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Hi Reader,

2025 has been a real roller coaster ride when it comes to tariffs. Now there's a new change that's going to be a big deal for smaller businesses that import any products or supplies.

For years, the U.S. let packages under $800 in duty-free. Starting August 29, 2025, the US will end the de minimis exemption for all countries. That means every imported package, regardless of value, is now subject to tariffs, fees, and full customs paperwork.

Unless your supplier ships under special terms (like DDP, which means "Delivered Duty Paid"), you will now be responsible for all duties and fees. Depending on your shipping carrier, you may be billed on delivery or invoiced. Your goods may be held or returned if you don't pay the fees.

How much duty you owe will depend on what you're importing, where it's coming from, and how it's getting here. For example, USPS may charge up to a 120% tariff or up to a $200 flat fee. FedEx and UPS may charge up to 145% in tariffs.

Here are some steps to take if you're importing products to the US:

Assign HTS codes to your imported products and add the codes to purchase orders and shipping docs.
Update your pricing to reflect duty costs and maintain profitability.
Make sure your accountant is tracking tariff fees under your Cost of Goods Sold.
Communicate with your suppliers about who pays which fees and the possibility of US warehousing.
Explore domestic options to replace imports.

Some more resources:

Look up HTS codes and review FAQs on the US International Trade Commission site.
Shopify has a detailed article that explains HTS codes and how to use them.
Here is Shopify's freshly updated guide to international shipping.
Shopify has apps to pass the tariff fees on to customers, if that makes sense for your brand.

This seems to be a year for rolling with the punches! I hope the new tariffs don't affect your business too seriously and that you can find creative ways to stay profitable.

Q&A

Here's a reader question about the updated double opt-in for SMS signup forms, as answered by Helen Hulskamp, Ecommerce Strategist on our team:

Q: Why did Klaviyo update the SMS signup form to use a new double opt-in method?

A: Klaviyo is our preferred platform to send both email and SMS (text message) updates to subscribers. They recently updated their double opt-in method to "Smart Opt-In."

US mobile carriers require a double opt-in for SMS subscriptions, which is a two-step confirmation process to ensure subscribers are clearly agreeing to receive messages from senders.

The old method:
After entering a phone number in a signup form, subscribers would leave the form, open their device's messaging app, find the confirmation text and reply with "Y" or "Yes" which usually added a step and caused people to drop off before completing the process.

The new Smart Opt-In method:
Klaviyo's newer and recommended method for collecting consent uses a process that is more familiar. Once the subscriber enters their phone number, they are sent a one-time code via text. They enter that code right on the same signup screen to confirm.

Desktop users will still have to check their messages to get the code, but mobile users don't even have to open their messages app because both iOS and Android browsers will auto-populate the code from the messages. For both desktop and mobile, this method is faster, easier, user-friendly, and much more seamless, while still meeting carrier requirements.

Question: Answered

Our team includes experts in branding, design, development, email & SMS/text marketing, search engine optimization, copywriting, conversion optimization, ecommerce strategy, business growth, and more. Have a question for us? Email back, and I'll consult one of our experts and share one weekly response over email.

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