How to not pay for tariffs: Dodge 'em (Dollar Stores figured it out)

2 dollar store companies, 30K American locations... Stocks of dollar chains are living their best lives. Dollar General's CEO put it best: "The economy is continuing to create more of our core customer. " While rising American inequality's been great for his business, the trade war hasn't. Then last week happened:

• Dollar Tree stock popped 5%.
• Dollar General stock surged 13%.

Red pill or blue pill?... Imports from China made dollar stores possible. But Trump's latest tariffs (a 15% tax on $110B of Chinese goods) just kicked in Sunday. That left dollar store managers with 2 options: raise prices by 15% (make customers pay) or don't raise prices (pay the tariffs themselves). But they twisted into 3 way more creative options:

1. Find the same products made in other countries: If your Solo cups are made in China, find Solo cups made in Vietnam.
2. Find just-as-good products (aka "substitutes"): Paper cups should do just fine. Source ones crafted in the US instead.
3. Make someone else pay them (aka "negotiate"): Try to get the Chinese Solo cup company to reduce prices by 15%.