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Fashion

But here’ s what we do know: Tariffs are pushing up the cost of entry, forcing retailers to navigate thinner margins. When you add changes to the de minimis rules, tightening the value threshold for duty-free shipments, profitability becomes even harder to sustain.

As once-reliable bargains become harder to come by many shoppers are no longer solely chasing the‘ ultra-fast, ultra-cheap’ experience. Instead, they’ re starting to weigh other factors, like quality and reliable delivery.

That shift has made fulfillment just as crucial as pricing. Consumers expect fast, reliable delivery no matter where a product originates, and they want confidence that what they see online is accurate and available.

In fact, 58 percent of shoppers rank fast and reliable shipping as the most important factor in making a purchase, compared to the nearly 46 percent who prioritize competitive pricing and discounts.

As a result, retailers are shedding single-country sourcing strategies in favor of a more diversified approach. Many are experimenting with nearshoring, establishing regional supplier relationships, and exploring alternative logistics paths to shorten replenishment cycles and add resilience. Others are turning to hybrid models that balance US warehousing with cross-border strategies.

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