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Helena bridal shop says wedding dress dreams won't be dashed by tariffs

Campbell says if the tariff is enacted, customers would see a big impact
Posted at 5:12 PM, Oct 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-15 14:27:04-04

HELENA — President Trump put a hold on the proposed tariff increase on Chinese imports, which was supposed to go into effect on Tuesday. Because of lace and silk imports, bridal shops across the nation are on edge as they wait to see when or if this proposed increase will be enacted.

MTN News talked with Linda Campbell, who owns Linda's Bridal Images in Helena, who says they're prepared no matter the outcome.

She is already taking measures to prepare if President Trump's proposed tariff increase is put in place.

Campbell says, worst case scenario, if the tariff is enacted, customers would see a big impact.

"A $1,000 dress would become a $1,500 dress so that's big, that's a markup that we just can't afford," Campbell said.

Linda has signed several petitions from the International Bridal Manufactures Association to make bridal shops an exception to the tariffs.

She has also been in close contact with her vendors, and feels at this time because of the precautionary measures she has taken, there is no need to panic.

"It's great to know that our vendors already are saying relax, it's okay, we've got you, we understand. They need us just as much as we need them. So it has kind of helped calm my nerves quite a bit, I am not really concerned right now," Campbell said.

Linda says, if you are engaged and looking for a wedding dress, come into the shop, try the dresses on, and don't fall victim to online counterfeit dresses.

"Every year we have girls come in with their boxes that they get, their online dresses, they show us the picture, this is what it was supposed to look like, and this is what came to me. In some circumstances, they get a box with dress and a bag of lace and a bag of beads," she warned.

In the long run, Linda says you'll be spending more money to fix that dress than you would coming into the shop and picking one out in person.

There is no word yet on when the proposed tariff might be put into place.

In the meantime, if you need a wedding dress, now might just be the best time to buy.