The furniture industry is no stranger to uncertainty. From shifting consumer expectations to global supply chain disruptions, businesses have had to adapt quickly and often. Now, as conversations around tariffs once again dominate headlines, it’s clear that agility is more important than ever.
In 2025, the market continues to be shaped by the long tail of past disruptions — inflation, labor shortages, fluctuating freight costs — and now, renewed attention to tariffs, especially those on goods imported from China, Canada, and other manufacturing hubs. For furniture businesses relying on global sourcing, these tariffs can squeeze margins, delay product availability, and force difficult decisions about pricing and sourcing.
But while external pressures can’t be controlled, how you respond to them can be a game changer. This is where technology — specifically 3D product visualization — can be a powerful tool. At Cylindo, we’re seeing firsthand how visualization not only supports the customer experience but also helps brands streamline operations, reduce costs, and create the agility needed to weather unpredictable conditions.
On April 9 2025, the U.S. administration announced a 90-day suspension of newly introduced reciprocal tariffs for most countries, maintaining a 10% universal tariff during this period. However, tariffs on Chinese imports were significantly increased to 125%, according to CNBC.
This escalation in tariffs on Chinese products, a major source for the U.S. furniture industry, is expected to substantially increase costs for manufacturers and retailers. The Home Furnishings Association (HFA) highlighted that this move could lead to higher prices for consumers and disrupt supply chains, particularly in categories heavily reliant on Chinese imports such as upholstery and case goods.
In response to the U.S. tariffs, China imposed an 84% tariff on American goods, further intensifying the trade tensions between the two countries. These developments have introduced significant uncertainty into the market, prompting furniture businesses to reassess their sourcing strategies and consider diversifying their supply chains to mitigate risks.
Many furniture companies, particularly those that had previously sourced heavily from China, began shifting production to Vietnam as a result of the initial trade war and tariffs imposed during the previous administration. With its competitive labor costs and strategic manufacturing capabilities, Vietnam became a favored alternative to China, leading to a surge in the country's furniture exports to the U.S.
However, the newly announced 46% tariff on Vietnamese imports is expected to significantly impact businesses that had increasingly relied on Vietnam as their primary sourcing hub. This sharp increase in tariff rates presents a major challenge, as it could reduce the cost advantages that initially made Vietnam an attractive option. Companies now face tough decisions about whether to absorb these additional costs, pass them on to consumers, or search for alternative sourcing options in other regions, such as Southeast Asia or Latin America.
For the furniture industry, this new tariff rate could disrupt the shift toward Vietnam and force brands to reevaluate their supply chains once again. Businesses may look to diversify their sourcing even further, seeking countries that remain unaffected by these new tariff increases. However, this could lead to additional supply chain complexities and longer lead times, further complicating the industry's ability to maintain consistent product availability and competitive pricing.
When you're operating in an unpredictable environment, the cost of inefficiency becomes even more painful. Delayed launches. Overstock of unpopular variants. Understock of bestsellers. Repeated product photography. Frustrated customers. These are all familiar scenarios that eat into profitability and slow growth — especially when you're also contending with higher import costs.
What furniture brands need right now is clarity, flexibility, and control — things that become harder to achieve when your go-to-market process relies on physical prototypes, photoshoots, or guesswork.
Cylindo's platform is designed to help furniture businesses navigate complexity with ease. In a market where operational efficiency and exceptional customer experiences are essential, immersive digital solutions powered by high-quality imagery excel in delivering both.
Here’s how it makes a tangible difference:
1. Accelerate time to market
Traditional product photography can take weeks or months, especially if you're waiting on physical samples. With Cylindo’s immersive visualization technology, you can launch new products faster — even before physical inventory arrives. This is particularly valuable when sourcing shifts due to tariffs and you need to move quickly with a new supplier or product line.
2. Reduce costs across the board
From photography expenses to warehousing and returns, costs can spiral quickly. Visualization helps reduce the need for physical samples and high-volume photoshoots. And because customers can view every configuration — color, fabric, finish — in photorealistic detail, they buy with greater confidence, leading to fewer returns.
3. Test and learn without the risk
Thinking about introducing a new fabric collection or finish option, but hesitant to invest in production without knowing how it’ll perform? Visualization allows you to test new combinations digitally before you commit, helping you mitigate the financial risk of launching the wrong product at the wrong time.
4. Equip your sales and retail teams
Whether it’s a direct-to-consumer model or through retail partnerships, teams need compelling tools to sell in today’s market. Cylindo enables high-quality visuals across your website, showroom kiosks, digital catalogs, and even AR experiences — empowering teams with everything they need to close the sale, without waiting on inventory.
5. Elevate the customer experience
At a time when confidence is shaky, customer experience matters more than ever. Offering immersive, customizable product visuals builds trust and keeps shoppers engaged. It also helps you stand out in a crowded marketplace, where product imagery can make or break the sale.
External pressures like tariffs and market volatility are never going away entirely. But by investing in digital infrastructure that improves efficiency, supports rapid iteration, and elevates your customer experience, you're building resilience into your business model.
We believe that product visualization is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s a must-have. It gives furniture businesses the tools to move faster, adapt smarter, and stay profitable even when the road ahead is unclear.
At Cylindo, we’re proud to partner with some of the most forward-thinking furniture brands in the industry — helping them not just survive in an uncertain market, but thrive. Curious to find out more? Let’s talk.