The Cost of Change: Tariffs, DEI, and the Business Balancing Act

At Puzzles of Color, every puzzle we create is more than just a pastime—it’s a celebration of culture, creativity, and connection. But like many small businesses, we’re feeling the ripple effects of two major shifts: rising tariffs from the ongoing U.S.–China trade tensions, and a growing push for corporations to scale back their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. We want to be transparent with you—our community—about what this means for us.

The Puzzle of Tariffs

Our puzzles are currently manufactured overseas, which helps us deliver the quality you expect while keeping prices accessible. But with recent increases in tariffs on imported goods—especially from countries central to puzzle production—we’re facing new challenges.

Higher tariffs mean it’s more expensive to restock your favorites and launch new designs. That cost either gets absorbed by us or passed on to you—neither option is ideal.

We’re actively exploring all options, including a shift to U.S.-based manufacturing. We already work with a stateside partner for our made-to-order Moments puzzles and limited-edition Celebrature puzzles, which are produced and shipped directly to customers. However, U.S. manufacturing has limitations. It restricts puzzle sizes and piece counts, and doesn’t match the matte finish and fun piece shapes you’ve told us you love—features we’ve perfected with our manufacturer in China.

Our U.S. manufacturer also isn't designed for large-scale wholesale, which makes it harder to fulfill our mission of making our puzzles widely accessible through retailers.

That said, we’re not backing away from our partners overseas. In fact, we’re currently working on an exciting new collection with our Chinese manufacturer. No matter what, we’ll continue exploring every path to bring you the best combination of quality, pricing, and meaningful art.

The DEI Setback: When Inclusion Takes a Backseat

At the same time, many big box retailers are under pressure to reduce or eliminate their DEI programs. While we don’t rely solely on these initiatives, they’ve helped open doors for businesses like ours—Black-owned, women-led, veteran-owned, and family-operated.

When DEI is deprioritized, it can impact how major retailers view and support diverse brands, leading to fewer opportunities for us to grow and reach new audiences. These programs weren’t about charity—they were about representation, equity, and reflecting a broader, more inclusive world. And while Puzzles of Color doesn’t own a DEI program, our values have always aligned with that mission.

When those values are pushed aside, so too are the stories we champion through our puzzles.

What Won’t Change—And How You Can Help

Here’s what will stay the same: our commitment to curating high-quality puzzles, amplifying artists of color, and making culturally rich art accessible to all.

The road ahead may require some shifts—possibly in pricing, production methods, or distribution strategies—but our purpose remains firm. Your support, now more than ever, helps us navigate these changes.

Every purchase, share, and recommendation keeps our mission alive and thriving. We’re not going anywhere—but like any great puzzle, sometimes you need to move the pieces around to complete the picture.

The Puzzles of Color Team