Midterm election impact on small business owners - The Brown and White
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By Amira Kravitz
November 2, 2026
5 Mins Read
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Scott Effting is the owner of Action Wheels Bike Shop. He’s noticed a rise in financial pressures for his customers. (Ellie Sileo/B&W Staff)
A cup of coffee, a bicycle repair and a holiday gift purchase all come with different price tags.
For three Bethlehem small businesses, rising prices for gas and groceries impact the amount of disposable income residents have left to spend on their products. Owners of Lit Coffee Roastery & Bakeshop, Action Wheels Bike Shop, and Crewy Woo said the futures of their businesses are on the ballot this midterm election season. Their businesses are dependent on customers’ spending power.
Scott Effting, owner of Action Wheels Bike Shop, has seen firsthand a rise in financial pressures for his customers. He’s noticed that many of them are seeking bike repairs one part at a time instead of all at once, and they’re buying fewer add-on parts. Customers’ stories of financial hardship have directly shaped Effting’s priorities when it comes to voting for elected officials. He believes more affordable healthcare and a lower cost of living would allow customers to have more money for things they enjoy.
Ann Morrissey, co-owner of Crewy Woo, a family-owned boutique in Bethlehem, has also noticed rising household expenses influencing customers’ purchasing decisions. She states that when necessities cost more, treating oneself becomes harder to justify.
Effting has worked at Action Wheels Bike Shop for 14 years and has owned it for nine. He notes that reordering products throughout the year without price changes is no longer the case. Shipping expenses have increased significantly, largely due to tariffs on domestically manufactured products with imported materials.
Similarly, at Lit Coffee Roastery & Bakeshop, Matt Hengeveld, co-owner, says higher costs for coffee, paper cups, and to-go containers have made operations more expensive and limited growth opportunities. He worries that raising prices for customers would not be well-received and would make the business less competitive. Instead, the cafe will absorb some of the costs while adjusting prices.