Carlo DiMeo was three months into ordering samples of animal-themed ski coats when President Donald Trump's “Liberation Day” tariffs were announced last April.
The period was a crucial one for Wildcoat, the Boulder-based startup he founded in 2020, because the business was trying to dial in designs for the season. Wildcat manufactures its lion, tiger and bear-looking outerwear at a factory in China.
Things only got back up to speed once the tariffs dropped to 30%, which led DiMeo to raise Wildcoat's prices to $525 apiece from $460. The pause took six to eight weeks and delayed bulk shipments to the U.S. once Wildcoat finalized the design, he said.
“You're not just losing margins, we're losing our profits from last year toward tariffs,” he said. “It puts everything in a pinch.”
Wildcoat, which appeared on ABC TV's “Shark Tank” a year ago, saw a banner 2025. Revenue was up from the $700,000 the business posted in 2024, and DiMeo said he expects 40% annual revenue growth.
Wildcoat added eagle and lion designs to its stable of bears, wolves, buffalo and tigers this season. DiMeo also said Wildcoat came out with kids' sizes for $325 each.
“We were close to it, a couple hundred thousand off,” he said of last year's $2 million projected revenue. “Before ‘Shark Tank' we were just hoping to hit a million, but being on the show certainly helped.”
On top of the tariff challenges, paltry snowfall in the West has led to less exposure for Wildcoat's gear. DiMeo said the business relies a lot on customers wearing the costumes on the slopes to entice sales.
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