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Riding the Tariffs Turbulence: Let's Talk E-commerce

Tariffs are adding ~20% to consumer prices. The brands navigating it best are the ones leaning into honest livestreams, shoppable video, and community-led content.

Riding the Tariffs Turbulence: Let's Talk E-commerce
In this article5 chapters

Back in April, we didn’t know what impact the tariffs would have. Now, a few months later, it’s time to take another look and assess the changes.

Chapter 01Where Are the Tariffs Now?

From a consumer perspective, tariffs are currently adding an average cost of 20.6%, with clothing and footwear particularly impacted. Inflation has remained fairly steady, but many are watching Q4 to better understand the full effect of these tariffs.

Many businesses responded in different ways, those with the flexibility front-loaded inventory to soften the blow of tariff volatility. Others have reviewed and adjusted their supply chains to absorb the costs. As prices begin to trend upward, the question becomes: how are you managing this as a retailer?

Chapter 02Does Livestreaming Help You Reach Your Audience?

During the initial wave of tariff-related uncertainty, some brands chose transparency over silence.

Take Brand 3 Sixteen: no fluff, no spin, just honest conversations via livestream. Their audience showed up, engaged, and appreciated the realness. Since then, their following has grown, and they’ve just partnered with Saucony to co-create a sneaker—a testament to brand growth rooted in authenticity.

It shows that when things get tough, the instinct may be to disappear, but you shouldn’t. Your audience doesn’t need perfection—they need you. They want to know you’re still here, still human. That’s why live video can be your most powerful tool right now.

You can do that too. Start small go live on Instagram, YouTube, or even LinkedIn. If you’re ready to scale, eStreamly’s tools can take it to the next level.

Chapter 03How Can Brands Build Greater Consumer Trust?

Gone are the days of throwing money at generic ads. Rising costs and shifting regulations mean every dollar needs to work harder. That’s where innovative formats—like shoppable video—shine.

Stylecraft tested this by using a video landing page instead of a static ad, and the results? An immediate lift in returns. People don’t just want to click—they want to watch, engage, and buy.

Chapter 04Let Your Community Be the Star

Your voice matters—but your customers’ voices? Pure gold.

  • Encourage user-generated content
  • Partner with micro-influencers who genuinely connect with your mission.
  • Involve your loyal customers through emails, SMS, or even community shoutouts

Video makes all of this more personal—and platforms like eStreamly make it easy to collect and share those stories across your channels.

Chapter 05The Bottom Line: Use What You’ve Got

Yes, tariffs and economic uncertainty are real. But so is your ability to adapt. By leaning into authenticity, experimenting with video, and empowering your community, you’re not just surviving—you’re building a brand that can thrive through anything.

We’re all in this together. Let’s get creative, stay connected, and keep moving forward.

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Laura Lashmar
Laura Lashmar
eStreamly contributor

Marketing and communications strategist with 10+ years of helping brands stop guessing and start building content that actually works. I've owned businesses, worked in research, and taken more than a few unexpected career turns along the way. Now I focus on what I love most: using smart strategy and creative thinking to help brands build full content experiences — from shoppable video and live selling to the everyday content that keeps your audience coming back. No fluff, no wasted effort — just the stuff that moves the needle. Find me over at LinkedIn where I write about video commerce, live shopping, and making the most of every resource you have.