Tariff fluctuations force closure of part of an almost 40-year-old Wichita business

Almost four decades after opening in Delano, half of Chateau Gifts & Flower Preservation will be closing due to price increases caused by fluctuating tariffs.

“I have decided with the economy, the tariffs, just the change of how everything is going, we’re going to close the gift division of my business,” said owner Jana Northcutt. “We’re closing out all of our inventory for our gifts, home decor and fixtures.”

The store, which has been in business for 37 years, is especially known for its Halloween decor. Northcutt has a lot of Christmas items as well.

For a time, the two sides of the business were split into a couple of different storefronts in Delano and west Wichita, but they eventually came back together in one space at 126 S. Seneca.

Northcutt will keep that entire space for her flower preservation business, which also has been affected by tariffs. One of her out-of-state suppliers told Northcutt he was forced out of business because he couldn’t project what his costs and prices would be because of fluctuating tariffs.

However, Northcutt said most of her flower preservation is done in house, which is why she’s keeping that side of the business.

“We can control those costs.”

Small manufacturers either are going out of business or passing on what Northcutt called exorbitant costs to shops like hers.

“It’s just putting things out of proportion and affordability.”

She said she placed orders on the gift side that have come in at new price points.

Northcutt said suppliers have told her, “We’re sorry, we’re going to have to pass on this amount of tariff to you.”

Or, sometimes when she goes to reorder the same products, she’ll discover they’ve gone up in price.

“It’s all just getting passed along,” she said. “Smaller businesses just don’t have a huge amount of markup to play with where big-box stores usually have much more markup.”

A closing sale of the gift side of her business, which also includes jewelry and bath and body products, starts Wednesday.

The front room of the shop will have 25% off of the newest Halloween and Christmas items.

The back room will have 50% to 75% off of everything else.

Northcutt will have a tent sale in her parking lot every Saturday, weather permitting, as she continues to bring out more items she has in storage.

“It’ll take us several months because we have a large quantity of inventory.”

Store hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Though it’s possible the situation may change and Northcutt could one day bring back gift sales to her store, it’s not looking likely right now.

She said it would take what she called secure and final pricing.

Also, Northcutt said there’s a need for “quality, artistic-driven pieces that I think people really want and cherish.”

She said those items are harder and harder to come by in a world of mass-produced items.

Then, tariffs aside, there are everyday issues of trying to stay in business, like attempting to find new customers online.

“You’re constantly fighting algorithms,” Northcutt said. “It’s just a full-time job trying to constantly promote.”

She said the entire business landscape has changed with what small business owners face.

“I’m not sure there have (ever) been so many factors.”

Still, it sounds like Northcutt is remaining fairly positive.

“We’ve been around a long time,” she said, “and it’s been a great go.”