As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, Canadian small business owners selling on platforms like Etsy are facing unprecedented challenges maintaining their American customer base. The culprit? Trump's tariffs that have dramatically increased costs for cross-border shoppers.
Windsor Sisters Feel the Pinch
In Windsor, Ontario, sisters Fran Poirier and Sue Bacarro are experiencing the direct impact of these trade policies firsthand. Their Etsy shop, Digi Wildflowers, has seen orders from the United States become increasingly complicated and expensive for their American customers.
The timing couldn't be worse for small businesses like theirs, as the holiday shopping season represents a critical period for annual revenue. With American shoppers facing additional costs at checkout, many are reconsidering cross-border purchases they might have made without hesitation in previous years.
Broader Economic Implications
The challenges facing Digi Wildflowers reflect a larger trend affecting countless Canadian small businesses that rely on e-commerce platforms to reach international markets. Etsy has become a vital marketplace for artisans and small-scale manufacturers across Canada, providing access to the massive U.S. consumer market without the overhead of physical retail locations.
However, the tariff situation has introduced new friction in what was previously a relatively seamless cross-border shopping experience. American customers who once enjoyed unique Canadian products now face unexpected additional costs that can make the difference between completing a purchase and abandoning a shopping cart.
Holiday Season Uncertainty
With the 2025 holiday shopping season now underway, Canadian sellers are watching their sales metrics with heightened anxiety. The period between November and December typically accounts for a significant portion of annual revenue for many small businesses, making any disruption particularly damaging.
The situation highlights how international trade policies can have very personal consequences for small business owners and artisans who depend on cross-border e-commerce. For sisters like Poirier and Bacarro, the tariffs represent more than just political headlines—they threaten the viability of businesses they've worked hard to build.
As the holiday season progresses, Canadian Etsy sellers will be closely monitoring whether their American customers are willing to absorb the additional costs or if they'll need to find new strategies to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging cross-border retail environment.
