Topeka Toy Store responds to Trump's tariffs
TOPEKA (KSNT) - With tariffs sweeping over the United States, The Toy Store in Topeka is looking to make toys available and affordable.
That's because the store got ahead of the curve, making moves before President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs took effect.
"A lot of manufacturers and vendors knowing that these tariffs were coming basically placed orders in advance to try and beat those tariffs with the shipping and are basically offering us a 'hey order by this date and you get your pre-tariff pricing," Toy Store manager, Ken Helsper said.
Last week President Trump raised taxes on Chinese goods to a total of 145%. According to The Toy Association, 77% of manufactured toys in the United States come from China.
With pre-tariff pricing still on the shelves, Helsper said it's inevitable to keep it forever.
"We're trying to plan for we know those prices are going to have to go up, we know it's going to be a big hit, the more we can put into stock now at those lower prices and prevent that for as long as possible, the better off we're going to be," Helsper said.
Helsper told 27 News that some of their shipments will last until around Christmas. Those include bigger items where they believe the tariffs will have the biggest effect. He added some of the smaller and more common items should get them through the next six months.
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