Latest news with #LiteBrite
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These Walmart Price Hikes Are Going Viral After Trump Told The Chain To "EAT THE TARIFFS"
In mid-May, Walmart announced that price hikes were coming due to President Trump's tariffs. Other brands like Best Buy, AutoZone, and Adidas have also said they'll have to raise prices because the tariffs will increase their costs of doing business. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that other countries such as China would pay for the tariffs, responded with a post on his Truth Social platform urging Walmart to "EAT THE TARIFFS." The company, which reported $684.2 billion in sales in 2024, has declined to forecast how it might perform in the current quarter of 2025 due to the uncertainty posed by the tariffs. Well, just a couple weeks later, we're starting to see some higher prices rolling in. Walmart employees and shoppers are sharing the price hikes they've spotted in the wild. I confirmed these prices on the Walmart website with links throughout. As of the time of writing, all prices seen in these images are correct (with one exception that's now priced even higher online). Here are some of the most viral examples of these price hikes so far: doll went from $34.97 to $49.97. fishing reel went from $57.37 to $83.26. this roll of tape went from $4.24 to $9.94. The employee who posted this wrote, "The tariffs are tariffing." to a customer's receipt saved in the Walmart app, this heating pad went from $19.98 to $24.96 on the website today. this 8 pack of Play-Doh went from $5.64 to $7.47. tablet jumped from $79 to $97. this snap from a toy aisle in Asheville, North Carolina, shows prices on a Never Dry Dough Creation Station, an Etch a Sketch, and a Lite Brite Magic Screen set going from $19.97, $14.97, and $14.97 to $24.97, $24.99, and $21.97, respectively. The Lite Brite is currently listed on Walmart's website for $30.99. And finally, a Walmart employee on Reddit shared this screenshot of the price changes underway at their location: Have you noticed prices going up at your local Walmart? Share your photos and receipts in the comments or email them to me.
New York Post
29-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
US business owners cheer court ruling on Trump's tariffs— but still hedge their bets as chaotic battle plays out in courts
US business owners cheered a bombshell court ruling that voids most of President Trump's tariffs — but most said they'll still hedge their bets as the legal drama unfolds. The US Court of International Trade in Manhattan issued a sharp rebuke late Wednesday, ruling that the power to issue duties on foreign goods lies with Congress, not the president. A federal appeals court put the ruling on hold on Thursday after the Justice Department appealed it. Northbrook, Ill.-based Baby Paper, which makes sensory plush toys, had been poised to raise its wholesale prices within several weeks by $1 to $5 on items that range in price between $7 and $30, but owner Sari Wiaz said she will now hold off. Advertisement 5 Baby Paper is going to hold off on raising prices on its plush toys to see whether the courts permanently block new tariffs. Sari Wiaz 'In March, I increased my prices by 5%, but now that we have this news, I'm not going to go ahead with my next increase,' Wiaz told The Post. 'I'm going to wait for everything to settle.' Baby Paper makes its crinkly toys in China, which was slapped with a 30% tariff that will stay in place until Aug. 10 when a temporary pause on a much higher levy will expire. Advertisement 'I'm skeptical but It does feel like the sun is shining again,' Wiaz said. 'We all have our fingers crossed.' Jay Foreman, chief executive Basic Fun – maker of Tonka Trucks, Care Bears and Lite Brite – says the ruling by the trade court shows 'it's very clear that tariffs on things like toys, tennis shoes and T-shirts is not a national security issue. 'I applaud the court,' Foreman added. 'This will save my business and so many others.' 5 Jay Foreman is CEO of Basic Fun, which makes Tonka Trucks and Care Bears. AP Advertisement 5 Dan Digre is president of MISCO Speakers. Courtesy of Dan Digre The court's ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in April by a coalition of small businesses. But White House officials expressed confidence the decision will be overturned on appeal – and experts said there are other legal options to keep the tariffs in place. Daniel Digre — whose 75-year-old, Minneapolis company MISCO now relies on Chinese parts for speakers it builds in the US — likened the court ruling to a 'speed bump.' 'It means we just keep doing what we've been doing — looking for other countries to work with and continuing to diversify our supply chain as much as possible,' Digre told The Post. 'That's how I see it.' Advertisement Beth Benike, whose company Busy Baby makes rubber placemats and utensils, said the ruling made her feel 'validated' and 'optimistic for a moment.' But she also frets that it may be too little, too late after she was unable to bring in inventory from China when the tariffs spiked in April. 