What You Need to Know: How New Tariffs Are Impacting Our Materials
An Honest FAQ from Team MAD & Mel’s Carving Club
We’ve always believed in being transparent with our community—especially when changes affect the heart of what we make and share with you. With the recent news around updated U.S. trade tariffs, we’ve been getting questions about how this impacts our business, especially when it comes to our Japanese tools and cork goods. So we put together a quick FAQ to help explain what’s happening, and what it means moving forward.
What are the new tariffs about?
In short, the U.S. has introduced higher tariffs on a range of imported goods—including steel, aluminum, and various manufactured products. These changes are already taking effect and apply directly to many of the tools and materials we source from Japan and Portugal.
How will this affect Mel’s Carving Club and MAD products?
The biggest impact will be on our Japanese carving tools and cork goods, which are core to both MAD and Mel’s Carving Club. These materials are already specialty imports, and the added tariffs are increasing our costs significantly—especially on steel tools like chisels and gouges, and our handmade cork pieces.
Will prices go up?
Yes, but not right away. We’re keeping all current inventory at its existing price. However, once our next batches arrive and we’re charged under the new tariff structure, you’ll see a small increase in pricing—starting with our tools and cork products.
Why can’t MAD absorb the cost?
As a small business, our margins are already very tight. Every piece we sell is handcrafted or custom-prepared in small batches. We’re committed to sustainability and working with ethical, small-scale manufacturers. Absorbing the tariff cost long-term would impact our ability to continue offering the same quality and supporting our partners.
What can I do to help?
Honestly? Keep doing what you’re doing. Every class you take, kit you buy, or kind message you send helps keep this dream going. If you’ve had your eye on a specific tool or cork piece, now’s a good time to order before the next round of inventory lands. And of course, continue showing up for small businesses—yours truly included.
Will prices go back down?
We wish we could say yes, but it depends entirely on global trade policy. If tariffs are lifted or reduced in the future, we’ll absolutely reassess our pricing structure.
Why don’t you manufacture everything in the United States?
We actually do! All of our wood pieces are made in the U.S., either right here in our Oakland studio or in collaboration with trusted partners we’ve worked with for years.
When it comes to our cork products, though, we’ve taken a different path. We tried for years to manufacture them domestically, but it proved nearly impossible—very few manufacturers in the U.S. were willing to work with cork, and those who were priced the process far beyond what was sustainable for our small business.
So we decided to go to the source: Portugal, where cork is not only a natural resource, but also part of a deep craft tradition. We now work directly with master artisans there who truly understand the material—and it shows in the quality of every piece we make.
As for our carving tools, we source them from Japan, where centuries of blade-making knowledge are built into each tool. These aren’t just supplies—they’re thoughtfully made, lasting tools that support a rich tradition of craftsmanship we’re proud to carry forward.
If you have any questions at all—or just want to talk carving—we’re here. Thank you for being part of our community and for valuing the hands, the heart, and the heritage behind every piece.
With deep gratitude,
Melanie & Team MAD 💛