A message to our customers...

Hey friends,

So I guess we gotta talk tariffs. I’ve been dreading this - and to our US customers: I know there’s more to this than just those bookish sidelines from the UK you quite like. Not least because most books are made in China. I want you to know we’re thinking of you and sending so much love.

As a tiny UK-based business, I’m both relieved and terrified about the 10% tariff on UK goods going into the US. It could be so much worse - 10% is comparatively low - but it still feels very scary. Over 60% of our wholesale customers are US-based. That’s not just a stat; it’s a relationship I care about deeply. You’re the reason we exist. I want to be open about what’s happening, even if it’s messy and uncertain.

At this stage, we don’t know much. I don’t know exactly how or when the 10% will be collected. I don’t know if the $800 threshold still applies (99% of our orders are under this), and I don’t know what impact it’s going to have on the speed of parcels getting to you. We’re fulfilling orders for Independent Bookstore Day as quickly as we can to give everything the very best chance of arriving in time.

We’ll be keeping a very close eye on information coming from the UK and US governments, DHL, USPS, and Royal Mail. I want us all to be as informed as possible. We’re going to closely track and record the speed of all parcels sent over the past week or so, and from today onwards, to gather as much information as we can about the impact.

We’ll keep sharing whatever we find out. And if you spot anything, have questions, or just want to talk it through - I’d genuinely love to hear from you. I think this is one of those times where staying connected really matters.

To our lovely customers outside the US - thank you for being here. Your ongoing support means the world, and it helps us weather uncertain times like these with a little more hope and a lot more gratitude. 💛

Most Ardently,

Louise & Team Bookishly