5 Beth Benike says her company Busy Baby is in 'imminent danger' of shutting down. Courtesy of Beth Benike Benike recently scored contracts with Walmart and Target and took out a loan to amass inventory — but she's now looking to cancel the deals in order to conserve cash. 'We are in imminent danger of going out of business,' Benike told The Post. On the positive side, the court ruling lights a fire under the Trump administration to expedite trade truces, said Juan Pellarano-Rendon, chief marketing officer at Swap, a platform that provides tech services to 500 online retailers. 'The Trump administration is certainly going to want to get ahead of the courts and broker the trade agreements as soon as possible to show that they have successfully used tariffs as a tool,' Pellerano-Rendon told The Post. 5 The Trump administration is confident that it will win any legal challenges to its tariff policies. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement In the meantime, some of Swap's clients are considering barring orders to the US as tariffs drive up their costs, he said. If the Trump administration moves quickly to clinch trade deals before important shopping seasons, like back-to-school and holiday sales, the worst of the impact could be avoided, he added.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These Walmart Price Hikes Are Going Viral After Trump Told The Chain To "EAT THE TARIFFS"
In mid-May, Walmart announced that price hikes were coming due to President Trump's tariffs. Other brands like Best Buy, AutoZone, and Adidas have also said they'll have to raise prices because the tariffs will increase their costs of doing business. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that other countries such as China would pay for the tariffs, responded with a post on his Truth Social platform urging Walmart to "EAT THE TARIFFS." The company, which reported $684.2 billion in sales in 2024, has declined to forecast how it might perform in the current quarter of 2025 due to the uncertainty posed by the tariffs. Well, just a couple weeks later, we're starting to see some higher prices rolling in. Walmart employees and shoppers are sharing the price hikes they've spotted in the wild. I confirmed these prices on the Walmart website with links throughout. As of the time of writing, all prices seen in these images are correct (with one exception that's now priced even higher online). Here are some of the most viral examples of these price hikes so far: doll went from $34.97 to $49.97. fishing reel went from $57.37 to $83.26. this roll of tape went from $4.24 to $9.94. The employee who posted this wrote, "The tariffs are tariffing." to a customer's receipt saved in the Walmart app, this heating pad went from $19.98 to $24.96 on the website today. this 8 pack of Play-Doh went from $5.64 to $7.47. tablet jumped from $79 to $97. this snap from a toy aisle in Asheville, North Carolina, shows prices on a Never Dry Dough Creation Station, an Etch a Sketch, and a Lite Brite Magic Screen set going from $19.97, $14.97, and $14.97 to $24.97, $24.99, and $21.97, respectively. The Lite Brite is currently listed on Walmart's website for $30.99. And finally, a Walmart employee on Reddit shared this screenshot of the price changes underway at their location:
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
List of Toys That Face Disappearing From Stores Due to Tariffs
Produced [by our journalists] with financial support from an organization or individual that did not approve or review the work. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Toymakers are reeling from the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports, some already warning that certain items could soon disappear from U.S. shelves. In a recent survey of 410 toy manufacturers, the Toy Association found that 81 percent of small companies were delaying orders due to the tariffs, with 64 percent canceling them outright. Among midsize companies, those figures rose to 87 percent and 80 percent, respectively Why It Matters Representatives of the industry have been lobbying for toys to be exempt from the tariffs, which the Toy Association's survey found could cause nearly half of U.S. toy companies to go out of business within months. However, the administration has so far expressed no indication of granting this exemption, President Trump recently admitting that prices could rise and leave children with fewer toys in the near future. Which Toys Could Leave the Shelves? Several toy makers have already warned that they had halted new orders due to the tariffs. Basic Fun! Florida-based Basic Fun! sells household-name toy brands including My Little Pony, Care Bears and Tonka Trucks. Jay Foreman said recently that he had paused shipments of Tonka trucks, Care Bears and other toys from China after Trump's early April tariff announcements, and would attempt to rely on the inventory already stockpiled in