Hala has been making the best-of-the-best boards since 2011. Every choice we make is to improve the longevity and performance of your board.

That means we pay A LOT more to manufacture our boards than our competitors do.

Hala’s pricing has shifted due to steep U.S. import tariffs. We’re shouldering the vast majority of this unexpected cost—but to stay afloat and continue building the boards you love, we’re asking our customers to help carry just a small part of that burden.

Please consider the following hypothetical numbers to understand the challenges we are facing:

  • Hala just paid for $100,000 worth of our product, and it is ready to be imported.
  • Just before loading the goods, we realize that we will now need to pay the US Government $145,000 in addition to the $100k we just paid for our product.
  • $100k is now $245k. Ouch! With still only $100K worth of product to sell. Imagine what that does to operating margins?

Now you must:

  • Find an extra $145k (you had not prepared to pay the US Government so much money)
  • Figure out how you will adjust your pricing and strategy to make up for the $145k the US Government just took from your bank account.

People will say, "That's what you get! You should be making these things in the USA!"

Maybe they are right, but we don't have the ability to build our own factory in the US.

We are a small company lucky enough to use large factories to help produce our goods. We do not have the funds to start a factory from scratch. It is not our expertise, and it is not practical.

An alternative solution for the US Government to build up US manufacturing, is to target very specific industries with tariffs, and do so at a pace that allows for US businesses to plan accordingly. The US Government could gradually raising the price of imports while at the same time creating domestic incentives to grow that industry here in the USA.

The current tariff program that began without warning and without support for US-based businesses will cause many entrepreneurs to go out of business, even if they are open to adjusting production.

The current tariff model strong-arms US importers who had formerly been supported by the global trade economy that the US willingly promoted and participated in. While the US government offers relief to larger US tech corporations, small businesses, like Hala and many in the outdoor industry, have not been offered relief, guidance, or support for a pivot. 

While we raise our prices and consumers absorbed 20% of our increased costs caused by tariffs, we are absorbing 80% of the tariffs by making immense internal sacrifices including:

  • Decreased pay and cut hours
  • Unable to offer our staff anticipated health benefits and PTO
  • Reduced growth
  • Borrowing more money in the form of loans that was forecasted to be covered by profits and allow us expand and manufacture in 2026

We sincerely hope not to go out of business due to unpredictable and unstable US Trade Policy. We are doing our best to stay committed to our main goal. Create connection between our customers and the natural spaces we love so much through offering quality products and experiences. 

Thank you for supporting, understanding, and helping us as we do our best to continue to support you, our customers. It will take time, but we are determined to recalibrate and thrive in this challenging trade and manufacturing landscape.

We are committed to bringing you the best gear with the best experience. We stand by you. Thank you for standing by us.