Eleanor Mak

Yeah, I think there was a part of, you know, speaking to a lot of founders who are also in like consumer products sourcing from China, Vietnam, I think a lot of us just said, this can't be, right? This won't pass. This is a political move. You know, this won't actually go through. So I think it was disbelief. But there was also a need to start actioning, right?

Yeah, I think there was a part of, you know, speaking to a lot of founders who are also in like consumer products sourcing from China, Vietnam, I think a lot of us just said, this can't be, right? This won't pass. This is a political move. You know, this won't actually go through. So I think it was disbelief. But there was also a need to start actioning, right?

Calling our factory, calling the freight forwarders, trying to understand what the impact was. And I would say it was just chaos. No one really knew. Right. There was speculation this is what it could look like or if you get it in by this date. But at the end of the day, there was this risk that by the time our imports came in, we would be hit with this 145 percent price increase.

Calling our factory, calling the freight forwarders, trying to understand what the impact was. And I would say it was just chaos. No one really knew. Right. There was speculation this is what it could look like or if you get it in by this date. But at the end of the day, there was this risk that by the time our imports came in, we would be hit with this 145 percent price increase.

Calling our factory, calling the freight forwarders, trying to understand what the impact was. And I would say it was just chaos. No one really knew. Right. There was speculation this is what it could look like or if you get it in by this date. But at the end of the day, there was this risk that by the time our imports came in, we would be hit with this 145 percent price increase.

Absolutely. So for me, you know, now that I'm walking down memory lane, we were about to sign a purchase order, right? So April, and then that way we'd get the goods in by sort of August, September, right? Right before the holidays to have it arrive into our warehouse. Right. But once we sign that purchase order, that becomes binding.

Absolutely. So for me, you know, now that I'm walking down memory lane, we were about to sign a purchase order, right? So April, and then that way we'd get the goods in by sort of August, September, right? Right before the holidays to have it arrive into our warehouse. Right. But once we sign that purchase order, that becomes binding.

Absolutely. So for me, you know, now that I'm walking down memory lane, we were about to sign a purchase order, right? So April, and then that way we'd get the goods in by sort of August, September, right? Right before the holidays to have it arrive into our warehouse. Right. But once we sign that purchase order, that becomes binding.

And then, you know, once it arrives on the port, whatever the prices are, I am responsible for that. So for me, the decision was to not issue that purchase order.

And then, you know, once it arrives on the port, whatever the prices are, I am responsible for that. So for me, the decision was to not issue that purchase order.

And then, you know, once it arrives on the port, whatever the prices are, I am responsible for that. So for me, the decision was to not issue that purchase order.

Yeah. So, you know, I think it was pure exhaustion. It was a feeling of like, oh, my gosh, how many more of these like boulders coming downhill can the small business, right? The sort of it's largely me who was full time on the business. And I think just from a mental capacity, I was burnt out.

Yeah. So, you know, I think it was pure exhaustion. It was a feeling of like, oh, my gosh, how many more of these like boulders coming downhill can the small business, right? The sort of it's largely me who was full time on the business. And I think just from a mental capacity, I was burnt out.

Yeah. So, you know, I think it was pure exhaustion. It was a feeling of like, oh, my gosh, how many more of these like boulders coming downhill can the small business, right? The sort of it's largely me who was full time on the business. And I think just from a mental capacity, I was burnt out.

And to think about, you know, signing that PO, waiting for my shipment to come in and being like holding my breath until it arrived at the port to figure out what the price could look like. It was just, I think, more than I could bear. And I was devastated, right? Because I think for us, you know, it was always about giving more families choices, right?

And to think about, you know, signing that PO, waiting for my shipment to come in and being like holding my breath until it arrived at the port to figure out what the price could look like. It was just, I think, more than I could bear. And I was devastated, right? Because I think for us, you know, it was always about giving more families choices, right?

And to think about, you know, signing that PO, waiting for my shipment to come in and being like holding my breath until it arrived at the port to figure out what the price could look like. It was just, I think, more than I could bear. And I was devastated, right? Because I think for us, you know, it was always about giving more families choices, right?

I think one thing I wanted to share is this doll is meant to be Asian American. And our doll has brought joy to a lot of kids and adults. And it was devastating to think, you know, You know, this could end if I'm forced out of business. But for me, in the short term, we have inventory, we have the silver lining, and I can ride this out for some time, but that inventory also will not last forever.

I think one thing I wanted to share is this doll is meant to be Asian American. And our doll has brought joy to a lot of kids and adults. And it was devastating to think, you know, You know, this could end if I'm forced out of business. But for me, in the short term, we have inventory, we have the silver lining, and I can ride this out for some time, but that inventory also will not last forever.

I think one thing I wanted to share is this doll is meant to be Asian American. And our doll has brought joy to a lot of kids and adults. And it was devastating to think, you know, You know, this could end if I'm forced out of business. But for me, in the short term, we have inventory, we have the silver lining, and I can ride this out for some time, but that inventory also will not last forever.