If you’ve been online this week, you’ve probably seen something about refunds. And I’m guessing one of two things happened. Either your eyes glazed over because it sounded like a government bureaucracy you don’t have time for or you got a little excited thinking maybe a check was headed your way.

Or maybe and I’m thinking there’s a third group here, you just rolled your eyes and thought, yeah, that’s never going to happen for me.

I want to talk to all three of you. Because this is indeed real, it’s happening right now, and I don’t want you to either miss something important or waste time chasing something that isn’t actually yours.

So let’s cut through the noise together.

The One Question That Determines Everything

Here’s what we know. The Supreme Court struck down certain import tariffs that had been put in place under a law called IEEPA. Because those tariffs were ruled unlawful, U.S. Customs is now required to refund them. A new government portal called the CAPE system, opened this week to start processing those refund claims.

It’s real. It’s not a scam. But it’s also not what most people are assuming it is.

And the keyword you need to hold onto right now is this: importers.

When goods cross the border into the United States, someone has to be legally responsible for that shipment. That person is called the importer of record. They’re the ones who paid the tariffs. And they’re the ones who can claim the refund.

So the one question that determines everything about this for you is were you the importer of record?

The lesson: Before you do anything else, answer this one question. Everything flows from here.

Scenario A vs. Scenario B. Which One Are You?

For most of you, there are two scenarios.

Scenario A: You buy from a wholesaler, a showroom, a domestic vendor, or a rep. You paid your vendor’s invoice. You did not pay the tariff directly, your vendor did, or their supplier did. That means you’re not eligible to file a claim directly because any refund that exists flows back to the importer of record.

I know that might be disappointing to hear. And honestly, there are a million reasons why you could feel like you deserve some of it too. But here’s what I want you to take away, you are not out of the conversation. You can and absolutely should be asking your vendors whether they’re filing claims and whether any of those savings will be passed back to you through pricing adjustments or credits on future orders. This is a completely legitimate business conversation. That’s all it is.

Scenario B: Your business has sourced directly from overseas. You used a freight broker. Your name is on the import documents. If this is you, you may have a legitimate claim worth pursuing. Do not ignore this. Talk to your customs broker about it this week.

Here’s one for you: Don’t assume you know which scenario you’re in. Check your import documents. Make the call. Know where you stand before you do anything else.

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What This Actually Means for Your Cash Flow

If you’re in Scenario B, this is a real cash flow opportunity but don’t count it until it arrives. Let me say it another way: don’t spend it until you get it.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is estimating 60 to 90 days for processing. That means do not change your Open to Buy or your buying plan around money that isn’t in your account yet. That’s reactive decision making and we don’t do that. You know that.

If you’re in Scenario A, the vendor conversation is absolutely worth having. It’s a normal, specific business conversation. But treat any outcome as a bonus, not a plan. Your cash flow strategy cannot depend on a maybe.

The lesson: Make decisions from your numbers, not from headlines, not from hope, and not from what you think might be coming. That’s our Richer Retailer way.

The Two Mistakes Store Owners Are Making Right Now

The tariff story is the door. Your buying strategy is the room we actually want to walk into.

What we know right now is that the tariff situation has been crazy volatile and wildly unpredictable. Prices are shifting. Vendor relationships are under pressure. Availability is uncertain. And a lot of store owners are making one of two mistakes because of it.

Mistake one is panic buying. Stocking up on everything because you’re afraid prices are going to go up even higher. Tying up cash in inventory before you even know what your customers actually want. And that, my friend, is exactly how you end up with brown bananas on your shelf. You know what I’m talking about, inventory that was perfectly good when it first came in, but now it’s just sitting there, stale and costing you money.

Mistake two is freezing. Being so uncertain about what comes next that you stop buying altogether. And meanwhile, your shelves get thin and your customers go elsewhere.

Neither of these is a strategy. Both of them are reactions. And as Richer Retailers, we don’t react, we respond.

Here’s one for you: Look at your buying decisions this week. Are they coming from your numbers or from the news? Are they coming from your Open to Buy or from fear? That’s the question that matters.

What Actually Protects You Right Now

Here’s the truth. What protects you in a volatile, unpredictable market is the exact same thing that protects you in a stable one.

A clear system. Knowing your Never Out Ofs. Running your Open to Buy every single month. Making buying decisions based on what your numbers are telling you not what the news is telling you.

The store owners who are going to come out of this in the strongest position are not going to be the ones who predicted every tariff change correctly. That’s not it. They’re going to be the ones who had a system and they stuck to it.

The lesson: You don’t need to predict what comes next. You need a system that works no matter what comes next. That’s the whole thing.

Your Millie Moment

A Millie hears the news and asks one smart question, is my business the importer of record? She has the right conversation with her vendors. Then she goes straight back to leading her business from her numbers. She doesn’t get distracted by all the noise. She doesn’t let uncertainty become an excuse for not making a decision.

Here’s exactly what she does this week:

  1. Ask the one question: Was my business the importer of record? Check your import documents or call your customs broker to find out.
  2. Have the vendor conversation: If you’re in Scenario A, reach out to your vendors this week. Ask whether they’re filing a refund claim and whether any savings will be passed back to you.
  3. If you’re in Scenario B: Contact your customs broker this week. You may have a legitimate claim. Don’t ignore it.
  4. Don’t spend money you don’t have yet: Do not change your Open to Buy or buying plan around money that isn’t in your account.
  5. Run your Open to Buy: This month, like every month. Know your Never Out Ofs. Buy from your numbers, not from fear.

That’s the Millie move. And that’s exactly what I want for you.

Resources & Links

💚 Remember: In a world full of noise, headlines, and uncertainty, the fact that you’re here, still showing up, still asking the right questions, still fighting for your store, that already sets you apart. You don’t have to predict every change. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to trust your system, lead from your numbers, and keep going. Your store is worth fighting for. And so are you.