Cassie Abel founded Wild Rye, a women’s outdoor apparel brand, after realizing the lack of female-focused companies in the industry. Despite facing significant challenges, including $1.2 million in tariffs on imports from China due to policies implemented by the Trump administration, which threaten her business’s survival, Abel is navigating these obstacles while advocating for support from lawmakers. The broader economic impact of these tariffs has also affected small businesses nationwide, contributing to a decline in consumer confidence and job growth.
