Inside the real operator playbook for navigating tariffs, diversifying suppliers, and building resilient operations that outpace the competition

Hey everyone, Welcome back for another bite to chew on.

Here's something that might surprise you: The smartest operators we know are actually excited about the current supply chain chaos.

Not because they enjoy stress. But because they understand that disruption creates the biggest arbitrage opportunities in years.

Through conversations with operators managing thousands of brands, we've seen how the smartest founders are responding to this crisis. They're using the chaos to build operations that will dominate for the next 20 years, making their businesses far more attractive to investors and potential acquirers

For the first time in years, CPG companies with domestic supply chains are seeing premium valuations while international suppliers face discounted deals. Smart founders are using this window to fundamentally reposition their businesses.

🍽️ On the Menu:

Small businesses don't want the status quo. They want disruption because it creates new edges where they're not playing someone else's game.

Think about it: When everyone knows the rules—stable supply chains, predictable costs, established relationships—big players with resources win every time.

But when rules change overnight? That's when scrappy operators find edges that didn't exist before.

Your competitors being scared creates opportunity. While they're paralyzed, you adapt.

Your best chance at winning comes when they flip the chessboard, not when you're playing someone who's been staring at that chessboard for 10 years.

The 23% Cost Cut That Shocked Our CFO

Picture this: You type in your product specs and a team of supply chain experts immediately gets to work finding you the cheapest suppliers on the planet.

No phone calls. No back-and-forth emails. No begging for quotes.

That's Shyft's new RFQ portal.

We tested Shyft out at Obvi and they quoted us a 23% reduction in COGS…

Here's how it works:

Step 1: Submit your specs 

Step 2: Global suppliers submit quotes for your product

Step 3: Shyft negotiates the best deals and sends you the winners

Bonus: The Shyft team can ideate new products, manage production, improve lead times and reduce logistics costs with boots on the ground in your new factory.

Managed all inside one unified platform giving you real time visibility into where things stand. 

Ready to slash your COGS?

Click below to claim a free supply chain audit + access to Shyft’s new RFQ portal.

Most brands approach supplier diversification like they're building a backup generator—something that sits idle until the lights go out.

Smart operators are building supplier networks that compound their competitive advantage. When the time comes to raise capital or explore an exit, operational resilience becomes a key selling point.

The transparency conversation framework

Before you panic and blow up existing relationships, have this conversation with your current suppliers:

The diversification strategy that actually works

Don't wait for crisis to diversify. Start tomorrow.

Your goal: have tested, proven alternatives ready when you need them. This operational flexibility becomes valuable when investors ask about supply chain risk.

If you're already in crisis mode, here's your immediate response framework:

1. Cut team expenses first

The longer you wait, the more negative effects compound. If you're on the fence about team bloat, make those calls today.

2. Audit your software spending

Most small businesses are getting gouged for thousands monthly on tools they don't need. Cut first, evaluate later. Most companies don't add the tools back.

3. Renegotiate existing contracts

Use market conditions as leverage. Most vendors will extend terms or adjust pricing rather than lose customers entirely.

4. Consider bonded warehouses

For inventory already in transit, bonded warehouses let you store goods without immediately paying tariffs. You're taking a bet on future policy, but it buys time.

The "cut everything first" approach:

Start from zero. Add back only what you absolutely need. This often reveals unnecessary spending that was bleeding margin for months, and cleaner margins improve your story to potential investors.

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This disruption gives you the chance to build supply chains that make your business irresistible to investors.

The economics have fundamentally shifted. Reshoring jobs jumped from 11,000 in 2010 to 300,000+ in 2022 because smart operators discovered that domestic production often costs less than overseas when you factor in the full picture: freight, delays, quality issues, tariffs, and inventory carrying costs.

But here's the real opportunity: valuation arbitrage.

Investors are paying premiums for businesses with predictable cost structures. When you walk into a fundraising meeting or acquisition discussion with domestic supply chains, you're selling certainty while your competitors are explaining away tariff risk and margin volatility.

Private equity firms are actively seeking companies with domestic operations because they can model future performance with confidence. International supply chains now represent an unknown variable that sophisticated buyers discount heavily.

The tactical move: Start testing domestic suppliers now on smaller orders. Build those relationships before you need them. 

At Obvi, our domestic manufacturing became a competitive moat during this crisis—we have cost predictability while competitors scramble with supply chain chaos.

The window won't stay open forever. Move while your competition is paralyzed.