the U.S, according to The Associated Press. Care Bears, from Basic Fun!, are displayed at the Toy Fair, in New York's Javits Center, Monday, March 3, 2025. Care Bears, from Basic Fun!, are displayed at the Toy Fair, in New York's Javits Center, Monday, March 3, 2025. Richard Drew/AP Photo "Consumers will find Basic Fun toys in stores for a month or two but very quickly we will be out of stock and stock product will disappear from store shelves, " Foreman said. Even before the April 2 announcements, and the recent increases to China's tariff rates, Foreman said that tariffs would result in price increases across the company's entire range, which also includes Lincoln Logs and the light-up peg art toy Lite Brite. Duncan Toys Company The nearly 100-year old company, widely credited with popularizing the yo-yo, has a product line primarily focused on outdoor goods, including Frisbees, juggling balls, as well as indoor puzzle games. Josh Staph, CEO of Duncan Toys, told Agence France-Presse that he had halted shipments into the U.S. as a result of the 145-percent duties on Chinese imports. He said that while the products are designed and developed in the U.S, manufacturing takes place in China, and that most of the inventory that would be sold during the Christmas period had not yet entered the country. Staph added that other American toy companies will likely be taking similar action to avoid the new duties. Storytime Toys The Massachusetts-based company specialized in educational toys, such as storybooks and puzzles, which were manufactured in China. Storytime founder Kara Dyer said she placed a small order before the latest tariff hikes and is now pausing holiday season orders. "I'm going to hold out hope for another two weeks that the tariffs will be removed and I'll be able to place the order," she told The New York Times last week. "But if not, I will have to put my business on pause. I will definitely not place an order if the tariffs are in effect. It wouldn't make any sense." In a post to Instagram last month, Dyer said that relocating manufacturing to the U.S. would mean raising prices to prohibitively high levels. What People Are Saying Greg Ahearn, President and CEO of The Toy Association, told CNN: "A 145-percent tariff is tough on any industry, but ours is truly unique from the standpoint that 96 percent of the manufacturers here in the U.S. are considered small- or medium-sized businesses. So when you think about these businesses, and a 145-percent tariff being put on them, it's untenable for them." "No toys are currently being produced in China. And there are reports that major retailers here in the U.S. are starting to actually cancel orders," He added. "Christmas is at risk." President Donald Trump, downplayed the issue during a cabinet meet on Wednesday, saying: "Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know. And Maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more." Marshall Murdough, director at toy company Simplay 3 E-Commerce, which manufactures in the U.S, told Fox News: "The American consumer benefits because they're not going to see an additional $15 dollars tacked on to a $100 dollar item. Our prices are going to remain the same, they can trust what they see when they look at our price whether its online or in the store." Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!, wrote in an April 11 blog post: "Since 80 percent of toys sold into the United States are from China, this is catastrophic for our industry. For now, the lucky few that are making some plush, pop figures, bricks, and plastic trucks in places like Vietnam are getting a break, but the rest of us are in the firing line." Hasbro CEO Jim Cramer told CNBC that the company was making "rapid changes" to avoid the impact of the tariffs: "You know, our goal was to get to about 40 percent of global sourcing out of China by the end of 2026. I think we'll hit that much earlier." What Happens Next? The administration remains hopeful for a deal with China it says would lead to a reduction in the tariffs. Although Beijing has dismissed this possibility, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called the current situation "unsustainable for China." Newsweek has reached out to the Commerce Department via email regarding the possibility of an exemption for toys.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best Family Activities in Chicago (2025): Groupon Awarded Top Destination for Local Family Fun by Better Business Advice
