OT Tariffs (Impact On All Star Cheer)

[Keep_Believing]

It looks like automobile tariffs are coming and will likely have a domino effect, increasing the cost of many things. I wonder if this will impact All Star cheer. If you're on a budget and something has to go, you need to keep necessities like groceries, rent, and gas, but luxuries like extracurriculars and sports may have to be cut. What are your thoughts on how this might affect families?

 

[JBS]

As you know I am in the gymnastics industry... very similar to all star cheer though. I have to say we are a bit worried about this at the gym.

We have had waiting lists at the gym for quite some time... our waiting lists are starting to go down now. While it's not a hit on the bottom line yet... it is something worth monitoring.

We are also in an area with a large amount of upper middle class to affluent families... so it will probably hit a little slower in our area than others.

Overall... very interesting question to think about and overall see how it plays out.

 

[Keep_Believing]

I'm a teacher and a single mom, and the thought of inflation quickly rising another 25% is honestly terrifying. I just don't make enough to stretch things that far.

 

[JBS]

Here is an interesting thread from a few years ago...

All-Star Thread 'Economy and Cheer'

Jun 1, 2022

So we are all dealing inflation, gas prices , etc and the lilklihood of a recession. Was anyone here in the industry in 2008-09 with the last major recession? How did it impact (if at all) participation in the sport? With the cost of Allstar suffering from Varsity’s cost inflation of the sport already , I am curious/concerned to see what happens now.

Any thoughts or opinions welcomed.

• CheerDad4Life
• Replies: 10
• Forum: All-Star Cheerleading

 

[JBS]

I can say that we are already planning a higher price increase at our gym as we are expecting to need to continue to raise employee wages at a quicker rate that we used to.

 

[Keep_Believing]

That's kind of you. Unfortunately, most salaries don't keep pace with inflation.

 

[JBS]

That's kind of you. Unfortunately, most salaries don't keep pace with inflation.

Well... most of our customers probably will not be happy with it as it's just going to be inflation to them.

However... I don't think we are going to have much choice... we'll see as time goes on.

 

[ufomom]

I think it's going to have a significant impact. Cheer is not an essential when people are struggling to pay for housing and necessities.

 

[JBS]

I would guess one of the immediate impacts on the cheer industry would be cost of apparel...

Tariffs will make sneakers, jeans and almost everything Americans wear cost more, trade groups warn

Sending children back to school in new sneakers, jeans and T-shirts is likely to cost U.S. families significantly more this fall.

apnews.com

 

[mamamarcie]

IMO, tariffs will place a financial hardship on families that work second jobs or take all of the overtime they're offered to put/keep their child(ren) in AS Cheer, or any sport, actually. This will, in turn, put Varsity in a tough spot, too. Varsity rents a lot of vehicles for judges to carpool (most are imports--at least that's been my experience) while in an event city. While I personally feel Varsity should be able to absorb the extra cost, I think it's safe to project that they will build all increased costs into competition fees. If Varsity outsources its uniform creation to non-US-based companies (not to mention where shoes are manufactured), there's more increased costs. Families of athletes could very well be hit harder than ever in the wallet.

Best case scenario: Nothing changes.
Worse case scenario: Increased competition costs, increased cost of uniforms/shoes, decreased number of competitions, decreased number of EPs.

Just so you know, I'm one of those "think the worst, hope for the best"-type person.

 

[NJ Coach]

I wouldn't be surprised if it is like what happened after 08. Lots of gyms combined/closed down due to the recession. The non essential bills go first, and cheer is definitely non essential.

 

[SassyTimeBows]

As a bow maker - I can say with certainty - it will increase the cost of the materials used to make Cheer Bows (and uniforms) That will force me, as a small business owner, to increase the cost of my handmade products. I work very hard to keep things affordable for my customers - this could have devastating effects :(

 

[cs athletic]

CS Athletic has no plans for raising prices. If tariffs are added to inbound packages CS Athletic will absorb those fees. I don’t expect this trade war to last more than a few months. Jim