A political conflict more than 7,000 miles away is causing strife for some local retailers.

Chris Bryan, owner of Bermuda Trader, has seen shipping costs increase dramatically for the handmade goods he imports from Bali and Indonesia.

He says the Red Sea conflict is partly to blame.

In October 2023, the Iran-backed Houthis of Yemen launched missiles and armed drones at Israel, demanding an end to the invasion of the Gaza Strip. The Houthis have since seized or bombarded dozens of merchant and naval vessels in the Red Sea and received hundreds of retaliatory airstrikes by the United States and allied forces.

As a result, many container ships are avoiding the region, instead taking the long way around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.

“That adds a month to the voyage and quite a hefty price,” Mr Bryan explained.

For his last shipment, he saw the price of a 20ft container jump from $6,000 to $9,000.

He thought United States president Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods imported to the US could also be impacting things.

“It may be that because the tariffs are a big subject, that some shippers are adding on to the costs because they can,” he said.

One of his advantages is that many of his products, such as jewellery or batik-print clothing, do not take up a lot of space, so a lot can be stuffed into one container.

Despite this, Mr Bryan has resisted increasing the price of his goods since he took over the business in 2001.

“I am loath to put my prices up because of the economy,” he said.

He said many of his clients are now watching their pennies much more closely.

“However, if I have to put them up by a dollar or two, I will,” he said. “But for the most part I have not. I have seen some of my identical products such, as a 4ft mirror, retailing elsewhere for $1,000 more than I retail it for.”

The retailer also keeps in close contact with his suppliers. He spends part of every winter in Bali.

“I am based in Ubud, the artisan centre of the country,” he said. “I stay with a local family there. Over the years I have taught myself to speak the language. The people there are so talented at carving and woodwork.”

However, he said in recent years many people in the area were leaving the woodworking arena to focus on construction and carpentry, because there is more money in it.

“Some of my suppliers have now retired, or even passed away,” he said.

Two and a half years ago he moved Bermuda Trader from the corner of Cemetery Road and Woodlands Road, to 2 Mill Creek Lane, in Pembroke.

The location is both a blessing and a curse.

On one hand there is a lot more parking outside. On the other hand, it is a little more challenging for customers to find.

“If you put the address into Google Maps it will take you in the wrong direction,” he said. “I ask people to use the Marine Locker as a marker. It is next to that. I have also put my telephone number, 732-2113, up everywhere. If a customer cannot find me I would rather they just call.”