Neocon Design Days - June 2026

June in Chicago is always a treat, and attending the NeoCon and Design Days shows was energetic, upbeat, and crowded. Despite a little rain, our team moved easily back and forth between the two venues; the crowds were steady and showrooms open for business. Fulton Market now has density, with tons of exhibitors and dining options, and feels like it has matured to become an equal to the Merchandise Mart. Meanwhile, the Mart remains full and vibrant with a diverse assortment of exhibitors. So, it would seem that both will survive. Or will they? The 11th floor is one-third empty (or leased as permanent offices). The 7th floor, with its temporary spaces, was smaller than normal, although it had new amenities with public seating and dining areas. Rumors abound of various exhibitors leaving the Mart and the building being sold or repurposed.Tariffs

Tariffs remain top of mind and the hope is for clarity soon, perhaps by the end of the 90-day timeframe, set for July 9. As of the time of this writing there have been preliminary announcements on a deal with China. The sooner this is settled the better.

Quote of the Show: “Fulton Market is the clear winner, and NeoCon will be gone in three years,” opined one CEO. We are not so sure.

Outside the Mart and Fulton Market, global M&A is soaring despite an uncertain economy, geopolitical noise, emerging debate around AI, and persistently stubborn inflation and gas prices.

The public stock markets remain at all-time highs, and home prices are still high, generating immense “paper” wealth for the top end of consumers worldwide. Furniture is certainly feeling this wealth gap, with the higher-end suppliers, manufacturers, and dealers enjoying strong business while the more promotional world feels immense pressure from competition on price and a weakened consumer.

Nevertheless, M&A in the broader furniture industry has been highly active in 2026, and our firm is pleased to highlight several transactions and many new opportunities coming to market:

Transaction Update

-Right before the High Point Market, we were pleased to announce the sale of La-Z-Boy’s casegoods divisions, Kincaid and American Drew, to Magnussen/Banner House Brands. The transaction formally closed on Friday, May 29, and we congratulate both parties on a win-win transaction. We were honored to represent LZB.

-Viridien, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based retail chain of patio furniture, was acquired by Watson’s, a leading U.S. chain of outdoor furniture. Stump represented Viridien in the transaction, and it was a pleasure to work with local ownership and meet in our own offices to finalize the deal.

-We also sold an important hospitality upholstery business with a substantial manufacturing facility in Mississippi. While this transaction is currently undisclosed and was sold to a private strategic buyer, we hope to announce more details in the future.

-Also, we are actively working on other projects including North American upholstery manufacturing, Mexican casegoods production, global casual furniture, hospitality furniture, contract/workplace furniture, and healthcare furniture. We expect this summer to bring several blockbuster announcements for the broader industry across these various industry verticals.

Key Topics

There are a few key drivers for this newfound M&A momentum:

-Opportunistic -Strong companies are making moves. International players still believe the U.S. is the best long-term place to be. This is leading to more aggressive buyers who are willing to incentivize sellers to depart with their holdings.

-Baby boomers want out, and selling represents the best option for many.

-Distress – Unfortunately, there are still plenty of struggling companies due to a mix of tariffs, sluggish housing, and generally weakened consumers. For many, a sale now seems to be the best remaining option.

-Shifting sands – With many independent retail stores closing, the emergence of the interior designer, and e-commerce continuing to grow, home furnishings continue to be sold in new ways and channels. Growing companies are being aggressive in finding these areas of profitable growth, and acquisitions can be a helpful way to jumpstart a new channel or vertical.

We expect the second half of the year to continue witnessing an uptick in deals and announcements.

Keep your eyes open to these trends and let’s get a conversation going. Call us, we’re here to help.