It’s Time To Get Real

The future of belly dance vending in today's economy. How are tariffs and uncertainty going to affect the small businesses you rely on for dance costumes, accessories, jewelry and DIY?

We have known for a while that the current government administration has promised to shake things up for our country and the world, including our economy. Now that tariffs* are in the mix, what does the future hold for the small businesses that serve the dance community? I’d like to share some candid thoughts with you on this subject. Here’s what’s real for vendors right now, as of April 4, 2025. And any or all of this could change at any moment.

I’m sure most dancers know that the vendors they rely on for everything from costuming and jewelry to accessories and music, import the items that they offer for sale. This of course excludes those that handmake their items (although this does affect them to an extent as well). And I’m also pretty sure that most of you saw the recent list of tariffs that have been imposed (and then paused) on imports and the staggering percentages that will be applied to all goods that enter the U.S. from other countries. But you may be wondering what exactly this might mean for your vendors, and ultimately what it means for you as a dancer.

LET’S START WITH BASICS
Belly dance vendors generally import their goods from Egypt, the Middle East, and India. Some vendors, like The Red Camel, also import from places such as Pakistan/Afghanistan, Central Asia, North Africa, Turkey and China. If the new and reciprocal tariffs that are being applied and then paused (and then perhaps applied again) go into effect, prices for these goods WILL increase. Tariffs coupled with likely increases in shipping and other related costs make this unavoidable. That said, each country has a different tariff rate, so increases will depend on where any given item originates. Egypt, for example, has only a 10% tariff (currently paused), so increases may be minimal. But India now has a 26% tariff (currently paused), so price increases for these items will be larger. And while these specifics are true NOW, they could change at any time.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR DANCERS?
Plain and simple it means general price increases on all goods - including costuming, jewelry, accessory items, DIY, music and anything else you purchase. There are a few exceptions, which I will address below, but in most cases this will be true across the board. A good selection of stock items should remain generally available to your vendors from their suppliers, but price increases could also mean that vendors will make changes in how they conduct business, require that they downsize, or that they carry fewer or different items. And yes, unfortunately it may even mean that some will close their businesses altogether.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR VENDORS?
First, let’s talk about where we’re starting from. Vendors have had a very hard time over the last 8 YEARS trying to recover from the hardships of the COVID economy and the corresponding depressed dance market and were just beginning to see a glimmer of hope over the last year or so. This down turn had forced many small vendors out of business or pushed them to make big changes in their business practices. And now again, we have to be prepared to go through a period of instability of unknown length. The one good thing coming from these experiences is that vendors who survived have learned to be quite adaptable to change.

With the flip-flopping of tariffs being applied then paused, and with who-knows-what coming next, business owners will be given the difficult task of trying to anticipate what will actually be true at any given time. Making a mistake can be extremely costly. Ordering stock at a time when tariffs are on hold could backfire if that stock cannot reach the US within the hold timeframe and arrives after tariffs have again been implemented. This changes a shipment originally costing a few thousand dollars into a shipment costing much, much more than that amount. This is not sustainable for most imports businesses, small or otherwise.

Since we knew in late 2024 that tariffs might be imposed at the start of 2025, some businesses were able to plan in advance and imported more stock than they normally might have over the last four or five months. Those that did so may be able to offer their items at prices that remain consistent. How much stock a vendor could afford to import on short notice will determine how long that vendor can keep their prices stable. For other vendors that couldn’t or didn’t do this, they will need to make decisions about where to get their stock, how much of an increase they should apply, whether and how they can absorb some of the increase, and whether staying in business is even a viable option when we don’t, and can’t, know what the future holds.

OK THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT WHAT ABOUT MY RED CAMEL HABIT?
Ah, now down to the nitty gritty. In December and January The Red Camel was able to import a large amount of stock before tariffs were imposed. With the stock I have on hand right now, I anticipate that I may be able to keep prices at 2024 levels through 2025 or perhaps a bit longer, depending on variable factors such as shipping increases, sales volume and buying trends. I am fortunate that I have a dedicated space to store stock and few overhead expenses right now. And while all of this bodes well for Red Camel, it’s important to keep in mind that during uncertain economic times there are lots of variables that affect what happens from here and circumstances can change quite rapidly. Right now, nothing is guaranteed.

I know this is a lot of reading for things that might seem boring or obvious, but I hope that you now have a clearer picture of what to expect from dance retailers as far as is predictable, given the unknowns. And I would like to thank you for being a Red Camel customer, now and in previous years. I sincerely appreciate your support of this small, woman-owned business.

Stay alert and safe out there. Don’t forget to breathe, to take care of yourself, cultivate joy and above all keep dancing!

Deb
The Red Camel

*Quick info for those that have questions on how tariffs work. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. The money is collected from the importing business at the time of customs clearance (once goods get to the US). US consumers and businesses are the ones that must absorb the costs from tariffs. More about tariffs from Oxford Economics HERE.