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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 M AY 1 9 , 2 0 2 5 F O C U S S M A L L B U S I N E S S T wo painted plastic horses stand guard outside a treasure trove of toys in rural Hiram. Housed in a little green wooden hut, Triple Mountain is a pur- veyor of model horses owned and run by Eleda Towle. Her welcoming com- mittee — a mare named Treasure and a foal called Jewel — are dappled with identifiable shapes including a lobster, horseshoe and map of Maine. "Come in and play horses," Towle says one weekday morning as she opens the door to 1,500 toys — mostly horses, along with other animals and Lego kits — stacked from ceiling to floor. Inside this world of make-believe where collectors gather every Sunday for show-and-tell, however, the harsh reality of global trade disruptions is making itself felt. ree days after this reporter visited, the self-appointed collector- in-charge spent five hours chang- ing price tags after getting the news about a 10% cost increase from Breyer, her main supplier of model horses made in China. Relieved that the hike wasn't as high as the 145% tariff that was reduced to 30% for 90 days on May 12 amid U.S.-China trade talks, Towle says the impact for small businesses remains unchanged. In a worst-case scenario if 145% import duties are reactivated, that could push the retail price of a $50 item like Breyer's Highland and Shetland Pony two-pack plus accessories to $122.50 — and potentially force the online and bricks-and-mortar merchant out of business. "If I had to close the store and it wasn't viable anymore, I think we'd be OK, but it's not something we'd want to do," says Towle, decked out in a horse-themed T-shirt, rainbow-colored sneakers and earrings. She and her hus- band, both of whom spent their careers in retail, live up the hill where they've turned their garage into a climate-con- trolled toy warehouse. "We just try to keep our chin up and hope for the best," she says. at option is slipping away faster than Secretariat — available in model form at the store — ran the Kentucky Derby. Rising costs and supply-chain hiccups sparked by trade tensions are disrupting toy businesses from big chains and producers to mom-and-pop shops in the most remote corners of Maine. e state's $300 million-plus toy industry is powered mainly by small manufactur- ers, wholesalers and distributors support- ing more than 1,400 jobs. Hardworking. Smart. Trustworthy. get to know sam > Sam has earned a reputation for being hardworking, smart, and trustworthy. Known for his insightful market analysis and specialized knowledge in the industrial, office, and investment markets, Sam has helped countless Maine businesses succeed. A team player, he is part of the collaborative force at The Dunham Group, committed to serving our clients' best interests. Portland, ME | 207.773.7100 | dunhamgroup.com SP ONSORED BY Gain valuable insights from our expert speakers, participate in engaging discussions, and network with like-minded individuals passionate about addressing challenges and seizing opportunities FOLLOW U S @M AI NEBI Z #MBHCF25 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 Workplace Safety, Wellness and Mental Health: The Business Role in Supporting Employee Well-Being 7:30–10:30AM / HILTON GARDEN INN FREEPORT DOWNTOWN REGISTER AT MAINEBIZ.BIZ/HCF25 MOD ER ATOR PA N EL IS T S Kim Anania KMA Consulting Michael Bourque MEMIC Colleen Kavanagh SoulBeing Denise McDonough Anthem Jayne Van Bramer Sweetser Jen Hughes Systems Engineering C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 8 »