Real-world example: EmberGlow Candles automates COGS tracking amid rising tariffs using Settle, A2X, and QuickBooks Online
EmberGlow Candles is a fast-growing home fragrance brand known for its seasonal soy-based candles. They sell exclusively through Shopify and rely on real-time landed cost tracking to manage margins—especially now, as newly increased tariffs on Chinese imports impact their supply chain.
To stay ahead, EmberGlow uses Settle to manage Purchase Orders and calculate landed costs for each SKU. Their Shopify integration ensures their product catalog is always up to date, and this integration enables cost tracking. Settle posts these costs to A2X, which then automatically posts accurate daily COGS to QuickBooks Online.
Scenario: EmberGlow prepared for their Spring launch and placed an order with their supplier, BrightSource Manufacturing. They've been receiving and selling the associated candles over the last few months. BrightSource is located in China and EmberGlow has received their final bill including the increased tariff costs. They now need to update their associated costs for the PO of these SKUs.
1. Shopify sync creates the catalog
EmberGlow already connected their Shopify store to their Settle account.
This allowed all of their active SKUs, including their Citrus Solstice, Coastal Bloom, and Peach Picnic, to be automatically imported.
2. Created PO and capture landed costs (including tariffs)
A Purchase Order was used to order these SKUs. It included:
Vendor: BrightSource Manufacturing
Products: 25 of EmberGlow's top selling candles for Summer
Quantity: 5,000 units of each candle
Unit Price: Ranges from $6.80 to $9.43, depending on the size and scent
Expected Delivery Date: March 13
Destination: West Coast 3PL
EmberGlow has also now received their final invoice including for:
Tariffs: $303,400
EmberGlow had previously added a tariff estimated cost of $200,000 to this PO. They now update the PO to reflect these final additional costs.
3. Post accurate daily COGS with A2X
Settle posts EmberGlow's SKU-level landed costs with A2X daily.
A2X uses these costs to post cost of goods sold for Shopify orders to QuickBooks Online, ensuring each unit sold reflects the correct landed cost—including tariffs and freight.
This automation keeps EmberGlow’s financials accurate and up-to-date without manual intervention.
Key takeaways for this workflow:
Tariff-ready landed costs: External fees like Section 301 tariffs are directly added to POs and rolled into unit cost.
SKU profitability: EmberGlow maintains margin visibility even as input costs fluctuate.
Zero-touch accounting sync: Inventory and COGS sync seamlessly from Settle → A2X → QuickBooks Online.
🤯🤯 Want to see this in action for yourself? Connect with your Settle representative for a demo.
Not using A2X yet but interested in learning more? Reach out to your Settle rep and they can get you a demo or more information.