Veteran-Owned Business Fighting Tariffs - Save Busy Baby
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Help Busy Baby Survive the Tariff Crisis
Who We Are
Busy Baby is a veteran and woman-owned small business founded by Beth (Fynbo) Benike, an Army veteran, who created innovative solutions after experiencing a common parenting challenge: babies constantly dropping items at restaurants and other outings. Today, Beth and her brother Eric (also an Army veteran) run this family business that has helped thousands of parents with our patented tether system that keeps babies' items within reach and off the floor.
Our flagship product, the Busy Baby Mat, is a food-grade silicone placemat that suctions to surfaces and includes adjustable tethers for attaching toys, utensils, or cups. Together, my brother and I have created an interchangeable line of products that are designed to keep baby's things within reach and off the ground, at home and on-the-go. All of our products are made with 100% food-grade silicone, making them durable, easy to clean, and safe for babies to eat from and chew on. Our production team ensures each batch meets our high-quality standards and our products pass third-party safety tests.
As a VERY strong-willed, determined woman, asking strangers for help is the very LAST thing I want to do. But teaching our kids to fight and adapt and overcome adversity is top priority for me. It's okay for them to see me set my ego aside and ask for help when I REALLY need it. Now is that time.
The Crisis We're Facing
After years of building our business and achieving seven-figure sales, we are facing an existential threat. In the course of the past week, the US imposed a 145% tariff on our products manufactured in China. This unexpected policy change has left us in an impossible situation:
- We have products we've already paid for sitting in China that we cannot afford to import due to the massive tariff increase.
- Our current inventory will only last 2-3 months.
- Without our products coming in, we cannot generate the revenue needed to pay our bills, loans, employee salaries, or even my own salary.
- Without paying on our loans, I will lose my house. As a small business owner, I had to personally guarantee our loans and my home is on the line.
Our story has gained national and international attention, with appearances on CNN, BBC, News Nation Now, coverage in the New York Times, and features on numerous local news channels. While this coverage has brought awareness to our situation, we still need practical solutions to keep our business alive.
As a small business owner, I've put everything on the line for Busy Baby - my house is leveraged against loans I took to grow our company. Without a solution to this tariff crisis, we face the very real possibility of bankruptcy.
Why We Can't "Just Manufacture in America"
Many have suggested we simply move production to the United States, but this seemingly simple solution faces several critical barriers:
- Infrastructure gap: The specialized silicone manufacturing capabilities we need barely exist in the US after decades of offshoring. The few facilities available have limited capacity and long waitlists.
- Startup costs: Moving production requires new industrial molds for each of our 8 products—costing $20,000-$40,000 each—and would take 6-8 months to produce before making a single item.
- Capital requirements: Building our own facility would require $350,000-$400,000 for equipment alone, plus we would face the same 145% tariff to import these machines from China—making the total closer to $800,000.
- Expertise shortage: America has lost much of its manufacturing expertise in silicone production after decades of offshoring. We'd need to rebuild this knowledge base, likely resulting in inconsistent quality for years.
- Policy uncertainty: Tariffs have jumped from 20% to 50% to 104% to 145% all within a single week. We cannot make sound business decisions when policy changes hourly.
A Path Forward & How Your Contribution Helps
There is a way for Busy Baby not just to survive but potentially thrive in this new environment, but we need time to implement these solutions:
- Exploring US manufacturing options: While not immediate, we're researching domestic production possibilities.
- Developing international distribution channels: Expanding our market reach beyond reliance on a single manufacturing source.
- Creating innovative business models: Adapting our operations to the new economic realities.
Your donation will give us the breathing room needed to implement these strategies by:
- Paying tariffs on our existing inventory: This allows us to bring in the products we've already paid for and maintain business continuity.
- Keeping our employees on payroll: Our team members depend on us for their livelihoods.
- Maintaining operations: Covering essential expenses while we develop long-term solutions.
- Building transition bridges: Creating pathways to sustainable business models.
Our Commitment to You
As a veteran-owned business that has always put quality and customer satisfaction first, we commit to:
- Providing regular updates on our progress.
- Being transparent about how funds are used.
- Continuing to serve families with our innovative products.
- Working toward bringing manufacturing to America in a sustainable way.
Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us survive this crisis and gives us the breathing room needed to adapt to these sudden changes.
Help Us Continue Our Mission
Busy Baby has always been about making life easier for parents and supporting babies' development. With your help, we can weather this storm and continue providing solutions that allow families to enjoy meals and activities together without the constant hassle of picking up dropped items.
Thank you for considering supporting our small business during this challenging time. Your generosity will help preserve jobs, keep an innovative American company alive, and ensure parents everywhere can continue to benefit from our products.
Note: Contributions are not tax-deductible as charitable donations but represent your support for a small American business in crisis.
Organizer
Beth Benike
Organizer
Oronoco, MN