significant inflationary pressure, with increases ranging from 2% to 50%
Widespread Price Increases of 5-15% to Maintain Margins
Approximately 80% of brands are implementing price increases, with the majority falling in the 5-15% range. This widespread pricing action indicates significant cost pressures across industries, primarily driven by inflation, tariffs, and rising material costs. Companies are strategically balancing margin protection with customer retention concerns.
Only 20% are holding back from funding decisions, while another 21% are still evaluating options, showing strong financial engagement across respondents
Economic Uncertainty Drives Funding Pursuit, Not Deterrence
Despite economic uncertainty, nearly 60% of business owners are actively seeking funding, indicating a strategic approach to navigate challenging conditions rather than a retreat from financial commitments. This suggests businesses are positioning for growth opportunities or seeking capital buffers against market volatility. With only 1% unaware of funding options, the data reveals high financial literacy among respondents.
Nearly all participants (98%) have direct decision-making authority for business funding sources, with three-quarters maintaining complete control
Survey Reached Primary Financial Decision-Makers
74% of respondents are sole decision-makers for business funding, with another 24% sharing decision authority. This indicates our survey successfully targeted key financial stakeholders with direct control over funding decisions, providing high-confidence data for financial product development and marketing strategies.
Over 41% report substantial profit erosion exceeding 35%, while only 4% remain completely unaffected
Tariffs Significantly Impacting 74% of Businesses' Profit Margins
Nearly three-quarters of surveyed businesses (74.23%) report moderate to significant tariff impacts on profit margins, with 41.24% experiencing substantial impacts exceeding 35%. This widespread financial pressure suggests tariffs have become a critical factor in business profitability across industries. With only 4.12% reporting no impact, tariff management should be considered an essential business strategy. Confidence Level: High based on clear response patterns and low uncertainty rate (3.09%).
Product modifications lead response strategies at 25%, with companies prioritizing supply chain and design changes over marketing or labor adjustments
Product Adjustments Lead Tariff Response Strategy
Businesses are primarily responding to tariffs by adjusting product strategies (25%), followed by marketing (20%) and labor (13%) modifications. This reveals a strategic preference for product-focused solutions that maintain competitiveness while minimizing customer impact. Companies are prioritizing material sourcing changes and product redesigns over workforce reductions.
Nearly all businesses (96.91%) can continue operating, but the majority face substantial operational disruption to maintain viability
Tariff Resilience Masks Operational Strain
While 97% of businesses can continue operating under current tariffs, over half (51.55%) require significant operational changes to remain viable. This indicates widespread adaptation pressure despite surface-level resilience. Decision-makers should prioritize operational efficiency initiatives and supply chain diversification. Confidence Level: High, based on clear response patterns across 97 respondents.
Over half (55.67%) come from organizations with 100+ employees, while small businesses (10 or fewer) account for just 7.21%
Enterprise-Dominated Sample Requires Segmented Analysis
With 75% of respondents from organizations with 50+ employees and 55.67% from large enterprises (100+), findings will primarily reflect enterprise perspectives. Decision-makers should consider separate analyses for small business segments, which represent only 7.21% of responses but may have distinct needs and challenges.