How to Make Sure Tariff Wars Don’t Explode Your Branded Merchandise Budget

May 23, 2025

If you’re working on a branded merchandise campaign—especially for a global audience—you’re probably watching your budget like a hawk.

And rightfully so.

Because one unexpected tariff increase…

One customs delay…

One freight cost spike…

Can turn a great idea into a financial headache.

But the good news?

There are a few simple ways to stay ahead of the chaos.

Here’s how we help our clients protect their budget—without sacrificing quality or creativity.

This sounds obvious…

But most merchandise budgets get blown for one simple reason:

The timeline is too tight.

When there’s not enough lead time?

So: start discussions early.

And give your vendors breathing room.

It’s not just about being organized—

It’s about affording your strategy room to work.

This is huge.

One of the best ways to avoid tariffs altogether?

Avoid cross-border shipping entirely.

At brandor, we work hard to find local production partners in the countries where our clients operate.

We’ve already built relationships in many regions—so you don’t have to.

This approach helps you:

And yes—dramatically reduce tariff exposure.

We love a big idea.

That perfect item… that clever cultural reference or on-brand moment.

But here’s the truth:

If it’s going to break the budget?

There’s always another option.

That’s where a strategic provider like brandor makes a difference—

We help you think through the creative, the logistics, and the product alternatives before you go all in.

We’ve run hundreds of campaigns. And have LOTS of outside-the-box ideas.

Tariffs and supply chain chaos probably aren’t going away any time soon…

But your campaign doesn’t have to suffer.

If you:

You can still deliver high-impact branded experiences—even internationally—without blowing your budget.

brandor™ on branding