Ten years after her time in the U.S. Army, Beth Benike from Oronoco, Minnesota, became a mom. This new chapter inspired her to create a product that would change mealtime for parents everywhere.
“I wanted to invent something that would keep babies from dropping food all over the place and give them a clean spot to eat while at restaurants,” she explained. This idea led to the birth of her Busy Baby Mat in 2017, a handy silicone mat designed to make dining out easier for families.
Benike’s entrepreneurial journey took off when she made her first sale in 2019. Her big break came in 2021 with an appearance on the popular show Shark Tank. Shortly after, her product was available in retail giants like Target and Walmart.
But then, everything changed. On April 2, 2025, President Trump announced significant tariffs. Benike was set to ship a $160,000 container of products from China, but the tariffs would add an unexpected $230,000 burden. “I simply couldn’t cover that in 30 to 45 days,” she recalled.
While the tariffs were later reduced, the damage was already done. After being out of stock for two months, Benike had to cut her staff from five to three employees and used her savings to keep the business afloat. “We lost around half a million dollars due to those tariffs,” she said.
Currently, Benike and other small business owners are looking to the U.S. Supreme Court for relief. There’s a chance that the court might rule that Trump overstepped his authority with the tariffs, which could lead to refunds for some of the tariffs paid. But even with a favorable ruling, there’s uncertainty. Benike worries that tariffs could be reinstated through other means by the administration.
In a related study by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, it was found that American consumers are shouldering 96% of the cost of these tariffs, while foreign exporters face only 4%. Additionally, U.S. tariff revenue surged to about $24 billion a month more in 2025 than in 2024.
Small businesses are struggling with this chaotic environment. Dan Turner, who owns Turner Hydraulics in Pennsylvania, found himself in a tough situation when he ordered a custom item from China expecting a 25% tariff. After Trump’s tariff announcement, his cost skyrocketed to $84,000. “We were just hoping for a miracle before it reached the dock,” Turner said. Thankfully, the tariff cut upon arrival meant he didn’t face the full blow, but the instability still hurt his business’s revenue.
Hanna Scholz, the owner of Bike Friday in Oregon, commented, “We’re feeling the impact of tariffs hard.” Although her bikes are made in the U.S., many parts come from overseas. Her sales dropped by 17% in 2025, and she struggled to raise employee wages due to rising costs.
Scholz hopes the Supreme Court will act wisely, as a ruling against Trump’s tariffs could bring some peace to small business owners like her. “We need clarity to move forward,” she said. “A responsible ruling could signal that things are not as chaotic as they seem.”
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Donald Trump,Economics,Supreme Court,Tariffs,Trump’s Trade War
