04/17/2025
Wanted to pop on and give an update on where ModularModular is at with this economic mess that we're in. As you probably know, tariffs and the looming recession are really hitting small businesses hard, and crafts-based businesses especially hard with the double whammy of Joann closing and supplies from China being tariffed. It is almost impossible to go without sourcing craft supplies from China, a lot of stuff is just not made here in the US at all. I've been spending the past couple months trying to mitigate these changes for ModularModular, namely in stocking up on supplies.
Project bags - I will be able to continue making project bags for ages and ages, my fabric stash is deep and everything else I use for them I have found either US-based vendors or can get at local stores other than Joann (well, as long as their suppliers are still importing). I will likely ramp up production of these.
Hexagon kits - this is kind of the big one. Two of my faux leather suppliers I order from regularly are shutting down/pausing. I do have tons of the faux leather and vinyl to make them on hand, but I may not be able to restock certain ones after they're sold. It is all of the other little tools and notions that go into the kits that is getting increasingly hard to source at reasonable prices, particularly stitch markers and the scissors. I have enough supplies for at least a few months, but after that I may need to change what I offer in the kits. So if you've been wanting a full kit, now is probably the time to get one.
Needle gauges & yarn dividers - laser acrylic comes from China, but I just did a huge order of restocking and new fun stuff, so I should be able to keep making them for a long while.
Acrylic stitch markers - acrylic is fine, but may start having a hard time getting the rings for them. I have a decent stash for now though.
Needleminders - I am probably going to have to phase these out, China is basically no longer selling rare earth magnets like the neodymium ones that I use to the US, so once US supplies dwindle, I'm likely not going to be able to get them anymore. If you want one, order it now.
For now, I don't anticipate needing to raise my prices and I have no intention of closing shop, but I have decided to take a pause on trying to reopen the wholesale side of the business, which is something I've been working on for the last 6 months. With the tariffs, it's just much harder to source supplies in bulk, and I want to be able to keep my retail side running for as long as possible, and if I reopen wholesale it means I run out of items much quicker. I may be able to do some things wholesale like needle gauges and limited runs of project bags, and I'm still looking at that, but for now I don't see wholesale reopening fully.
Appreciate y'all for taking the time to read this, and for everyone who orders from me, keep shopping small biz!
