IS $2.47. THE HOLIDAY SEASON, OF COURSE, NOW COMING TO AN END, BUT PREPARATIONS FOR CARNIVAL SEASON ARE JUST STARTING TO RAMP UP. WDSU REPORTER JASMINE FRANKLIN IS LIVE, EXPLAINING WHY YOU MAY SEE A CHANGE IN THE PRICING OF BEADS AND OTHER MERCHANDISE THIS YEAR. JASMINE. YEAH. ELIZABETH. THE COST OF THROWS AND BEADS COULD BE A LOT HIGHER THIS MARDI GRAS SEASON AS MANY STORES IN OUR AREA SEE IMPACTS FROM TARIFFS STAPLE THROWS THIS CARNIVAL SEASON COULD COME AT A HIGHER PRICE. WE ENCOUNTERED A 30% INCREASE IN COST, SO WE DO HAVE SOME SOME SOME SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT PRICE GOING UP SO MUCH THIS YEAR. THE MARDI GRAS BEAD FACTORY SAYS MOST OF THEIR INVENTORY IS IMPORTED FROM CHINA, MEANING TARIFFS ARE AFFECTING THEIR PRICES. SO IT’S DEFINITELY VERY FRUSTRATING FOR US AS A BUSINESS OWNER BECAUSE WE DON’T LIKE TO GO UP ON PRICES, RIGHT. BUT WE FORCED WE HAVE TO. THE STORE MANAGER SAYS THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO RAISE THEIR PRICES 5 TO 10%. STOREWIDE. IT’S AN EFFORT TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND. SO CUPS, BEADS AND OTHER THROWS WILL BE A FEW DOLLARS MORE. BUT THE PRICE HIKE ISN’T STOPPING PEOPLE FROM PREPARING FOR ALL THE FUN CHRISTMAS DID JUST IN IN LIKE RIGHT AFTER. IT’S JUST LIKE THE MIND SHIFTS TO MARDI GRAS SHOPPERS LIKE AJ LONG PACKED THE STORE THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, GETTING READY FOR CARNIVAL SEASON. AJ’S FAMILY VISITING FROM GONZALEZ, FILLED UP THREE CARTS FULL OF MARDI GRAS THROWS. YOU GO STRAIGHT INTO MARDI GRAS AFTER CHRISTMAS AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT LIKE, MAN, WE’RE ABOUT TO GET A LITTLE CRAWFISH. YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF STUFF. IT’S EXCITING. THEN YOU GET TO THROW ALL THIS STUFF. OUT. CUSTOMERS GRAB GEAR, PREPARING FOR CELEBRATIONS, THE STORE AND BRIDGE CITY SAYS THEY HAD TO RAISE PRICES BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO STAY AFLOAT. AND TONIGHT, THE STORE MANAGER TELLS ME THEY ARE OFFERING INCENTIVES LIKE LAYAWAY AND DISCOUNTS TO HELP OFFSET THOSE PRICE INCREASES. RE
Carnival throws face price hike due to tariffs
Bridge City’s Mardi Gras Bead Factory is raising prices 5–10% after a 30% cost spike tied to tariffs on imports from China.
The Mardi Gras Bead Factory in Bridge City is facing a 30% increase in costs, prompting a price hike of 5% to 10% on items such as cups, beads and other throws, largely due to tariffs on imports from China.“We encountered a 30% increase in cost, so we do have complaints about prices going up this year,” said George Xia, the store manager.“It’s definitely very frustrating for us as a business because we don’t like to go up on prices, but we have to,” Xia added.Despite the increase, shoppers are still preparing for the carnival season. A.J. Long, a shopper, visited the store the day after Christmas with family from Gonzales, filling three carts with Mardi Gras throws.“Christmas did just end and right after, it’s like your mind just shifts to Mardi Gras,” Long said.“You go straight into Mardi Gras after Christmas, then you think about the excitement, like the daiquiris, crawfish, and then we get to throw all this stuff,” Long added.While customers are busy preparing for the celebrations, the store emphasizes that raising prices was the only way to stay afloat.
The Mardi Gras Bead Factory in Bridge City is facing a 30% increase in costs, prompting a price hike of 5% to 10% on items such as cups, beads and other throws, largely due to tariffs on imports from China.
“We encountered a 30% increase in cost, so we do have complaints about prices going up this year,” said George Xia, the store manager.
“It’s definitely very frustrating for us as a business because we don’t like to go up on prices, but we have to,” Xia added.
Despite the increase, shoppers are still preparing for the carnival season. A.J. Long, a shopper, visited the store the day after Christmas with family from Gonzales, filling three carts with Mardi Gras throws.
“Christmas did just end and right after, it’s like your mind just shifts to Mardi Gras,” Long said.
“You go straight into Mardi Gras after Christmas, then you think about the excitement, like the daiquiris, crawfish, and then we get to throw all this stuff,” Long added.
While customers are busy preparing for the celebrations, the store emphasizes that raising prices was the only way to stay afloat.