From China’s Fashion Bombshell to U.S. Tariffs: What’s Really Hurting (or Helping) Local Storefronts?
Consumer shopping habits are always shifting—and they say a lot about where the economy’s headed… even here in San Jacinto and Hemet.
In 2022, rising prices on essentials like food and gas drove people toward cheap, convenient options like fast food and discount chains. Big brands saw a 17% bump in foot traffic. But by 2023, local businesses began bouncing back with a 10% rise of their own.
Now, in 2025, new challenges are emerging. President Trump’s aggressive tariff policies have caused a notable decline in shipments to major U.S. ports, especially the Port of Los Angeles, raising concerns of an impending recession in the world’s largest economy.
Data indicates a 45% drop in container bookings from China and an 11% decrease in vessel arrivals compared to the previous year. Economists warn of slowed global trade, higher consumer prices, and diminished business investment.
At the same time, revelations about China’s role in producing luxury fashion items have shaken consumer trust in high-end brands. Reports indicate that many luxury goods, traditionally associated with European craftsmanship, are actually manufactured in China, leading to a reevaluation of brand authenticity among consumers.
So what gives? Will more shoppers keep choosing local… or stick with big names? If your business is struggling, don’t guess. Ask the people who matter most—your customers.
Step 1: Pinpoint the Problem
Here are two of the most common reasons locals choose big box chains over mom-and-pop shops and other small businesses:
Problem #1: They Can’t Find You in Local Searches
If your problem is a lack of foot traffic or local service calls here in the San Jacinto and Hemet community, the answer is often simple: you’re not showing up in local search results.
In today’s world, almost every shopping journey starts with a Google search. If locals can’t find you when they’re searching for the services or products you offer, it’s going to be tough—if not impossible—to succeed.
The good news? There are simple, cheap, even free DIY marketing tactics you can use to improve your online presence. This post covers one of them… how to pinpoint the problem with your struggling business.
Our goal is to help you show up in local search results. But to drive sales, you must uncover and tackle your customers’ pain points. Then, learning how to market to them effectively online becomes a breeze.
Problem # 2: You Have Bad Customer Service
If your issue isn’t foot traffic or calls but low sales despite plenty of visits, your problem might be something harder to admit: bad customer service.
If customers leave your business feeling unhappy or frustrated, no amount of marketing will save you. Bad reviews will spread like California poppies on a vacant desert lot, and before you know it, you’re facing failure and closure.
The tools we discuss in How to Use Customer Feedback to Show Up in Local Searches can help you pinpoint what’s going wrong with your customer service. Use these tips to gather honest feedback, identify areas for improvement, and start making changes fast.
Step 2: Get to Know Your Prime Target Market
Most local business owners fall into all six problem areas in some way. That’s okay—denial won’t fix your business, but understanding your customers’ pain points will.
The easiest way to tackle all six problems at once is simple: get to know your prime target market.
Why Your Prime Target Market Matters
When you know who your ideal customers are, you can offer products and services that actually solve their problems. And when you nurture those relationships after the first sale, they’ll keep coming back for more.
But as a local business—one that depends on foot traffic and local bookings—how do you get people to visit your location or book your services if they barely know you exist? And how do you reach them if you don’t know who they are, where they are, or how to connect with them?
How to Get to Know Your Target Market
You don’t need a marketing degree or fancy tools to figure out who your best customers are—you just need to know what to look for.
That’s why we created a quick, no-fluff online course: The Dirty Little Secrets About YOUR Target Market.
Inside, you’ll learn how to identify your prime target market and start connecting with the right people—so you stop wasting time and start seeing real results.
It’s fast. It’s practical. And it’s made for local business owners like you.
