Trump Tariffs: How E-Commerce Brands Can Thrive in Economic Turmoil
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Trade wars and economic storms have created a volatile market for e-commerce brands.
And pessimism is running high.
In the fashion industry, 39% of executives expect conditions to worsen, while only 20% see consumer sentiment improving.
This year has been the perfect storm of disruption, driven by shockwaves such as:
- Soaring operational costs
- Rising material prices
- Shifting consumer habits
- Market volatility
- Logistics gridlock
Despite the disruption caused by theTrump Tariffs, some e-commerce brands aren’t just surviving—they’re thriving.
So what’s their secret?
We scoured the internet for the most inspiring success stories from today’s top e-commerce brands.
What we uncovered is a set of proven strategies fueling growth for today’s winners—and they’re yours to use.
Let’s dive in.
“2025 is likely to be a time of reckoning... The upshot is that there is still opportunity to be found for brands that move nimbly and adapt to upheavals…”
Scale Smarter With a Growth Mindset
In a market this unstable, your mindset is your most valuable tool.
And just any mindset. A growth mindset, to be more specific.
Popularized by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset is the belief that your skills can improve through consistent learning, reflection, and action.
That’s what you want in this market.
This mindset helps you adapt quickly, learn from setbacks, and stay focused on long-term growth.
Use these six tips to stay grounded while everyone else falls into panic mode.
- Embrace challenges as catalysts. Shift your mindset to see problems as puzzles to solve, not threats to avoid. Resilience and innovation start when you stop resisting discomfort and start engaging with it.
- Clarify your purpose when things get tough. Remind yourself why you started and the customers you’re serving. Having a deeper reason helps you stay motivated when progress feels slow.
- Learn, adjust, and persist. Reflect on what went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and try again with intention. Growth-minded professionals don’t fear mistakes. They mine them for insight.
- Balance ambition with self-awareness. Set big goals but stay honest about your brand’s limitations. Knowing when to push and when to pause keeps you moving forward sustainably.
- Adopt an ownership mentality. Take full responsibility for your results, even when things feel unfair. When you own your outcomes, you gain the power to improve them.
Create routines that reduce chaos. Streamline your day to preserve mental energy and focus. Simplicity frees up your mind for creativity, clarity, and action.
11 Strategies for E-Commerce Success
Economic instability has become the new normal.
While many brands scramble to keep up with every disruption, others are gaining ground.
We studied how they’re doing it and turned those insights into eleven actionable strategies for e-commerce success.
Ready to see what works? Let’s get started.
1 | Diversify Your Packaging Supply Chain
You’ve probably heard the word “diversification” a lot lately.
When it comes to your e-commerce packaging, it’s imperative to reduce your dependence on a single region or vendor.
You can’t sell anything if you don’t have any mailers.
But expanding your packaging supply chain takes time and money.
Ask yourself:
- Do you have the time to research different packaging suppliers?
- Do you really want to gamble your budget on the wrong vendor?
- What happens if your supplier suddenly raises prices or cuts capacity?
- How much time and money have you already wasted scrambling for a backup when things fall apart?
PRO TIP: Partner with a packaging company that already has a diversified global network of vetted suppliers. At Creative Retail Packaging, we can offer you sourcing options from around the world and help you mitigate the impacts of the Trump Tariffs.
2 | Improve Operational Efficiency
If you’re looking to cut costs, this is a good place to start.
Audit your operations and eliminate anything that doesn’t directly support growth.
Automate repeatable tasks, simplify workflows, and reduce internal friction across teams.
Greater efficiency frees up time, energy, and focus for the work that matters most.
3 | Optimize Resource Allocation
Redirect resources toward your highest-performing areas.
Cut spending on underperforming campaigns or processes.
A lean cost structure gives you more flexibility when the market shifts.
4 | Invest in Digital Resilience
Your online experience needs to work flawlessly.
Fix site issues, improve page load times, and test every path to checkout.
Remove any friction from your buying experience.
