Vancouver Island sporting goods stores are preparing for another round of tariff uncertainty, but families heading into the fall sports season may not feel the impact—at least not yet. New tariffs on more than 700 U.S. products take effect Sept. 8, with some sporting equipment among the goods facing new charges. At Kirby’s Source for Sports in Victoria, owner-operator Sean Tackaberry says families don’t need to rush out and buy their gear before the deadline. “For the most part, it’s another day in the office,” Tackaberry said. The store has been preparing for tariff uncertainty for more than a year. Major suppliers, including Bauer Hockey and Rawlings Canada, have increased inventory in Canada, meaning much of the equipment for fall sports was secured well in advance. “We’re in a good situation and there’s no panic in terms of prices increasing at this point,” Tackaberry said. The bigger concern may be what’s available, rather than what it costs. Tackaberry says some smaller U.S. companies, including manufacturers of specialty baseball and lacrosse equipment, have already become more difficult to source. For families, his advice is straightforward: shop local and don’t panic-buy. “You should be OK,” he said. “You don’t need to rush in.” For now, the tariff impact may be less about higher prices and more about whether some specialty U.S.-made gear is still on the shelf when Island families go looking for it.
