In my situation, if you can make $15 at McDonald's, why would you work in a distribution center? Quick answer is, you won't.
That means we have to raise our wages to at least $17/hrs to entice new hires. Possibly more. This is a direct cost that will need to be made up. Most likely, not hiring FTE's and PT instead. No benefits.
The larger companies can absorb the cost and with little increase in prices to the consumer. Small businesses will have no choice but to pass them on, or lay off in order to survive. However, when this happens, people will see Big Box Store is cheaper and take their business there and SB goes under thus making BBS that much bigger.
I am very familiar with a company based out of Florida who stated due to their newly passed $15 minimum wage laws, they are looking to head elsewhere. In their business they cannot survive at those rates without cutting bonus plans...which is a good portion of their salaries.