High Point October 2026 Market Report

Team Stump enjoyed a great week in High Point with industry friends and clients. Though the economy remains strained with interest rates high – and housing activity low - we found attitudes to be largely upbeat with executives striving to find growth one way or another. It was impressive how many companies are doing well and growing both the top and bottom line.

M&A remains a focal point amongst business owners and CEOs in the industry; we heard plenty of interest in both selling and buying. With older baby boomers seeking exits, and a new crop of buyers emerging to enter the industry, we are working tirelessly to put together deals with the right strategic angles. Expect to hear several M&A announcements in the coming weeks and months.

Key topics of interest included:

• Interest Rates – elevated interest rates continue to keep mortgage rates high, weighing on housing, and ultimately on consumer demand for furnishings. When will rates come down – and when will the housing market crank back up?
• Politics/Wars/Tariffs – fatigue has set in across the board, and most exhibitors and attendees alike are fed up with the politics and trade issues currently impacting the industry – not to mention recent surge in ocean container rates. With elections around the corner, perhaps cooler heads will prevail, and DC will start resolving these issues.
• Canada – Many of our friends north of the border are seeking partnerships with or acquisitions of US-based companies to address the new 50% import tariff, which has now been in place for 2 full months. This strategy appears to be here to stay, regardless of any future policy changes, with many major Canadian manufacturers communicating they will need a physical presence in the US for the long term.
• Bedding – mattress companies and their suppliers are eyes wide open with regards to Somnigroup’s major acquisitions of both Mattress Firm and Leggett + Platt. This creates a massive, vertically integrated, multi-billion-dollar bedding platform. Several bedding executives mentioned surprise these deals cleared the DOJ. It is still to be answered how the industry will respond to these developments. We expect new alliances to be formed to offset this market leader.
• Aging in Place – we took note of several upholstery companies showcasing new audio systems embedded in sofas and recliners. Much of this is for better surround sound for videos, movies and sports. And an increasing focus on elderly with auditory issues. Many furniture companies are focusing on aging baby boomers and how to make the home a better place to live as we grow old.
• AI – talk and use of AI was everywhere, with new technology vendors pitching services for product development, product visualization, data management, customer service and a wide variety of other labor-saving functions. Our firm uses AI frequently, but cautiously, as these tools provide fast solutions but often with mistakes.
• Hall of Fame – Five great leaders were inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame, and our team and family was thrilled to see our founder, J. Ralph Stump, be included this year. The gala was amazing and we were deeply honored to represent Ralph posthumously. You can learn more about Ralph and his impact on the home furnishings industry in this video.
• Tim Stump, President of Stump & Company, was tagged by Furniture Today as an “artist of the deal” and included in the 2026 Home Furnishings Top 500 influencers.
  • Tim Stump - Furniture Today

Quote of the Market: “it's not about how you make it, it's about how you sell it!” opined one CEO whose business is booming. Another mentioned “good furniture sells”, reflecting on the K-shaped economy and continued strength in the upper-end of the industry.

What’s next? Look for the stronger companies to continue battling for market share. M&A activity will play a role. And most have stopped predicting the future or when housing will heat up – there are no quick fixes to the current economic climate.

As for the commercial furniture industry, the trade show season is just heating up. You can find us at the Healthcare Design Show (HCD) in New Orleans October 19-21, EdSpaces in Kansas City October 28-29, and BDNY November 8-9. We will also be in attendance for the always exciting AHFA annual meeting in Palm Springs next month and Furniture Today’s Annual Leadership Conference in early December in Miami.

Call us, we’re here to help.