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Contributor Brian Carroll continues to report from Europe where he is traveling this summer with a look at an exhibit at the Schönbrunn Furniture Museum celebrating furniture design’s leading women. He chose a few pieces to highlight as sources of inspiration.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Conn's is readying a potential bankruptcy filing as the company faces sales declines and struggles to integrate a rival chain. Sources close to the retailer also said that Conn’s has been looking for both operational and financial help from several advisers.

Mellow River has finalized the purchase of full-line furniture resource Hillsdale Furniture, which has been renamed HH2 Home, a nod to its beginnings as Hillsdale House Furniture. Angela Hsu, the granddaughter of Green River founder Omori Hsu, has been named CEO.

With extremely sharp prices already, Big Lots value proposition also will need to offer quality and durability, both of which remain important to today's consumers. It has created five key actions that are expected to result in better results in the second half of this year.

Despite rising inventory levels, home prices continue to rise, placing existing homes out of reach for many first-time buyers. According to figures released by the National Association of Retailers, sales were down in all regions of the country except the Midwest.

Doug Diemoz, who also is co-founder and CEO of upholstery manufacturer Made and Modern Hard Goods, closed on the deal this past Friday, purchasing it from GJ Styles Holdings, whose president is co-founder Glyn Styles. The company said it is keeping the company's showroom, corporate offices and distribution center in High Point and is retaining current staff in their existing roles.

Contributor Brian Carroll takes a look at the shipping container shortage and the resulting ripple effects. Among them is rising profits for the container companies, who don't seem to care about the suffering of their customers.

American Leather's Shop-in-Shop concept highlights design and lifestyle elements of the company's motion and stationary lines, allowing consumers to customize options. It debuted in 2023 and currently has five locations in operation with another 10 in the works.

Many mourn the passing of Tom Lias, a figure they described as not only passionate about the industry, but one who also was empathetic in the way he interacted with employees and suppliers. The 50-plus-year industry veteran had been CEO of Gorman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design from 2017 until his retirement in June 2023.

Rising container costs combined with slow retail sales are causing companies to begin implementing freight surcharges and price hikes, while others are having cost reductions. Editor-in-Chief Tom Russell spoke with a number of industry executives who discussed the steps they are being forced to take in today's difficult economic climate.