3 Things Wholesale Brands Can Control With New Tariffs in Place

Uncertainty is nothing new. 

We’ve survived the early days of B2B when nobody really understood what it was, the height of the pandemic when brick-and-mortar stores were shuttered, and now we’re living through rising tariffs, supply chain chaos, and buyers who aren’t sure what’s coming next. 

It’s safe to say that if you’ve been in business long enough, you’ve probably seen your fair share of ups and downs. At RepSpark, we’ve certainly gone through our own roller coaster ride in the wholesale and B2B space.

But one constant throughout any ups and downs is that at the end of the day, you still have to keep moving forward. 

These uncertain times definitely require us to pause, take a breath, and think about the best way to navigate the situation, but stopping altogether can leave you behind while others continue to innovate. 

You can’t control tariffs, buyer behavior, or global shipping nightmares, but you can control where you direct your energy. 

Here are three essentials you can control that you can take action on right now to keep your brand in a strong position. 

1. Don’t Forget About Employee Morale

It’s an obvious, and pretty simple, concept to remember to take good care of your employees. 

But, during uncertain times, your team will be feeling the pressure. 

They could be worrying about what’s coming next or how the industry will handle more disruptions. While you can’t predict the future, you can be transparent about your plans and priorities. 

Share updates on how you’re adapting to market changes, discuss upcoming goals, and show your team that you’re in it together.

It might sound simple, but open communication goes a long way. 

Think about quick weekly huddles or monthly town halls to answer questions and recognize standout achievements. People are your most valuable asset, and when they feel supported and informed, they’ll keep your brand moving regardless of what’s going on around you. 

2. Go Above and Beyond for Your Customers

Your customers thrive on stability, especially when everything else seems uncertain. 

Whether you’re selling to retailers or direct-to-consumer, show them you’re there to help. Make their jobs easier by offering flexible ordering options, lenient return policies, or extra training on your products. 

At RepSpark, we’ve always believed that strong customer relationships are the backbone of any wholesale strategy. 

Provide straightforward resources, be responsive to inquiries, and stay in close contact. Examples of this can be a quick follow-up email or a detailed product webinar for your customers. 

When your customers feel supported, they’ll trust your brand (and your partnership) for the long haul.

3. Automate and Streamline Wherever Possible

During times of uncertainty, one of the best ways to help your brand (and your team) is to eliminate busywork. 

Take a look at your processes, from order management to inventory tracking. Ask yourself: Can we automate any of these tasks? Can we streamline something to free up time for the “people work” that really counts?

This is where RepSpark’s B2B platform can be a game-changer. Instead of juggling spreadsheets or manually sending updates on product availability, you can let the system do the heavy lifting. 

Everything from digital catalogs to live inventory updates and automated order confirmations can help you cut down on repetitive tasks. That way, your employees can focus on top-priority projects like building relationships, marketing new product lines, or exploring growth strategies. 

If there are parts of your operation that don’t align with retention, growth, or automation, now is the perfect time to take a critical look and decide if they’re still worth doing.

Why You Can’t Completely Stop Progress During Times of Uncertainty

Pausing to reassess makes sense, but don’t let uncertainty freeze you into inaction. 

Remember to focus on actions you can take to boost employee morale, take steps to over-deliver for your customers, and automate as many of your repetitive processes so your brand has the bandwidth to adapt to whatever surprises might come next. 

Concentrate on boosting employee morale, over-delivering for your customers, and automating your processes so that your brand can adapt more easily to whatever surprises come next. Because, it’s the brands that keep moving, innovating, and supporting their people that emerge stronger. 

Uncertainty might be inevitable, but how you respond to it is entirely up to you. 

By focusing on what you can control, you’ll keep your brand on course, nurture the relationships that truly matter, and set yourself up for better days ahead. 

And if you need a helping hand with automation or streamlining your wholesale process, that’s exactly what RepSpark is here for.