For many manufacturers, the question of China isn't whether to change, but how — and at what risk. In this episode of The Unseen War, Frank Warren breaks down a disciplined, non-reactive approach to supplier diversification in a tariff-driven environment.

Rather than chasing headlines or attempting a risky, wholesale exit from China, this discussion reframes diversification as optionality — building layered alternatives that protect quality, cost, and relationships. Frank explains why supplier strategy should start with components, not countries, how to pilot diversification intelligently, and why preserving trust and leverage matters more than dramatic moves.

This episode is a practical guide for family-owned and mid-market manufacturers who want to reduce exposure, restore balance, and prepare for a post–trade-war environment without burning bridges.

In this dispatch, Frank Warren discusses the often-overlooked risks in trade wars, emphasizing that the most dangerous risks are those that organizations have stopped recognizing. He highlights the phenomenon of risk blindness, where companies become complacent due to stable operations, leading to margin erosion and distorted pricing decisions. Warren urges leaders to enhance visibility in their supply chains and to question their assumptions about supplier reliability, advocating for a proactive approach to risk management in a rapidly changing economic environment,

Risk doesn't announce itself—especially during the trade war. In this episode of The Unseen War, Frank Warren shows how tariffs and volatility often hide inside healthy revenue, reliable suppliers, and long-standing contracts. Learn how to identify hidden exposure, map real risk without panic, and position your company to respond with clarity, confidence, and maneuverability in a permanently changed trade environment.

Summary

In this episode of the Unseen War, Frank Warren discusses the critical issue of margin erosion faced by family-owned mid-market and lower mid-market manufacturing companies. He explains how changes in the trade environment, particularly due to tariffs, have led to increased operational risks and reduced profitability. The conversation highlights the gradual nature of margin erosion, the structural drivers behind it, and the importance of visibility and deliberate decision-making in navigating these challenges. Warren emphasizes that the decisions made during this time not only affect profits but also impact people and communities.

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.

In this episode of the Unseen War podcast, Seabrook Wessex Group's Director for Tariff Stategies and Tactics, Frank Warren discusses the significant impact of tariffs and the ongoing trade war on family-owned and mid-market manufacturing companies. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to the new economic landscape, facing losses candidly, and developing strategies for survival and future success. The conversation covers the challenges manufacturers face, the need for strategic planning, and the importance of protecting valuable relationships and processes within businesses.