How Foreign Trade Zones Can Unlock Millions in Working Capital, Ep #31

When tariffs, trade policy, and cash flow collide, manufacturers are forced to think creatively—or risk being crushed by uncertainty. That's exactly where Mary Buchzeiger, CEO of Lucerne International and Lucerne Global Solutions, found herself. With skyrocketing tariffs on imported automotive components, Mary realized the solution wasn't to absorb the hit—it was to rewrite the playbook altogether. In this episode of Buy the Numbers, we dig into how Mary leveraged a little-known financial and logistical strategy: the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). By turning Lucerne's Michigan facility into an FTZ, she found a way to defer duties, optimize cash flow, and even open up an entirely new revenue stream helping other companies do the same. The result? Over $5 million in freed-up working capital on a single program—and more than $500,000 in annual interest savings. Mary walks us through the process of becoming an FTZ, the operational realities, and how manufacturers of all sizes can take advantage of it. From understanding customs audits to calculating real-world ROI, she breaks down the numbers in a way every manufacturing leader can understand. This episode is part strategy, part inspiration—and all about how smart, scrappy thinking can turn financial chaos into competitive advantage.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Mary's philosophy: "Where there's chaos, there's opportunity" (0:54) Mary Buchzeiger's background that led to founding Lucerne International (3:04) Taking Lucerne global and learning through cycles of automotive highs and lows (4:24) How tariffs pushed her to explore creative cash-flow solutions (6:19) Why Verdant Commercial Capital is a true partner in your corner (6:50) Understanding what a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is (and how Lucern got it) (6:10) How Lucerne became an FTZ and deferred millions in tariffs (9:42) The financial impact: $5 million in freed-up working capital and interest savings (11:52) Turning FTZ operations into a new business opportunity (12:31) How the certification process works — from audit to activation (15:45) Hidden savings: merchandise processing fees and weekly entry summaries (17:46) How Lucerne now helps other manufacturers with warehousing and FTZ setup (20:57) Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) (21:35) Which companies benefit most: importers with long payment cycles (24:14) Lucerne's new FTZ savings calculator for manufacturers (26:08) The difference between FTZs, bonded warehouses, and free trade zones (29:14) Other ways FTZs can significantly positively impact your business (30:47) The importance of creative, adaptable thinking in manufacturing (36:35) Small financial adjustments that create massive long-term value (39:26) Check out the SMW Autoblok catalog Resources & People Mentioned Why Verdant Commercial Capital is a true partner in your corner Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) Check out the SMW Autoblok catalog Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset Connect with Mary Buchzeiger Lucerne International Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Buy the Numbers Follow on LinkedIn Connect with Mike Payne on LinkedIn Subscribe to Buy the Numbers on Apple + Spotify