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Emily Ley's avatar

Elizabeth, I can't thank you enough for allowing me to share our story in this special place. Your Substack (and book!) are favorites of mine and many people I know. The work you do matters in tremendous ways.

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Elizabeth Holmes's avatar

EMILY. So grateful to you for explaining this to all of us. Drives it home in an entirely new way. We are in the trenches fighting with you! Can’t wait to shop on Wednesday!

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Kelly H's avatar

Always cheering for you, Emily! I have loved seeing you spread the word far and wide these past few days. Keep going! You're doing great!

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Chloe's avatar

This is such a devastating and necessary conversation. I’m also a small business owner (service, not product, so I’m spared some of the tariff effects) but I can’t imagine losing what I worked so hard to build because of a racist, incompetent, capricious and cruel government. I’m so sorry, Emily. I don’t have anything else to say except that I’m so, so sorry. This is insane and pointless and horrifying.

(To be clear, I didn’t vote for this. I actively campaigned and door knocked and called and texted and sent postcards for Kamala.)

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Olivia Fahey's avatar

Thank you for talking about this!! And thank you to Emily for sharing her story!

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Sheila Hughes's avatar

To term this as a complicated tax issue lets people off the hook, in my opinion. It’s not complicated. It is plain speak, but Republicans count on an uneducated or undereducated population hearing the word tariff and zoning out. I believe it must be hard to be in this social media space and toe the line regarding people’s appetites for politics. But don’t pander to your smart readers please. Every single person owes it to themselves and their loved ones to be as educated as possible in these grim times. I own a company in the election space. We are watching our business and our customers being brought to their knees.

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Elizabeth Holmes's avatar

Hi Sheila, I hear you and appreciate this reminder.

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Elspeth's avatar

This was such an incredible and informative read and I have been following the tariff situation. I am huge fans of the both of you and so glad you go to collaborate for this. Cheering you on Emily! Well done Elizabeth!

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Lucinda Sears's avatar

Thank you Emily and Elizabeth for this article. I am so sorry for what you are dealing with, Emily. I own a small business based in Massachusetts and we import British products. They are all designed in Britain. We are now dealing with that additional 10% tariff on goods made in the UK. However, some are made in China - very popular tins, for example - and we will not be able to sell those if the tariff goes up more. I feel your pain. Between the tariffs and increasing brokerage fees from the carriers it is very painful.

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Liz Cassidy's avatar

Elizabeth, thank you so much for this! It was incredibly helpful to see the breakdown in such a specific context, rather than trying to grasp it in the abstract. And Emily, I really appreciate you sharing your story!

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Stacey Pray's avatar

Great interview Elizabeth and Emily. Thank you.

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Colleen's avatar

Thank you for sharing this! I’ve been a fan of Emily’s for a while and this brings home the impact and urgency of high tariffs. Is there anything in particular Emily and other small business owners would like us to ask for when we contact our representatives?

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