In this episode of The Après Business Podcast, host Becca Babicz sits down with Wylie Robinson, co-founder and former CEO of Rumpl, to explore how his outdoor blanket company is weathering major tariff shifts and rethinking its China-based supply chain. Learn how Wylie and his team are navigating sourcing challenges, global logistics, and unpredictable regulations while maintaining brand integrity. If you're an e-commerce entrepreneur or product-based founder looking to future-proof your operations, this candid conversation is a must-listen.
Quoteables:
- “We’re planning the business like the inventory we have now is the only inventory we’ll have this year.” – Wylie Robinson
- “You can’t wait for the rules to change—you have to build the plan with the rules you’ve got today.” – Wylie Robinson
What You’ll Learn:
How to restructure your supply chain in response to geopolitical disruptions like U.S.-China tariffs.
The differences between country of origin vs. country of transformation in product manufacturing.
Why dual sourcing and long-term supplier relationships are essential in physical product businesses.
How to make tough decisions about channel prioritization when inventory is limited.
Key Takeaways from This Episode:
Plan for the present: Make decisions based on current facts, not what might happen.
Supplier loyalty matters: Long-term partners can make or break your ability to pivot quickly.
Inventory flexibility = survival: Understanding where to push or pause inventory is key in uncertain times.
You don’t need all the answers: Even a seasoned founder is still learning on the fly—and that’s okay.
People and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Rumpl: https://www.rumpl.com
Climate Neutral Certification: https://www.climateneutral.org
Trans-Sierra Norte MTB Race: https://www.transsierranorte.com
Connect with Becca:
Love the episode? Subscribe & leave a review to help other business owners find the show!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.