At least four shops selling President Donald Trump merchandise shut during the past year, NPR reported, as retailers faced a wider sales decline and one Tennessee owner described a steep drop.
Ron Solomon, who heads online retailer MAGA Mall, estimated that about 20 stores nationwide sell Trump merchandise. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that sellers of hats, T-shirts and other Trump-themed goods had seen sales fall. The Independent also reported that some retailers blamed economic conditions and inflation for higher prices, including on official Trump merchandise.
In Bensalem, Pennsylvania, the Trump Store announced Jan. 5 that it would end its in-person operations after six years. Owner Mike Domanico told CBS News he was semi-retired and focusing on other business ventures. He said the shop had “run its course.” The store’s Facebook post invited customers to shop its closing sale through Jan. 31.
A Trump-themed superstore near Knoxville, Tennessee, shut this summer. Owner Bill Hays told NPR that administration policies, including spending cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had hurt business. He put monthly sales at $20,000, down from a high of $200,000. Hays also said some customers chose to carry new apparel in bags instead of wearing it in the store, and that some felt their part was done after Trump’s inauguration.
The slowdown has not affected every shop in the same way. Rob Cortis told The Independent that Trump merchandise makes up about 80% of sales at his Trump Unity Bridge Shop in Livonia, Michigan, and that he has no plans to close. He said business tends to rise during election periods and ease between them, while the store had begun getting busier again.
