Dispatches from the Unseen War – Episode 1 - Stopping Margin Erosion

In this first mini-cast, Frank Warren of the Seabrook Wessex Group examines one of the most dangerous effects of the trade war: quiet margin erosion.

Most companies don't lose profitability because something breaks. They lose it slowly, as tariffs raise landed costs, suppliers pass through increases, and contracts lag behind reality. Nothing snaps—but margins thin.

Frank outlines three forces driving this erosion—tariff compression, supplier inertia, and contract lag—and offers a simple diagnostic exercise to help manufacturers restore visibility, regain leverage, and buy time for better decisions.

This episode isn't about politics or winning the trade war. It's about protecting your company, your people, and positioning your business to operate profitably in a permanently changed trade environment.

The trade war was not your idea. Surviving it is.

In Episode 1 of Season Two of The Unseen War, Frank Warren explains why waiting for certainty—court rulings, policy reversals, or the "end" of the trade war—is no longer a viable strategy for family-owned manufacturing companies.

Season One was about naming reality.
Season Two is about operating inside it.

This episode explores why volatility is no longer an interruption but the operating environment—and why resilient companies don't react to every ruling or headline. Instead, they build operating strength through decision clarity, supplier optionality, tariff literacy, and disciplined family governance under pressure.

Using the ongoing VOS Selections tariff case as context, Frank explains why even a favorable court decision cannot undo broken supply chains, damaged relationships, or lost companies—and why leaders who pause waiting for certainty risk missing their moment to adapt.

This is not about panic.
It's not about quick fixes.
It's about disciplined leadership when certainty is unavailable.

If you lead a family-owned manufacturing business, Season Two is for you—not because you need more information, but because you deserve clarity.

Summary

In this episode, Frank reflects on the first season of the Unseen War podcast, emphasizing the need for family-owned manufacturing companies to adapt to the rapidly changing global trade environment. He discusses the lessons learned from the trade war, the importance of strategic leadership, and the necessity of building resilience and redundancy in supply chains. As the podcast transitions into its second season, the focus will shift towards practical strategies for navigating the post-trade war landscape.