Santa Cruz, CA —
Chris Zephro’s warehouse full of latex masks, “Saw” movie props, and zombie apocalypse games is a testament to his love of horror.
“Horror is not necessarily Halloween. It’s really a lifestyle,” Zephro said.
But the fake blood inside his Santa Cruz, California, warehouse pales in comparison to the real-life cash bleed from his business ever since the Trump administration launched a trade war with China last spring.
Zephro’s company, Trick or Trick Studios, produces and imports goods that are sold to more than 10,000 retailers around the world, 65% in the United States. He has paid upwards of $800,000 in tariff costs so far this year. The Halloween and Costume Association said roughly 90% of Halloween products contain at least one component made overseas, most often in China.
That cost has forced Zephro to lay off 15 employees for the first time since he co-founded his company 15 years ago, which he calls “one of the worst days of my life.”
“I mean, these are friends of mine.
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