| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 24, 2025 Contact: [email protected] Virginia Small Business Owners Sound Alarm on Tariffs Tariffs Cost US Announces New Poll Results and College Football Ad Campaign The Trump Administration’s across-the-board tariffs are raising prices for consumers, increasing costs for businesses, and forcing small businesses to make difficult choices about their future. Since April, the Administration has imposed across-the-board tariffs of 10%–50% on nearly all imports, with higher rates for dozens of countries and industries. The average tariff rate now tops 17.9%, the highest since 1934. In addition to the added costs from the tariffs, the constant changes in tariff rates and trade policy is creating intense disruption and economic uncertainty for business owners across industries. At the press conference today hosted by Tariffs Cost US, Virginia small business owners shared firsthand how these tariffs are hitting their operations and hurting their customers. Watch the press conference here.  From left to right: Dean Williams, Managing Partner, Open Plan Systems, Jay Bayer, Co-Owner, Bingo Beer Co, and Helen Montgomery, Owner, Bugle Call Coffee “Our annual tariff bill has doubled from around $1 million to roughly $2 million,“ said Dean Williams, Managing Partner, Open Plan Systems. “I’m being squeezed on both sides, higher costs from tariffs and lower demand because of tariffs. They have caused our company to go from 190 people to 130 people. Don’t be confused, tariffs are paid by us and consumers here in the United States.” “[Because of tariffs] this year has undoubtedly been the hardest year to understand our costs, expenses, and how to plan for the future,” said Helen Montgomery, Owner, Bugle Call Coffee. “In the past 6 months our cost of green coffee has gone up 50%… As a result we’ve already had to raise prices this year, $2 per lb for wholesale prices and close to 30% for coffees that we sell retail. What this means for customers is that coffee prices are going up and they;re not going down anytime soon.” “Our aluminum cans are about to experience an additional 10% price increase across the board [due to tariffs],” said Jay Bayer, Co-Owner, Bingo Beer Co. “Our suppliers have tried to hold the line… but that is no longer feasible. The can is the most expensive piece of the packaged goods so to see those increases causes real pressure. We will hold prices as long as we can, but at some point we will have to raise prices.” New Tariff Polling in Virginia: The Tariffs Cost US campaign also announced the results of a new survey conducted by nonpartisan pollster Morning Consult. Voters across party lines in both states are feeling the effects of inflation and are deeply concerned about how tariffs will further raise prices and hurt the economy. The data show strong majorities expect higher prices, slower job growth, and a more difficult environment for small businesses. As a result, Virginia voters, including an overwhelming margin of independents, are weighing a candidates’ position on tariffs when voting. Key findings include: ● 89% of Virginia voters are somewhat or very concerned about inflation, including 84% of independents. ● Among the most impacted categories of household spending, 84% in the state say the cost of groceries is going up; 80% in Virginia say the cost of housing is going up. ● 84% of independents in Virginia think costs will continue to go up because tariffs are being implemented. The survey of 700 registered voters was fielded October 9–12, 2025, and has a margin of error of ±4 percentage points. To read the full findings of the survey, click here. New College Football Ad Campaign: The Tariffs Cost US campaign has announced a new football season ad campaign launching in Virginia to raise awareness of how tariffs are impacting everyday families and businesses, including the cost of football tailgating. The streaming television and digital campaign will run leading up to and during the October 14 Cal @ Virginia Tech football game in Blacksburg and will also include mobile billboards around tailgates on game day. Ad Video: Tailgate | That’s Gotta Hurt Ad Examples:    ### About Tariffs Cost US Tariffs Cost US is a new campaign dedicated to providing the public with reliable, comprehensive information about global trade and tariffs, and their impact on both businesses and consumers. More information is available at https://tariffscostus.com/. |
