Very informative article. Thank you for explaining how the tariffs have affected your business. As another commenter said, it’s only hurting everyone. I’ve bought machines from you and had them serviced by you- you’re the most reputable & honest sewing machine shop I’ve ever done business with. I drive almost 70 miles to have my machines serviced ONLY by you.
Thank you for another well written article. I was amazed that the price of a BERNINA 990 in New Zealand would have encouraged anyone from the USA to travel to NZ, purchase the machine and pay the excess return baggage, cheaper than the USA purchase price (prior to tarrifs). Plus the buyer would have had a visit to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
I purchased my Elna 792 Pro shortly after Dan contacted me about the great deal the Shop was offering. I am absolutely thrilled with my purchase. Im a total newbie to the sewing and quilting world but I wanted a machine I could grow into. Im excited about all the projects I’ll be working on in the months to come. I also want to give a huge shout out and thank you to Alegra who has been very helpful throughout my purchase.
As usual, fantastic article! While it is a great quality in a business owner to be able to be creative and able to pivot, it's another thing to have to in order to work around these tariffs which are only hurting everyone.
I find the concept of manufacturers selling identical machines at different prices due to brand name to be unethical. I hope your planned solution to the tariff problem is successful, both for your business and also in educating consumers.
Fascinating article. Knowing how Janome rates with you & your dad is justifying my own long term belief in Janome. I wish I could buy one of those Elnas. Considering the exchange rate to Canadian money & where I live, I can't justify it. I can dream. Good luck on the Elna sales
Thank you for relaying the devastating effects of Tariffs on small businesses. I have shared this article on Factbook. Only a few of my friends sew, but yours is an excellent firsthand account of how devastating these tariffs are. It's also a great example of how Yankee ingenuity can cope!
Love this story! I have a soft spot in my heart for the Elna brand. When I was a young wife in Italy, lonely, I took a free hand class in a sewing shop and worked on an Elna. That led to finding an Elna used. Who knows where it went in all the moves back to the US and around the states - I should have kept it. But I’m thrilled that the lemonade out of the Janome tariffs is to lift up the Elna!!! Three cheers and I hope they all sell easily.
Thank you so much for this article! As always, if I'm in the market for a sewing machine, I come to your shop. My used Bernina Activa is still running like a champ. Trying not to get excited about one of these Elna/Janome machines M8s.
I figured out the badging when I noticed my old Kenmore (prefix 385) was identical to a Janome on eBay. Your article, as always, does a better job of explaining everything sewing machine than my detective work.
I would be remiss if I did not mention how ridiculous I believe these tariffs to be. Raising prices for everyone, that does nothing to punish foreign countries for not buying American. Your articles do a great job of explaining how local retailers are suffering too.
Thank you once again for a wonderful article, I continue to learn so much for these!! I've known about Badge engineering with many types of products but didn't have this name for it. I really enjoy this inside information and look forward to the future articles! Happy New Year to you and all your family!
I appreciate how honest and open you are with this information. I learned several things just from this article, not the least being that if I “come into money” I want a brand new Elba/Janome sewing machine that can do more than I ever will need done. And if that happens, I would travel to buy from you.
Brilliant case study. The badge engineering workaround is such a smart response to policy changes that would have otherwise killed demand. What really stands out is the transparency you're building into the sales process, explaining tariffs and equivalent models upfront rather than treating customers like they won't understand. That 70-unit commitment is a huge bet, but having the written content on motors, coatings, tariffs already in place turns inventory risk into a education-driven sales advantage.
Loved hearing about the backstory of how a sewing machine business can continue to be successful in the Age of Tariffs. I will share the Elna story: good to know!
Very informative article. Thank you for explaining how the tariffs have affected your business. As another commenter said, it’s only hurting everyone. I’ve bought machines from you and had them serviced by you- you’re the most reputable & honest sewing machine shop I’ve ever done business with. I drive almost 70 miles to have my machines serviced ONLY by you.
Thank you for a very enlightening article. It helps to see that what a product IS, is more important than what it's CALLED.
Thank you for another well written article. I was amazed that the price of a BERNINA 990 in New Zealand would have encouraged anyone from the USA to travel to NZ, purchase the machine and pay the excess return baggage, cheaper than the USA purchase price (prior to tarrifs). Plus the buyer would have had a visit to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
I purchased my Elna 792 Pro shortly after Dan contacted me about the great deal the Shop was offering. I am absolutely thrilled with my purchase. Im a total newbie to the sewing and quilting world but I wanted a machine I could grow into. Im excited about all the projects I’ll be working on in the months to come. I also want to give a huge shout out and thank you to Alegra who has been very helpful throughout my purchase.
Cindy - Los Gatos CA
As usual, fantastic article! While it is a great quality in a business owner to be able to be creative and able to pivot, it's another thing to have to in order to work around these tariffs which are only hurting everyone.
I find the concept of manufacturers selling identical machines at different prices due to brand name to be unethical. I hope your planned solution to the tariff problem is successful, both for your business and also in educating consumers.
Fascinating article. Knowing how Janome rates with you & your dad is justifying my own long term belief in Janome. I wish I could buy one of those Elnas. Considering the exchange rate to Canadian money & where I live, I can't justify it. I can dream. Good luck on the Elna sales
I absolutely love the background information you provide on all aspects of machines...production, functions, industry and the market. Thank you!
Thank you for relaying the devastating effects of Tariffs on small businesses. I have shared this article on Factbook. Only a few of my friends sew, but yours is an excellent firsthand account of how devastating these tariffs are. It's also a great example of how Yankee ingenuity can cope!
Love this story! I have a soft spot in my heart for the Elna brand. When I was a young wife in Italy, lonely, I took a free hand class in a sewing shop and worked on an Elna. That led to finding an Elna used. Who knows where it went in all the moves back to the US and around the states - I should have kept it. But I’m thrilled that the lemonade out of the Janome tariffs is to lift up the Elna!!! Three cheers and I hope they all sell easily.
Thank you so much for this article! As always, if I'm in the market for a sewing machine, I come to your shop. My used Bernina Activa is still running like a champ. Trying not to get excited about one of these Elna/Janome machines M8s.
I figured out the badging when I noticed my old Kenmore (prefix 385) was identical to a Janome on eBay. Your article, as always, does a better job of explaining everything sewing machine than my detective work.
I would be remiss if I did not mention how ridiculous I believe these tariffs to be. Raising prices for everyone, that does nothing to punish foreign countries for not buying American. Your articles do a great job of explaining how local retailers are suffering too.
Thank you once again for a wonderful article, I continue to learn so much for these!! I've known about Badge engineering with many types of products but didn't have this name for it. I really enjoy this inside information and look forward to the future articles! Happy New Year to you and all your family!
I appreciate how honest and open you are with this information. I learned several things just from this article, not the least being that if I “come into money” I want a brand new Elba/Janome sewing machine that can do more than I ever will need done. And if that happens, I would travel to buy from you.
Brilliant case study. The badge engineering workaround is such a smart response to policy changes that would have otherwise killed demand. What really stands out is the transparency you're building into the sales process, explaining tariffs and equivalent models upfront rather than treating customers like they won't understand. That 70-unit commitment is a huge bet, but having the written content on motors, coatings, tariffs already in place turns inventory risk into a education-driven sales advantage.
Thank you!
Loved hearing about the backstory of how a sewing machine business can continue to be successful in the Age of Tariffs. I will share the Elna story: good to know!