Better Business Advice has recognized Groupon as a leading destination for families seeking memorable local experiences NEW YORK CITY, April 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Better Business Advice has recognized Groupon as a leading destination for families seeking memorable local experiences, highlighting its diverse range of activities across the Chicago area. With an increasing demand for affordable and enriching family outings, Groupon's offerings have positioned it at the center of community-focused entertainment. Top Family Activities in Chicago Chuck E. Cheese Family Play & Pizza - families can enjoy 60 minutes of unlimited gameplay for two guests, two Play Pass cards, a large one-topping pizza, and four soft drinks My Kidzplay Indoor Playground - an indoor play center featuring trampolines, a ninja course, a pretend city, and multi-level play structures, designed for kids aged 6 months to 12 years LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago - offers interactive build zones, a 4D cinema, creative workshops, and a family-friendly ride Exploritorium - an interactive discovery space with climbing walls, water play areas, giant Lite Brite Walls, and creative zones Mother's Day Family Fest by Event Wiz Inc. - a two-day family event featuring carnival rides, live performances, a petting zoo, food vendors, and family-friendly activities to celebrate Mother's Day in a festive setting Groupon has become a leading destination for families seeking local experiences that combine fun, value, and community connection. By partnering with a wide range of businesses, Groupon offers families access to engaging activities, events, and attractions across their communities. Groupon focuses on affordability and diversity and makes it easier for families to explore, play, and create lasting memories while supporting local businesses. Among the options available through Groupon is the Chuck E. Cheese Family Play & Pizza Package. This provides families with a lively blend of arcade gameplay, interactive shows, and a classic dining experience. Offering 60 minutes of unlimited games, a large pizza, and beverages, the package is one of the top choices for families who want to combine food and entertainment under one roof. Another highlight is My Kidzplay Indoor Playground in Alsip. Spanning 32,000 square feet, this expansive play facility includes trampolines, a ninja course, a pretend city, and a three-story play structure. My Kidzplay, designed for children six months to 12 years old, supports active play and social development in a safe, creative environment. Groupon also features discounted admission to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, located in Schaumburg. The indoor attraction offers immersive LEGO experiences, from creative building zones to a 4D cinema and interactive rides. It has become a staple for families with young builders who want to engage in imaginative play. In Skokie, families can explore the Exploritorium, a hands-on discovery center encouraging creativity through water play areas, climbing structures, and a giant Lite Brite Wall. With its accessible Explorer Pass and family admission options, the Exploritorium remains as a welcoming space for learning through play. In addition, Groupon offers access to upcoming events like the Mother's Day Family Fest by Event Wiz Inc. this May 2025. Hosted in Bridgeview, the festival includes carnival rides, food vendors, a petting zoo, and live entertainment. This event is a festive way for families to celebrate Mother's Day together. Groupon's featured event this season is all about Mother's Day. Its Mother's Day promotions, running April 28 to May 11, features discounted experiences for treating moms. Highlights include spa packages, therapeutic massages, personalized photo gifts, float therapy sessions, facials, and flower delivery deals—all curated for relaxation, beauty, and quality time. The offers span local services and national retailers, making it easy to find a thoughtful gift at a great price. Groupon focuses on supporting local businesses while offering value-driven experiences. This aligns with broader trends in consumer behavior, where families prioritize affordability and meaningful outings. By bridging the gap between merchants and local communities, Groupon continues to offer inclusive options for family fun. For a more in-depth review of Groupon's top family activities in Chicago, please visit the Better Business Advice website. About Groupon Through its local business partnerships, Groupon has established itself as a connector between communities and merchants. Its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remains a core part of its operations. Integrating DEI into every aspect of its business, Groupon aims to create an environment where all employees feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to form authentic connections. Through initiatives such as national diversity campaigns and spotlighting diverse merchants, Groupon highlights the cultural heritage of its partners, contributing to millions of impressions and thousands of customer engagements. About Better Business Advice: Better Business Advice is a business advice website dedicated to helping businesses succeed. As an affiliate, Better Business Advice may earn commissions from services mentioned in the links provided. The information provided by Better Business Advice does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials are for general informational purposes only. CONTACT: Drew Thomas (press@