This will prevent you from losing sales when each one counts.
5 | Focus on Your Core Customers
Build stronger relationships with the people who already support your brand.
Use CRM data to personalize offers, tell better stories, and make your buyers feel seen.
In slow markets, loyal customers are your lifeline.
6 | Turn Your Mailers Into a Brand Asset
At Creative Retail Packaging, we help you design a custom packaging program tailored to your products, brand identity, and environmental goals.
Every detail is carefully considered to protect what’s inside, reflect your values, and streamline fulfillment.
The result?
E-commerce packaging that builds loyalty, supports growth, and delivers a better customer experience.
7 | Expand Channels With Intention
Explore new sales channels only when they align with your goals.
Start with small tests across wholesale, marketplaces, or retail to find the right fit.
And don’t overlook your retail packaging.
It plays a key role in how your brand is perceived on the shelf and in-store.
Expanding your reach helps you grow, but thoughtful execution keeps your margins healthy.
8 | Streamline Your Product Assortment
Double down on the products that sell and cut the ones that don’t.
Track sell-through and margin data to refine your SKU mix.
Fewer SKUs also means simpler, more cost-efficient e-commerce packaging.
A focused product assortment makes your operations easier and more profitable.
9 | Build Flexibility Into Your Logistics
Set up backup options across warehousing, carriers, and fulfillment systems.
Use technology, such as a control tower, to keep tabs on your supply chain in real time.
Logistical agility helps you meet demand even when things go sideways.
10 | Cultivate a Culture of Problem-Solving
Support your team in learning through pressure.
Give them the tools, space, and encouragement to test solutions and adapt quickly.
The best e-commerce strategies are only as strong as the people carrying them out.
11 | Set Short-Term Goals With Long-Term Vision
Break your vision into clear and manageable steps.
Make sure daily decisions support your bigger picture.
This balance keeps you focused and helps your e-commerce brand grow with intention.
"It’s no longer just about getting the box there—it’s about delivering brand value from doorstep to unboxing. That’s where smart, scalable solutions make the difference."
Real World Results: What Do These Strategies Look Like in Action?
Mindset is your engine. Strategy is your framework. Execution is your proving ground.
Let’s see how one standout e-commerce brand put the strategies above into action.
Vuori: Thriving Through Turbulence
Just like every e-commerce brand at the start of 2025, Vuori faced a cascade of economic pressures.
The Trump Tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs all threatened to slow momentum.
Meanwhile, shifting consumer behavior made the market harder to predict and tougher to win.
But Vuori didn’t just hold the line.
They found ways to push forward.
Vuori's Strategies for Success
Diversified Supply Chain
When new Mexican regulations delayed their Spring shipment, Vuori responded by diversifying their supply chain.
They rerouted operations away from their Tijuana distribution hub and invested in a U.S.-based warehouse.
This led to three key benefits:
- Faster and more reliable fulfillment for U.S. customers
- Reduced dependency on unpredictable cross-border policies
- Enhanced Vuori’s agility in a volatile global trade environment
Running Lean and Smart
Vuori was built lean by design.
Founder Joe Kudla’s background in accounting shaped a highly disciplined approach to operational efficiency.
Rather than chasing high valuations and overspending on growth, Vuori focused on building a capital-efficient model from day one.
What they did:
- Bootstrapped early growth to avoid debt and maintain control
- Matched inventory to real-time demand to keep cash flowing
- Delayed payments until after products were sold to protect cash reserves
When the Trump Tariffs hit, these early initiatives allowed Vuori to:
- Adapt quickly
- Avoid layoffs
- Reinvest with confidence
Brands that run lean and smart are better positioned to weather any economic storm.
Prioritizing Profit Over Pace
While many DTC brands burn through capital to acquire customers, Vuori optimized their resource allocation and stayed laser-focused on profitability, even if that meant slower growth.
