Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - On a daily basis, Clayton's Toys owner Kellie Klos sees just how much President Trump's tariff policies are impacting her business.
And, impacting in a not-so-good way.
"It gives me headaches every day," Klos said.
Clayton's, the venerable, 109-year-old Williamsville retailer, served as the backdrop for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to talk about how tariffs are hurting small, mom-and-pop "Main Street" retailers.
"Tariffs are hitting small retailers very hard," Gillibrand said. "The effect on stores like Clayton's is very real."
The National Retail Federation reports that tariffs have resulted in the costs of some imported toys to rise by as much as 40%.
In the case of Clayton's, some 60% of the products they sell come from overseas manufacturers and that means tariffs costs are now wrapped into the store's bottom line, Klos said.
Klos said she is trying to hold the line of prices but, like so many others, she is grappling with rising costs.
"I know it is not just us," Klos said. "There are a lot of companies in the same situation."
For now, sales have been steady at Clayton's and its customer base remains loyal, Klos cautions things can change.
"Put it this way, it has been a year. It has been a year," Klos said.