Retailers like Julie Hines, owner of Country Junction in Clinton, Illinois, enrich our economy and strengthen our communities, even during the uncertainty of increased tariff expenses. To better understand how Country Junction is dealing with the escalation of existing tariffs, we sat down for a conversation with Julie.
Even the most rural of businesses in Illinois find themselves these days navigating the new global economic challenges presented by tariffs. Julie tells us she is seeing price hikes from her vendors and trying not to pass along these hikes to her customers.
Corn and soybean grow abundantly in central Illinois and generates considerable wealth for the region, which is one of the reasons you might hear people refer to this part of the state as “The Golden Square.” Right in the middle of all that action is the city of Clinton, which is the seat of DeWitt County, and the store, Country Junction, a well-known destination shopping experience on Route 54.
Country Junction is an expansive store with merchandise ranging from home decor and giftware to trendy boutique clothing and housewares.
“I’ve been here since day one, and I couldn’t be prouder of what the store has become.” shared Julie Hines, who owns the store and has been greeting customers since the store opened 33 years ago.
“I can’t tell you the hundreds of customers that walk through our doors and have told us thank you for making their day,” remarked Julie with a smile.
Even the most rural of businesses in Illinois find themselves these days navigating the new global economic challenges presented by tariffs. Julie tells us she is seeing price hikes from her vendors and trying not to pass along these hikes to her customers.
We spent a morning at Country Junction with Julie to talk about how her small business has been impacted by the tariff war.
IRMA: To be around as long as you have as a retailer, I would think you are good at evaluating and overcoming challenges that come your way?
JULIE: We’ve met a lot of obstacles over the years. We’ve gone through COVID, delays in shipments, and now tariff issues. You just have to be a smart thinker and always think ahead. You must try to see what’s coming next and try to beat it. Recently, we started noticing a lot of tariff issues. Every day I get hundreds of emails from all of the companies that I buy from. They’re trying to figure potential price increases as we’re trying to figure our own. We’re trying to adjust to all of this as best that we can. It affects everything from $1 items to $100 items. You really have to look at the product and think about what you’re buying and is that consumer is going pay with that price increase.
IRMA: When did you start to get a sense that the tariffs might impact you?
JULIE: I started getting notices and emails from my vendors that I buy from about the first of the year (2025). It’s just constantly changing from day to day. We just have to go with the flow and do the best that we can. I tried to not pass a lot of price increases to the customer. Unfortunately, it’s now slowly happening. We cannot absorb all of the increases. There are increases from 5% to 15%. Every vendor company is different and it’s just all over the board.
IRMA: A lot of your clothing comes from China, Bangladesh, Philippines and countries that are facing new tariffs, correct?
JULIE: A good example is in our boutique clothing. We know clothing comes from all different companies and countries around the world. All of these items are now getting tariffs put on them. I have to push that tariff and push that cost on to the customer. I don’t like it. I wish it would stop. It makes my overhead so much higher.
IRMA: So, how do you feel about having to deal with tariffs?
JULIE: Since post COVID, this has been the most stressful time for retailers. A lot of retailers are struggling. It’s because of all of the overhead that we are facing now. I wish the government would kind of stop and slow down and think about the small businesses. The ‘mom and pops’ like us are the ones that keep America alive.
IRMA: Are you hesitant now on buying certain items to stock in your store?
JULIE: There’s several companies and items that I would like to buy for the store. Because of new tariffs that are in place now, it makes those items a little out of reach. I don’t want to focus on buying something that is so terribly expensive, and I don’t feel a customer should have to pay that price.
IRMA: Have you thought about the fact you’re here you are the middle of the heartland of America, in central Illinois, and you’re caught up in a trade war?
JULIE: I’ve grown up in central Illinois all of my life. I’m a farm girl. Who would think that I am caught up in tariff trade wars? It’s completely crazy to think about that. But I have to do what’s best for my business, and I just keep plugging along. I know I will come out the winner.
IRMA: Have you thought there could be a point at which there’s inventory you just can’t replenish?
JULIE: Since new tariffs have been in place, we have noticed a lot of our vendors who we have bought from in the past, several of them have gone out of business, simply because of what they’re being taxed. They couldn’t compete and could not reestablish their business. It’s sad. There’s a lot of items we’d like to carry in the store. We just can’t carry them anymore because we can’t get our hands on them. If we do, the prices are astronomical, and I would never pass that on to my customers.
IRMA: How hard is this situation going to be on small businesses?
JULIE: I think a lot of small businesses are going to find over the next few months, since the tariffs have been in place, that it’s harder to buy. It’s harder to keep your inventory stocked because overhead is so high when you’re buying. Tariffs are squeezing me more and taxing me more. It’s getting harder and harder for all small businesses to succeed. I think we’ve seen in the last six months a lot of small businesses closed their doors. You see that every day. I feel terrible for them, and I wish that this would just stop.
IRMA: Is there anything you’d like to tell the politicians out there related to tariffs?
JULIE: I guess as a small business owner, I would say to all of the politicians out there, think about us. Think about the small businesses and what we do for America and not corporations for a change. Help us win.
To learn more about Country Junction visit country-junction-clinton.myshopify.com.
