On the Ask Us Anything podcast, editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen taps former Trade Tales guests to answer real, confidential designer questions, offering a safe space to discuss business challenges. Have a question of your own to ask? Send an email to start the conversation.
This week, Jenna Chused, the founder of Brooklyn-based Chused & Co., joins Ask Us Anything to answer a question from a fellow designer who is stumped about how to communicate with clients about tariffs. In today’s ever-changing policy environment, the typical time frame for guaranteed pricing has gone out the window. Now, this designer is wondering if her approach should change too.
Chused shares how she has shifted her sourcing approach to shield her business from price volatility, how tariffs show up on her firm’s invoices, and how early budget discussions prevent clients from getting sticker shock further along in the design process.
Crucial insight: Although tariffs have led to higher prices for some goods, Chused has exempted them from her typical pricing model—a decision that has ultimately built better trust with clients. “I do not mark up tariffs. I pass them through as a line item on the invoice, because I want them to see this is [the] government, not us. This is totally separate. We actually do it as a reimbursable cost, so we do not add it into the cost of goods,” she says.
Key quote: “[The] budget is like our bible throughout the whole process. People need to see that sheet once, just to see what goes into the room, so they understand the budget, how we’re getting there.”
This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
