What started as a simple love for school supplies has become one of the most compelling David vs. Goliath stories in American business today.
- Emily Ley, the 42-year-old Pensacola entrepreneur behind the lifestyle brand Simplified, has done something that countless business owners have only dreamed of—she stood up and fought back.
Inweekly caught up with Emily to get an update on what has happened since our April 24 feature: “Taking on Trump.”
When Emily describes herself and other small business owners as “cheap red and black checker pieces in an international trade war board game,” her words cut to the heart of a crisis affecting thousands of entrepreneurs across America.
- Her story isn’t just about one woman’s struggle; it’s about the 77% of U.S. importers who are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees—the backbone of American commerce.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Emily has already paid $1.2 million in tariffs since 2017, with projections showing she’ll owe between $830,000 and $1 million this year alone. These aren’t abstract figures on a balance sheet—they represent real choices between keeping employees and cutting costs, between supporting nonprofit organizations and staying afloat.
The ripple effects? She’s halted donations to women’s shelters she’s supported for years. Every dollar going to tariffs is a dollar not invested in her community, her employees, or her customers.
Why This Matters
Emily’s courage to file the first civil complaint against the Trump administration over tariffs on April 1 wasn’t just about saving her business—it was about defending the constitutional principle of checks and balances. Her legal team argues that the president doesn’t have the authority to impose tariffs of such magnitude, challenging the very foundation of how trade policy is made in America…