Photo by National Ocean Service Image Gallery
Brett Rudloff: How tariffs are mowing down small businesses like mine
Spring is usually when things really pick up for companies like mine. I run a small lawn care business and once the weather turns nice, the phone starts ringing.
Folks want their yards cleaned up, mulch put down or maybe some planting. It’s long days for sure but it’s good work. It’s honest work too, the kind you take pride in.
This year, though, it’s been a lot quieter.
People are pulling back. Some are skipping their usual spring cleanups, their bi-weekly lawn services. Others are trying to handle things themselves. Why? Because the price of groceries, clothes, and other everyday items keeps going up, their disposable income’s drying up. That’s tough for a business like mine. We count on these jobs to get us through the year and help provide for our families. And now on top of that, everything’s getting more expensive because of new tariffs.
The numbers are pretty steep. A 145 percent tariff on goods coming from China, a 25 percent hit on steel and aluminum and another ten percent on other imports. That might just sound like policy talk in Washington but here in Pennsylvania, it means the gear we use like mowers, leaf blowers, replacement parts and even the tools we carry in our trucks all cost more.
Fertilizer costs more. The trucks themselves cost more. Even things like gloves, hoses and wheelbarrows — the basics — have all gone up, with no end in sight.
All of this isn’t just hurting my business. It’s hitting regular American families too. Prices across the board are going up. I read recently that tariffs are adding nearly $4,900 a year to what the average household spends. Everyday household needs continue to get more expensive. Building a home now costs $9,000 more than it used to, and cars are up $4,000. That’s real money for working people who count every dollar that goes into and comes out of their bank account.
Now look, I’m no trade expert and I’m sure negotiating trade policies can be complicated, and maybe I don’t know all the intricacies between which country does what to us. But I do know this: I don’t have the kind of clout and capital big companies do. I can’t order in bulk or work the system. I’ve got to make every dollar stretch. And when prices jump like this, and business is slow, it hits fast and hard. It makes it harder to upgrade gear and keep prices fair for customers or buy that new lawn care equipment I could really use.
Small businesses like mine are the ones mowing the lawns, fixing the fences, and preserving our neighborhoods and green spaces all over the country. We don’t ask for a lot. But we do need a fair shake.
I just hope the folks making decisions in Washington take a good look at how these tariffs are affecting the little guys.
Because when small businesses thrive, we all do.
And right now, we’re getting squeezed.
Brett Rudloff is a lifetime resident of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. He has been the sole proprietor of his business, Lawn King Lawncare, for the past 37 years.
It was very clear after his first term and Project 2025 what would happen if he was reelected. You knew that he is narcissist, does not follow the law or the Constitution, makes hasty decisions with no discussion, and is easily influenced by the people who work for him.
You are correct, small businesses are going to face the brunt of Trump’s actions. If you supported and voted for Trump then you are responsible for what is happening.
Brett, I tried to find your contact info to e-mail you directly a 2025 marketing plan promt that is absolutely outstanding. If you go to Grok AI, and copy past what is written below, it will show you how to target your ideal client and your sales will skyrocket – it is so powerful and any small business can do it. No cost – totally free marketing plan. It is granular and powerfully awesome.
Now, please be patient with me because here is some constructive advice that will sound like I’m a jerk and might make you annoyed with my bluntness: It was easier to look up that you spent a reasonable amount of money contributing to David Argall in the past than it is to find your business’ website. I still can’t find it.
Here is the promt to copy paste to Grok (you can use any AI like ChatGPT, but Grok is superior for this specific exercise.)
“I am creating a 2025 Marketing plan for my business.
I want you to act as a marketing expert (with a special emphasis in digital marketing, social media and AI) and help me create a detailed persona for my target audience. My business is called , and we sell in the . Our current target audience is . They are currently struggling with .
Before creating a persona, please review my website for additional details. My website address is: .
Now, please create a persona that includes the following details in a tabular format:
**Table 01: DEMOGRAPHICS** – Name – Age – Occupation – Annual income – Marital status – Family situation – Location
**Table 02: USER DESCRIPTION** – A brief description of the persona
**Table 03: PSYCHOGRAPHICS** – Personal characteristics – Hobbies – Interests – Personal aspirations – Professional goals – Pains – Main challenges – Needs – Dreams
**Table 04: SHOPPING BEHAVIORS** – Budget – Shopping frequency – Preferred channels – Online behavior – Search terms – Preferred brands – Triggers – Barriers – Objections to Purchase
**Table 05: HOW WE CAN HELP** – How our product/service can solve their problems – The results they can expect from using our product/service – What these results mean for them in terms of tangible outcomes and emotional impact. Answers to objections to purchase. Remember, the goal is to create a persona that feels like a real person, so feel free to add any additional details that you think would be helpful.
Rules:
1. Once complete, ask me to review the persona and make any adjustments needed.
2. Once I say “Ok”, we will move on to the 2025 marketing plan.”
Hi Brett. Did any of these things cost more when inflation was raging over the last 4 year? Gas? Trucks? Food? You bet. Where was your pity me article then? Frankly, since Trump has gained office, gas, eggs, groceries are down. Inflation is down. You may have trouble keeping your employees with his immigration reforms, but hopefully your crew is legal.