When independent dealer Ron Romero speaks, the industry listens, and now he’s hoping the Trump administration will follow suit.
For those unaware, Romero is the third-generation owner of Schaefer’s TV and Appliance, a big-box premium showroom that’s served the greater Lincoln, Neb., community for more than seven decades.
In his spare time the outspoken retail advocate serves as president of the Nationwide West chapter of the Nationwide Marketing Group, was a past president of the North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA), and is active in the Nebraska Retail Federation and its parent trade association the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Speaking from those bully pulpits, and at the podium today during a “Trade Builds America” forum in Washington, Romero decried this country’s mounting tariffs, which he said are certain to hurt his business and customers.
“We couldn’t be more discouraged by this ongoing trade war and what it means for our family-owned company that has been in business for more than 70 years,” he told a crowd of manufacturers and small business owners. “We were only given a week’s notice in some cases to prepare for this latest tariff onslaught that couldn’t have come at a worse time as we approach the holiday shopping season, a very important selling season of the year.”
See: More Appliance Price Hikes Likely After Latest Round Of Tariffs
“Tariffs are taxes that will cause sticker shock for our customers and ultimately lead to fewer sales and make it harder for us to grow and create jobs in our community,” Romero continued. “The majority of the appliances we sell are assembled by domestic manufacturers but rely on imported components that are being hit by tariffs.”
“It simply doesn’t make sense why Washington is making it more expensive to produce goods here in the United States. That will only mean higher costs for American families and small businesses like mine,” he said.
Romero predicted that the $200 billion in sanctions against Chinese goods that went into effect yesterday would lead to price increases for dishwashers, refrigerators and other appliances he sells, and would ultimately be paid for by consumers.
The Trade Builds America forum was co-sponsored by the NRF, Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users, Farmers for Free Trade, the North American Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).
Related: Retailers To Trump: No Chinese Tariffs
The NRF, together with more than 100 organizations including the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), also recently launched a multi-industry coalition — Americans for Free Trade — aimed at opposing tariffs. The new coalition is coordinating with Farmers for Free Trade in a multi-million dollar national campaign known as “Tariffs Hurt the Heartland,” which is focused on telling the stories of American businesses, farmers and workers harmed by tariffs.
