Tariffs are hitting veteran-owned businesses like Kraken-Skulls, a unique one-stop shop started by Chad after he retired from Fort Bragg.
The shop combines a barbershop, tattoo parlor, bar, and a T-shirt screen printing and embroidery service under one roof.
“Shirts like this, which is a Paragon long-sleeve shirt for a company, have gone up in price,” Chad said. “These shirts went up like 60 cents a shirt. Lucky for us, we make everything in-house. People travel from all over the United States just to come here and buy swag.”
“The President of the United States is just trying to break down that national debt, which I don’t think will ever happen. The easy button here is tariffs.”
— Chad, owner of Kraken-Skulls
The extra cost adds up fast since he produces up to 1,000 shirts a day. Still, he’s absorbed some of the expenses and stays optimistic about the tariffs, saying he gets the bigger picture.
“The President of the United States is just trying to break down that national debt, which I don’t think will ever happen. The easy button here is tariffs,” he said.
The U.S. Chamber sent a letter to the Trump administration urging immediate action to support small businesses and prevent a recession. It said small business owners reach out daily, struggling to stay afloat amid rising tariff rates.
Lazaro Barrera, a barber at Kraken-Skulls, serves mostly active-duty soldiers and veterans from Fort Bragg. He’s noticed fewer haircuts lately, with the economy weighing on many of his clients. On top of that, his own costs have gone up. He believes it’s all part of the ripple effect caused by tariffs.
“Business, has it slowed down some? Yes. Fortunately, with being a barber, everyone needs a haircut,” Barrera said. “We’re paying more for neck strips, coolants, oil for our clippers, and gloves.”
