THE Good Advice You Can't Take

Were it not for the 1099's and W2's in the trash I might not have noticed that my daughter Miranda had been home to visit. 

THE former Buck Wheat of these pages was only present long enough for “Padj” to make a meal or two, and to organize her affairs into a proper tax filing. Gone the next day there was scant evidence that she had ever wafted by.

Though the evidence she did leave was as undeniable as a fingerprint! 

Tariffs remain the topic of conversation as American paint dealers and all Americans await the effects of those new taxes. 

Last week I advised paint dealers to prepare for inflation in the prices of brushes, rollers and other tools of our trade, most of which are made in China and now subject to a 145% tariff. 

Pertinent advice were there anything they could do about it. 

But the tariff’s impacts have been swift, as evidenced by the eight price increases received by AllPro members in April alone, each effective immediately.  Before April concluded another 13 vendors announced increases for May, with another 12 already on tap for June meaning dealers should not look for relief from that pace anytime soon.

Most of the increases have been mid-single digits with some spiking to a second decimal place, a harbinger of that vendor’s manufacturing country of origin.

Those increases though are just the beginning and it’s too early to know how high prices will go. Forecasting anything less though than a 50% increase in applicators and sundries over the next 18-months though seems overly optimistic barring a negotiated settlement between the warring nations.

Negotiations which may or may not be ongoing, depending on who you ask.

Loading up seems like a good move for dealers, at-least for those willing to bear the risk of owning inventory during a recession.  Though evidence is beginning to suggest that fr those dealers it might already be too late.

America’s ports of entry handled more than $435 billion worth of imports from China last year with the Port of Los Angeles receiving more than half of that total, a staggering 32,500 containers imported from that country every day of the year. Each filled with a range of consumer products, including the humble paint brush.

But Trump’s trade war has slowed port traffic bigly, with shipments to Los Angeles down more than 35% since the tariffs took effect.  Other US ports are experiencing that same descent. 

And that traffic is expected to reduce even further as the oceans are emptied of container ships set sail before this war began with next to nothing having been shipped since that time.

With no way to resupply US retailers have begun warning their customers to expect product shortages. More evidence for paint dealers that it’s too late to stock up.

THE Darkest Corners

I took advantage of a light schedule last week to record the first three episodes of what I hope to be a five-episode podcast series, though if y’all give it lots of attention I’m sure I’ll make more.

On my mind as we recorded were the tariffs and news out of Pittsburgh, though that’s not all there was to talk about.  Because at the moment I have three consulting engagements ongoing, including one long held private which is about to step out of the shadows.

And another whose outcome may bring divine truths.

Odd when you consider my normal audacity that I felt more comfortable sharing my work through conversation rather than riffing alone as I might do with THE news or with my distaste for liars.

Look for a new episode of Mark, My Words and friends, sometime next week. 

If you agreed to participate in the dealer survey I will begin scheduling those next week, look out for an email or text.