December 12, 2025/Media, Press

NEW FROM HENDERSONVILLE TIMES-NEWS ON WHATLEY’S TARIFFS: “Hendersonville Business Owners Say Tariffs Hurt Ahead of Holidays”🎄🎁

WNC small business owner: “(Whatley) has said he supports these tariffs wholeheartedly and that they’re record-setting in terms of effectiveness. Let’s be clear, these tariffs are only effective in hurting families and squeezing the budgets even tighter”

On the fifth day of Whatley’s Christmas Costs, a small business owner and a working parent from Hendersonville “criticized […] Michael Whatley for his support of tariffs” that are hurting small businesses and making the holidays even more unaffordable for working families. 

DC insider Michael Whatley has called the trade war “record setting in terms of […] effectiveness” and supports them “wholeheartedly.”

Read more:

Hendersonville Times-News: Hendersonville business owners say tariffs hurt ahead of holidays

George Fabe Russell | December 12, 2025

  • Lyndsey Simpson, owner of Hendersonville Toy Company, and Drake English, father of a three-year-old son and a hot tub technician by trade, criticized Republican National Committee Chair and U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley for his support of tariffs put in place this year by the Trump administration.

 

  • “Toys are one of the biggest items impacted by tariffs. Ever since the tariffs were announced, manufacturers have started adding 10% to 15% surcharges on our invoices,” [Lyndsey Simpson] said in her remarks.

 

  • “I don’t want to raise costs. I know folks are facing a higher cost of living right now because I’m facing it too and I don’t want holiday shopping to be another stressor for my customers or my community,” [Lyndsey Simpson] said.

 

  • English said that as the father of a young child, the cost of Christmas presents and decorations this year are front of mind for him. “Artificial Christmas trees are up 10% to 20%, prices of lights shot up as much as 63%,” [Drake English] said.

  • “(Whatley) has said he supports these tariffs wholeheartedly and that they’re record-setting in terms of effectiveness. Let’s be clear, these tariffs are only effective in hurting families and squeezing the budgets even tighter,” [Drake English] said in his remarks.

 

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