In Oronoco, Minnesota, Beth (Fynbo) Benike, the founder of Busy Baby, had planned to shoot marketing videos for her company's social media this week. However, escalating tariffs on China have forced her to shift her focus unexpectedly. The import costs for a three-month supply of her manufactured products surged from $31,000 to nearly $200,000, attracting the attention of major media outlets such as CNN, BBC, and the New York Times. Ironically, Benike, who was recently honored as Minnesota's Small Business Owner of the Year, finds herself becoming the face of small businesses affected by President Donald Trump's significant tariffs.
Benike had hoped to promote her eight-year-old baby products company through engaging social media content. Instead, she is now advocating for the many businesses adversely impacted by the 125% tariffs on goods from China. “Speaking out is not financially benefiting me,” she stated. “I'm not seeing thousands of people going to my website and ordering my products to support my small business. However, I am receiving words of support and gratitude from those who appreciate that I'm voicing their concerns.”
As a proud U.S. Army veteran and co-owner of Busy Baby alongside her brother Eric Fynbo, Benike's business specializes in innovative baby-related products, with their flagship item being the Busy Baby Mat. This silicone placemat features suction cups that keep it securely in place, along with stretchy tethers designed to attach baby toys. Despite her efforts to manufacture these products domestically, all eight of Busy Baby’s items are produced in factories located in China.
Currently, a shipment worth $158,000, representing three months' supply of Busy Baby products, is sitting in storage in China instead of making its way to Zumbrota, where Busy Baby’s dedicated team of five employees is ready to package them for distribution. With the ongoing tariff situation, Benike emphasized the importance of the relationships she has built with her manufacturing partners in China. “In America, we rely heavily on contracts and legal terms,” she explained, “while in China, they focus on relationships. My factory has been incredibly supportive, holding my products in storage at no cost until I can determine the next steps.”
Initially, Benike budgeted $31,000 to cover tariff fees for her shipment. However, the tariff increased to 54%, raising the fees to $85,000. While this was a significant obstacle, she believed that with support from friends and family, she could manage it. Then, the tariff escalated to 104%, bringing the import fees up to approximately $164,000—a challenge that felt insurmountable. Later, President Trump paused all tariffs for 90 days, except for the now 125% tariff on goods from China, which calculated to a staggering $187,500 fee on $150,000 worth of products.
The rising tariffs have jeopardized a deal Benike had with Walmart, which was set to be finalized this week. Fortunately, Walmart, much like Target, has been incredibly supportive, and Benike remains hopeful that the deal can still go through if Busy Baby can weather this storm.
After posting an emotional video on social media regarding her situation, Benike unexpectedly found herself representing U.S. small businesses grappling with the new tariffs. Her story quickly gained traction, first within Minnesota media and then internationally. Although she has prior experience in front of the camera as a contestant on the show Shark Tank, she wishes to focus on growing Busy Baby rather than discussing tariffs that threaten many small businesses across the country.
Benike is also exploring alternative solutions, such as shipping her products from China to partners in Australia or collaborating with a distributor in Korea. She is actively communicating with lawmakers, including U.S. Senator Tina Smith and U.S. Representative Brad Finstad, as well as local experts like Tim Penny, the retiring head of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. In early May, she plans to travel with her eight-year-old son to Washington, D.C., to accept her award for being Minnesota’s Small Business Person of the Year for 2025, hoping to engage with officials about her pressing tariff concerns.
One of the most challenging aspects of keeping Busy Baby afloat is the uncertainty surrounding the ever-evolving tariff landscape. “Everything is changing so rapidly,” Benike noted. “Any pivot I might consider could seem wise today, but future announcements could render it a poor decision.” In addressing her political stance, she clarified, “People often comment on my videos saying, ‘If you voted for Trump, you deserve this.’ It’s nobody’s business who I voted for, but I did not vote for Trump. As a veteran, I see the president as my Commander-in-Chief. Regardless of my personal opinions, he is the leader of our country, and I won’t blame him for the challenges facing my business.”
