Two Dates Every Store Owner Needs This Month

ByAmyFay Chandler

The U.S. Navy began blockading the Strait of Hormuz yesterday — 13 warships, no ships in or out of Iranian ports. Twenty percent of the world’s oil moves through that strait. Gas is already up 38% since this conflict started, diesel is above $5.80, and shipping costs are climbing across the board — FedEx and UPS rates are up 8–12%, and USPS adds an 8% fuel surcharge on April 26.

That’s the cost side. Here’s the other side.

The CAPE tariff refund portal opens April 20. If your store overpaid IEEPA tariffs over the past year, you can file for a refund — with 6% interest. That’s real money returning to real store owners.

Two dates. April 20: file for what you’re owed. April 26: brace for what’s coming. The store owners who know both will make better decisions this month than the ones reacting after the fact.

PwC released a study this week showing that 75% of the economic gains from new technology are being captured by just 20% of businesses — the ones who stay informed and move early. The advantage isn’t the tools or the news. It’s knowing what matters before everyone else does.

So here’s the question worth sitting with over coffee this morning: what’s one reorder, one shipment, or one vendor conversation you can move up before April 26 hits?

xoxo, ❤️ AmyFay

What’s happening in the world. What it means for your store. Monday through Thursday, from AmyFay Chandler. More in Weekly Retail Tidbits every Friday.

I’m AmyFay Chandler, a Knoxville-based wholesale sales rep serving independent retailers in Tennessee and Kentucky through Tango Showroom. I also represent Sweet Tree Jewelry and Caroline B Cook nationwide. Before I became a rep, I built two T-shirt lines, ran my own retail business, bought home and gift for Elder’s Ace Hardware, and worked with Werner Frank. I have been the maker, buyer, retailer, rep, and person at the register, so I evaluate every line from the store floor first.

I write the Morning Retail Tidbit and Friday Retail Tidbits to help local retailers buy smarter, merchandise with intention, and keep their stores valuable.

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