Local construction helmet manufacturer Studson Inc. is navigating fast-changing tariffs that are deeply impacting costs for its made-in-China products.

The Trump administration’s tariffs struck amid the company’s expansion. Studson celebrated a grand opening Thursday at Sherwood Commerce Center, a newly built industrial warehouse space owned by Schnitzer Properties.

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have directly impacted Studson’s shipments from China, said Ryan Barnes, the company’s CEO and founder.

Tariff rates on products imported from China — a primary target of Trump’s trade war — briefly hit 145 percent before declining to 30 percent. Trump announced the reduced but still historically high rate as part of a 90-day pause, and it’s unclear what will happen next.

Studson recently resumed shipping helmets from China after halting shipments for more than a month, Barnes said.

“It’s been terrible,” he said. “We had put a pause for the last five weeks.”

The tariffs, if again raised, would threaten Studson’s business, Barnes said.

“Essentially, we can’t operate — we can only operate for a short amount of time at 145 percent (tariffs),” Barnes said.  “We would be paying so much in tariffs, it would just drain our cash and we would be out of business.”

Barnes started Studson in 2019 after a conversation with Bremik Construction co-founder Mike Greenslade about the need for innovation in construction helmets. Barnes had worked at Poc, a cycling helmet company.

Traditional hard hats are meant to protect workers from falling objects. Modern Type II helmets, like those made by Studson and its competitors, also protect from the front, sides and rear, and more easily accommodate accessories like face shields. Barnes calls it “360-degree protection.”

Barnes developed his first construction helmets in his own basement and later shipped them from his in-laws’ garage. Sharp growth soon followed, with sales jumping 706 percent from 2022 to 2024. Studson helmets are now a common sight at job sites, including the Portland International Airport main terminal project.

“Studson” is a portmanteau of Barnes’ children’s names, Stella and Hudson. Ryan Barnes’ wife, Kim, has served in a variety of company roles in Studson’s early years and now manages operations and recruitment.

Studson moved into the Sherwood space earlier this year, inking a five-year lease. It offers 37,000 square feet of warehouse space and 4,200 square feet of office space with conference rooms and collaborative space, and ample room to grow. The company has 26 employees.

“In the first two spaces we were at, they were old buildings, and they did a little bit of improvements on the office, but they were still old,” Barnes said. “We’re a very premium-positioned brand, and it just doesn’t fit the culture to be in a 20-, 30-year-old office.”

Schnitzer Properties has plenty of space: The first phase of Sherwood Commerce Center was completed in 2024 and comprises 445,000 square feet in three buildings. The second and third phases, now under construction, will add a total of 549,600 square feet in four additional structures. Perlo Construction is building all phases of the project.

The first phase is approximately 72 percent leased, said Jordan Schnitzer, CEO of Schnitzer Properties.

“Oregon’s not a place that’s known for manufacturing,” Schnitzer said. “So, to have a place like (Studson), a bright shining light that’s never given up — this is exactly the kind of tenant you want to have. They’re locally owned, they’ll work hard and they’re saving lives.”

Studson sells its helmets for about $150 each at retail. It sells directly through its website, through distributors and via Amazon.

Studson is weighing whether to diversify its manufacturing by moving some work to Vietnam, Europe and potentially the United States.

“We still hold onto the hope that we could produce in the U.S.,” Barnes said. “It’s been a goal of ours. I’m sure our customers would love it.

“Will our customers pay extra for it? No, but they would love it, and we’d be proud of that if we could pull it off,” he added.

Studson is also considering the possibility of opening a distribution center in the Eastern U.S., Barnes said.

For Sherwood, whose residents typically commute to Hillsboro and other Westside suburbs or Portland, Studson provides local jobs, Mayor Tim Rosener said.

“We really want to give people the opportunity to live and work in Sherwood,” he said.

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