Running on Fumes: A 27-Year Business Pushed to the Brink

For nearly three decades, Wizard Industries, Inc., a small woman-owned business based in Ukiah, Utah, built its operations the way policymakers often say they want American businesses to operate—long-term investment, steady growth, and a commitment to keeping products flowing to customers.

But over time, tariffs began to erode that foundation.

“We are a small woman-owned USA business of 27 years. The tariffs from the first Trump administration began tearing us apart financially, and the past few years of tariffs have all but exhausted the fumes we have been running on.”

Like many small importers, Wizard Industries didn’t have the luxury of walking away from its supply chain overnight. The business adapted where it could, cut costs where possible, and continued operating—absorbing tariffs year after year just to stay afloat.

In total, the company paid roughly $20,000 in IEEPA tariffs—real cash out the door for a small business already operating on razor-thin margins. That kind of cost doesn’t just reduce profits; it restricts hiring, delays investment, and puts the long-term viability of the business at risk.

Now, with recent court rulings calling these tariffs into question, there is a sense—however cautious—of potential relief.

“We hope the new rulings help revive us and the millions of people subjected to dishonest tariffs.”

For Wizard Industries and so many others, the issue is no longer theoretical. It’s about whether businesses that spent years absorbing these costs will have a chance to recover. Refunds won’t undo the years of strain—but they could help restore some of what was lost.

If your business has faced similar challenges, join the growing coalition of small businesses calling for action. Sign the We Pay the Tariffs letter and help push for the refunds businesses like Wizard Industries deserve.