Welcome to the podcast. Today, we’re diving into the story of Lei Nichols, a small business owner whose journey has been complicated by recent tariffs imposed during Donald Trump's second term. Born in Xi’an, China, Nichols later moved to Massachusetts where she started her company, Wise Mouth, selling herbal teas inspired by her grandmother's recipes.

Nichols' business expanded until the winter of 2020 when the pandemic hit. In 2024, after securing a loan to scale her operations, tariffs began rising on Chinese imports—starting at ten percent and quickly escalating to as high as a hundred and forty-five percent. These changes severely impacted her costs. “I hold back, but when I hold back I’m still losing,” Nichols lamented.

Despite exploring new suppliers and scaling back her orders, she felt the pinch. Larger beverage companies could offer lower prices than she could, making it tough to compete. As costs rose, Nichols struggled with declining sales, saying, “Orders just suddenly stopped. The wind has changed.”

She also expressed her concern about rising anti-China sentiment. “I think I’m American,” she reflected, “but I do carry the Chinese culture.” Nichols stands determined, still holding onto her American dream despite the challenges, stating, “Even so, my hands are still holding my American dream.”

Join us next time as we continue to explore the impact of policy changes on small businesses across the nation.
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