When China Tariffs Hit Home: The Impact on Busy Baby
Beth Benike knows a thing or two about solving problems – because she’s been doing it since day one. As a military veteran, a mom (not sure which is harder?), and the founder of Busy Baby, Beth turned a simple lunch-table frustration into a full-blown baby brand success.
The Busy Baby story all started during a chaotic meal with other new moms, where the idea for some sort of Mat to entertain the baby struck.
The incredible journey from that initial “aha” moment to Shark Tank and beyond has been a rollercoaster ride filled with high highs and low lows. What the company is facing now, however, may be the wildest upside down high speed curveball of them all.
Beth was recently interviewed regarding China tariffs and the shock to the system they represent for business.
Tariff Turbulence
In April 2025, the U.S. imposed a new wave of tariffs on products manufactured in China – including Beth’s. The timing couldn’t be worse as Busy Baby just landed major retail deals with Target and Walmart, an entrepreneur’s dream come true.
The catch? She had to front the cost of production. Now, $158,000 worth of inventory that’s ready to ship is going to cost her $230,000 to import.
This $72,000 problem now affects the livelihood of the entire company.
In the story Beth shares details:
Busy Baby advocating for SBA-registered small businesses to get tariff exemptions, but relief isn’t guaranteed.
How she's exploring international distribution (like Canada and Australia) to stay afloat.
How You Can Help
So, what can parents do? Simple things, really.
Consider Donating to the Busy Baby GoFundMe
Buy directly from small brands
Share their stories and leave positive reviews
Show support however you can
Wrap Up
Beth’s story is the ultimate mom tale: filled with heart, hustle, and a whole lot of holding it together. Like so many parents, she’s figuring it out day by day – and doing everything she can to keep her dream alive.
Thank you to the loyal Busy Baby family, more to come on the China Tariff saga.