Key strategies:
- Kept inventory lean to avoid excess and markdowns
- Delayed capital raises until margins and cash flow were healthy
- Launched only products with strong margin potential
As inflation drives up production and logistics costs, Vuori’s culture of restraint keeps overhead under control.
Centering the Right Customer
Vuori’s transformation from a yoga apparel brand to a premium lifestyle label started with listening.
They didn’t guess—they focused on their core customers.
How they evolved:
- Used post-purchase surveys to understand real-world product usage
- Pivoted away from yoga-specific language to highlight lifestyle versatility
- Rebranded around broader use cases: travel, recovery, hiking, and everyday wear
With consumer spending tight in 2025, Vuori uses its deep audience insight to adjust marketing and keep loyalty strong without heavy discounting.
Scaling With Strategic Reach
Vuori didn’t jump into wholesale or retail without a strategy.
They expanded channels to build brand equity and reach.
Channel milestones:
- Began online with DTC to learn directly from customers
- Partnered with premium retailers like Nordstrom and REI
- Opened flagship stores in markets with high brand affinity and traffic
- Grew to 80+ stores with a strategic roadmap to 100+ by 2026
This diversified footprint buffers against DTC advertising volatility and gives Vuori more control over brand experience across touchpoints.
Simplifying the Product Line
Instead of flooding the market with options, Vuori streamlined product assortment and focused on mastering a few core items.
What they did:
- Launched with the Kore Short—one hero product designed for everyday versatility
- Expanded methodically, adding women’s wear only after men’s success
- Built the line around insights from real customer use cases
Vuori’s focused product line avoids overproduction and simplifies logistics in a time when rising costs and supply chain disruptions make efficiency more important than ever.
Embedding Agility Into Culture
Brands that adapt survive.
And from the beginning, Vuori made agility part of its DNA.
Key pivots:
- Exited unscalable yoga studio channels early on
- Adjusted messaging based on direct customer input
- Committed to DTC-first strategies to stay nimble and responsive
Vuori’s culture of listening to customer feedback and quick iteration allows it to adapt faster than competitors in volatile markets.
Vuori's Strategies for Success
- Opened a U.S. warehouse to strengthen supply chain resilience
- Reached 80+ U.S. stores and on track for 100+ by 2026
- Raised $825M in secondary investment—valued at $5.5B
- Women’s wear now makes up ~50% of sales
- Kore Short and Meta Pant continue to anchor the brand’s product success
Sources: Forbes, Karina Gerszberg, The New York Times, ZoomMetrix, Shop-Eat-Surf-Outdoor
Key Takeaways for E-Commerce Brands
- Purpose drives loyalty. Brands with a clear mission connect emotionally. In hard times, customers stick with companies that stand for something.
- Agility wins. The strongest brands in 2025 pivot fast. They see challenges as opportunities and stay flexible in a shifting market.
- Efficiency fuels growth. Smart e-commerce brands cut waste and make every dollar count. With data and tech, you can grow lean without lowering standards.
- Trust keeps you in business. In hard times, customers return to brands they trust. Honest service, great products, and transparency build loyalty that lasts.
Sustainability is smart business. Eco-friendly choices, such as sustainable packaging, reduce costs, align with regulations, and attract eco-conscious consumers.
Triumph Over the Trump Tariffs
In an unpredictable market, every part of your business needs to perform, especially your packaging.
When the Trump Tariffs increase costs and shrink margins, packaging can either drain your resources or drive your growth.
That’s where we come in.
With 45+ years of experience, we’ve seen just about every type of market in history.
Use our expertise to build a custom packaging program that will improve your bottom line.
Here’s how we help:
- Development: Bring us your vision, and we’ll help you shape it. Uncover your pain points, clarify your goals, and craft packaging that delights your customers.
- Production Management: Stay focused on growth while we handle the details to keep your program running smoothly.
- Logistics Support: You set the pace, and we’ll make it happen. With expert logistics support, your e-commerce packaging shows up where and when it’s needed most.
Ready to turn your e-commerce packaging into a true growth driver?
Fill out the form below to get started.
