Real Life Stories

A UK business owner has refused to abandon her Chinese supplier despite tariffs doubling her costs after the provider helped her through a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy during an overseas visit to their factory.

Jess Staron, 33, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, first launched her swimwear brand, Salty Bottom, in 2020 – and has enjoyed success with her comfortable garments that “mould” to the wearer’s body.

As part of an ongoing trade war however, US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 145% on most Chinese goods and while Jess’ supplier, based in the city of Guangzhou in southern China, has remained steady in their prices, shipping costs have gone through the roof.

Jess recently spent £1,000 on her latest order of five boxes rather than her usual £500, and the changes have meant she has had to scrap plans to expand her business into America.

Despite the increased fees, Jess refuses to change suppliers after they went to great lengths to support her through a medical emergency while she was visiting their factory in March this year, staying with her throughout and even paying for her medical treatment.

On the second day of the trip, Jess became unwell and discovered she had an ectopic pregnancy, which required emergency surgery, leaving her “petrified” and without the support of her 27-year-old fiance, Jonathan Bond.

Jess, a former accountant, told PA Real Life: “It was very emotional and looking back on it, although I’ve lost a baby, I feel like I’ve gained someone really special.

“What she did for me was so generous and selfless and I just feel forever in her debt.

“I just couldn’t abandon her after what she has done for me, you build up such a relationship and you need so much trust with your supplier.”

Jess launched Salty Bottom in 2020 after spotting a gap in the market.

“I’ve always had a passion to find nice swimwear and like many women, I used to think ‘I need to lose some weight to be able to fit into this’,” she said.

“Our swimwear moulds to your shape, rather than you having to adapt to it.”

The first two years of the business were “really difficult” due to the pandemic and the rising cost of living, Jess said, but 2022 and 2024 were her “most profitable” years.

This year has slowed due to the tariffs, however, and while her supplier has managed to keep production costs steady, Jess has been forced to pay double for shipping costs as she prepares to launch her garments for the summer season.

“I had to pay about £1,000 for that and I would normally pay around £500 – so the shipment has doubled essentially,” she said.

With the additional projected costs, Jess has had to scrap plans to expand her business to America, but she refuses to switch supplier after her visit to the Chinese factory in March, where she planned to spend a week getting to know those on the team.

Just before her trip, Jess discovered she was pregnant.

This followed a silent miscarriage she suffered with in December 2024.

“Just before I left for China, I had a really long period, so I had eight days of bleeding which I thought was strange,” she said.

“I did a pregnancy test and it came back positive.”

Concerned, Jess said she phoned the NHS, who suggested she attend an appointment on her return to the UK.

Just as she was about to fly out on March 1 however, Jess said she experienced some spotting.

“I was worried but there wasn’t much I could do, the NHS couldn’t bring my appointment forward as they were so busy so I took the decision to go to China,” she said.

“On the flight, I could feel pain and I thought I might have made the wrong decision.”

Jess spent her first day in Guangzhou meeting her supplier, a young woman named Sophy, and having a full tour of the factory where her garments are produced.

“I was spotting constantly and I thought I would have to say something as I didn’t know what to do,” she said.

“They were so lovely, they just wanted to look after me.”

Jess said her supplier took her to hospital, paid for the taxi fare, and paid for Jess to have a blood test and ultrasound scan – which she said was around £20.

“They scanned and said they couldn’t see anything, they were scanning me for ages and my supplier was sitting with me behind the curtain,” she said.

Jess said she was informed she had an ectopic pregnancy, where a fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, and she would need emergency surgery to remove the pregnancy.

“I was so petrified because I didn’t really know what was happening,” she said.

“I knew this was life-threatening and I didn’t have a choice.

“My supplier was consoling me, helping me to translate the documents I needed to sign for the operation.

“She stayed with me by my bedside for the entire time and she even paid for the deposit for the surgery up front, which was around £500.”

Jess said her fiance, Jonathan, was desperately trying to seek a flight but with visa processing times taking up to five days and with Jess needing the surgery within 12 hours, she knew it was “something I had to go through without him there”.

She underwent a keyhole surgery on March 3, where the pregnancy was removed through her fallopian tube.

Jess made a full recovery and returned home on March 8.

“My supplier pretty much arranged everything for me,” she said.

“I would have felt a lot more frightened than I was if it had not been for her and I think we have a connection no one can describe really.

“When you’ve been through something traumatic like that together, everything else is a bit irrelevant and you just want to support that person give back that loyalty and trust.”