Clearco, in partnership with Cavela, recently hosted a highly engaging Let’s Talk Tariffs  webinar to help ecommerce brands navigate the complexities of tariffs, vendor sourcing, and margin management. Hosted by Clearco CEO Andrew Curtis and Cavela CEO Anthony Sardain, the webinar provided actionable insights for ecommerce brands grappling with trade wars, shifting supply chains, and rising import costs. 

Their joint mission? To help ecommerce merchants implement smarter sourcing strategies, secure capital, and protect margins in times of uncertainty.

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Understanding How Tariffs Impact Ecommerce Brands

Curtis kicked off the webinar by defining tariffs as taxes imposed on imported goods, explaining that while companies may attempt to share these costs with suppliers, U.S. ecommerce brands often bear the financial burden. 

“Our customers are going to face supply chain disruptions, and they’re also aggressively pursuing changes in the way they source their product. What does all this do? It creates a massive amount of uncertainty… [however] there is opportunity in this disruption and market volatility.”

— Andrew Curtis, CEO, Clearco

Tariffs are not just a financial line item; they impact inventory costs, gross margins, manufacturing decisions, and consumer demand. Between March and May, U.S. companies faced tariffs from 7.5% to 125%, spanning categories such as steel, aluminum, and goods from China under Section 301 and IEEPA. These sudden shifts have forced many brands to rethink their operational models.

What Brands Are Really Saying About Tariffs

While the media may focus on headline numbers, real conversations reveal deeper challenges. CEOs from across industries shared stark insights: from slashing spending to choosing to sell existing inventory to ignoring tariff concerns altogether. This variability proves that tariff impact is case-by-case, and strategic responses must be tailored accordingly.

Strategies to Maintain Margins Amid Tariff Pressure

Curtis and Sardain outlined practical steps for margin management during tariff fluctuations:

1. Consider switching to local or low-duty region manufacturers.
2. Buy in larger quantities to reduce unit costs.
3. Pay suppliers faster to negotiate better pricing.
4. Know which of your SKUs have pricing power and adjust accordingly.

Sardain cautioned brands to be alert to shady practices among desperate suppliers:

“We’ve seen some suppliers move products to a different country or hide the origin. The problem is when brands get caught — suppliers aren’t footing the bill.”

— Anthony Sardain, CEO, Cavela

Capital and Sourcing: The Clearco x Cavela Advantage

The newly formed Clearco and Cavela partnership combines flexible funding with elite sourcing capabilities. Cavela helps brands identify lower-duty manufacturers across 40+ countries while Clearco funding supports bulk purchases and rapid payments to unlock better terms.

“By working with Cavela, we ensure ecommerce merchants can improve vendor relationships, optimize costs, and meet demand.”

— Sam Bell, Partnerships Manager, Clearco

What You Can Do Today

• Check if your goods are tariff-exempt under Annex II.
• Review CPA and ad spend efficiency post-Temu/Shien disruption.
• Negotiate pricing or terms with suppliers who rely on your business.

‍Watch the full Let’s Talk Tariff webinar and learn how ecommerce brands can turn trade disruption into strategic opportunity.

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Turn Tariff Volatility Into Strategic Advantage

Tariffs are no longer a future concern, they’re today’s operational reality. With strategic planning, agile supply chain adjustments, and access to funding, ecommerce brands can maintain resilience and even find growth opportunities amid trade tensions. Clearco and Cavela are here to help ecommerce brands scale confidently, even through economic volatility.

Whether you’re looking to assess tariff impact or shift your sourcing strategy, Clearco and Cavela are ready to help you take the next step. 

Already a Clearco Customer? 

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Not Sure How Tariffs Impact You?

Our specialized team is here to help assess your exposure and unlock strategic capital.