Preparing for change: Navigating supply chain shifts

By Anna Lockhart.  

Understanding early warning signs in the supply chain can help roofing professionals prepare for shifting tariffs and market uncertainty. 

In an episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast, Melanie A. Butler, director of trade and transportation compliance at Sherwin-Williams, emphasized the importance of learning the tell-tale signs of impending shifts in the supply chain, and how to prepare accordingly. As tariffs and labor uncertainty remain pressing topics for many professionals across the industry, learning these signs can make a difference in how your business might find success in the immediate future. 

Keeping an eye on the news 

One of the easiest and best ways to stay informed, Melanie shared, is watching the news and keeping up with reliable sources. She explained, “If you know where your supply is coming from, it’s important to keep an eye out for tariff announcements from those specific countries.”  

And for those sourcing materials domestically, it’s also vital to keep tabs on those, too. While tariff announcements can shift on a dime, Melanie warned, direct impact and disruption to the supply chain itself may take a little while to appear, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be impacted, too. She explained, “Just because something is manufactured down the road from you doesn't mean that all the inputs are. Some come from foreign countries... So, I’m sure companies are evaluating their supply chains and how to take precaution for each possibility.”  

Don’t panic 

One thing is for certain: no matter what announcements come your way, the last thing to do is make rash decisions in a panic. “Don't freak out. Don't react quickly. Your suppliers can't react this quickly and neither can you, right? And as we've seen, the tariff rate can change from day to day. Unfortunately, it's just very uncertain right now. And that's not good for business, but that's where we are,” Melanie explained.  

The best thing to do instead? Keep in contact with your manufacturers and suppliers, wait to see how the dominos fall before making critical changes or major decisions that could alter your business’s success. Melanie shared, “Knowledge is power. The more you know about your products, what tariff numbers they're using, where they're coming from, the more leverage you're going to have to potentially change supply to negotiate with your suppliers and have these conversations with your suppliers.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about the latest tariff updates and how to stay informed.