Not many industries managed to thrive through the Covid pandemic. Nonetheless, along with drug and complement producers and masks makers, a number of different sectors truly benefited from the lockdowns and extreme restrictions.
Companies that thrived belonged to industries that improved folks’s restricted and disturbing dwelling situations. A few of them boomed fairly unexpectedly.
For instance, the leisure car (RV) market noticed a big increase through the pandemic, with Bloomberg even calling them “Covid campers” because of their sudden rise in recognition. One other trade that noticed an uptick in gross sales on the time of the lockdowns was the furnishings trade.
It makes good sense that folks needed to complement their dwelling space after they had been compelled to spend all their time there. Furnishings gross sales boomed early through the pandemic, as folks additionally needed to adapt their properties into places of work. Widespread large-scale furnishings maker Noble Home noticed a 48% improve in gross sales in 2020 and 11% in 2021, experiences Retail Dive.
Put up pandemic, issues weren’t so good for the trade. In truth, Noble Home filed for Chapter 11 chapter in Sep. 2023.
Severe challenges for the furnishings enterprise arose in 2022. In truth, “there was a dramatic reversal of fortune for many within Furniture Today’s Top 100 as retailers that experienced double-digit growth in 2021 now reported red numbers for 2022 in the furniture, bedding, and accessories sales column,” in keeping with Furnishings As we speak.
What’s extra, the trade is coping with much more difficulties in 2025, as President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of between 10% and 50% on imports of international furnishings and wooden in October 2025, reported Monetary Instances.
During the last two to a few years, many furnishings chains weren’t capable of navigate these financial situations and had been compelled to shut their doorways for good. The newest to affix the group is 73-year-old Circle Furnishings.
Circle Furnishings has closed all of its shops in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
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Furnishings retailer Circle Furnishings completely closes all places
Circle Furnishings has closed all of its shops in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after greater than 70 years of operations, reported The Boston Globe.
The corporate administration despatched an electronic mail on Friday, Dec. 19, informing workers that every one shops had been closed till additional discover. Then, on the morning of Dec. 23, workers acquired a harsh notification that they had been being laid off.
“With a heavy heart, circumstance [sic] have gone against the business and we can no longer afford to continue operations, therefore all employees are being let go including your position effective Dec. 23,” learn the e-mail shared with the Globe.
The Acton-headquartered firm has eight shops and a warehouse outlet.
The e-mail additional learn that workers will retain their well being advantages till the top of the month.
There’s a banner on Circle Furnishings’s official web site that clearly states “All Circle Furniture Locations are CLOSED Till Further Notice,” however there’s nothing concerning e-commerce operations. The corporate’s telephone goes straight to voicemail.
The story of Circle Furnishings: constructed to final
Circle Furnishings was based as a household enterprise in 1952 by Robert Tubman. It began by opening a small store in Putnam Circle (now Putnam Sq.) and increasing to seven different places throughout New England.
By the mid 2000s, Circle Furnishings had a number of shops in Massachusetts and opened further showrooms in strategic places. For instance, in 2004 it opened its fifth retailer in Danvers, Massachusetts, and in 2012, the corporate celebrated the opening of its first downtown Boston retailer, in keeping with Furnishings As we speak.
Circle Furnishings was born with the concept of providing one thing totally different in a sea of disposable and cheaply made furnishings: one thing that’s constructed to final. It began by promoting high-quality used furnishings and unfinished items, after which expanded its portfolio to incorporate stunning, useful, and eco-friendly furnishings, writes Northshore Journal.
The enterprise was celebrated for its dedication to sustainability and transparency. Then-Co-owner Peggy Burns informed the outlet in 2015 that her household prioritized native distributors, environmentally accountable supplies, and lean manufacturing practices, partnering with corporations like Lee Industries and Copeland Furnishings to reduce waste and scale back chemical publicity.
“Our goal is to help you create the room you want,” Burns stated. “But we also focus on using the right resources. It’s our responsibility to pass the planet on, and we all want there to be something left for our grandchildren.”
The outline on the corporate’s About Us web page says the next:
“We are dedicated to providing a wide selection of unique, quality furniture with a team of talented designers to help you every step of the way. Besides sourcing expertly crafted and beautiful furniture, we take strides to be an important part of the local community —both by working with local factories and supporting local charities.”
Furnishings chains that closed or filed for chapter
Another furnishings chains and residential furnishing retailers which have closed over the previous couple of years embrace the next.
- Outten Brothers Dwelling Furnishings: Liquidation/closure introduced in 2025 after 78 years in operation, reported TheStreet.
- Badcock Dwelling Furnishings & Extra: Closed all of its 380 shops, in keeping with Tallahassee Democrat.
- Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams: Absolutely closed showrooms in 2023, reported CNN.
- The RoomPlace: Liquidated all 26 places in early 2025, in keeping with TheStreet.
- American Freight Home equipment & Furnishings: Mother or father firm filed Chapter 11 in 2024, shutting down all shops, reported TheStreet.
- New Deal Furnishings: Conducting going out of enterprise sale, writes TheStreet.
- American Signature: Filed for Chapter 11 chapter in Nov. 2025, in keeping with the official press launch.
- At Dwelling: Filed for chapter in June 2025, in keeping with CBS Information.
- Z Gallerie: Filed for chapter in 2023, reported Chain Retailer Age.
Why is Circle Furnishings closing? Brutal occasions
Piper Sandler Analysis Analyst Peter Keith addressed attendees at Furnishings As we speak’s 2024 Management Convention.
”Enterprise within the furnishings trade over the previous two years has been completely brutal. Whereas it has moderated, it’s nonetheless down single digits. You’ve had a brutal backdrop for the yr, actually the previous two years have been robust.”
Circle Furnishings has round 65 workers throughout administrative, accounting and retail roles. Jonathan Boyle, who has been with the corporate for nearly 4 a long time, was not anticipating this.
“They were having some financial difficulties they were trying to resolve and work around, but that’s all I know,” he stated. “It’s not a great situation.”
Different workers informed The Boston Globe that the corporate made an bold transfer when its possession modified three years in the past. New homeowners Robert and Paula Richard opened shops within the Seaport, Portsmouth, N.H., and in Hyannis. Employees imagine the Hyannis retailer has pushed the corporate to the brink, with prolonged debt and supply disruptions.
“The new owners came with the best of intentions,” stated Tim Copeland, a supervisor at Circle Furnishings’s manufacturing facility in Vermont. “With each store they opened, we saw an uptick in business.”
Copeland famous that all the furnishings ordered earlier than the closure shall be delivered.
Circle Furnishings has not filed for chapter, per the report.
Workers are in search of new jobs a couple of days earlier than Christmas
Various staff informed The Globe that they’ve already began to search for new jobs.
Burns was upset to listen to the information, as she had maintained shut relationships with the employees.
“It’s our legacy, and we’re so ashamed of it,” she stated. “This was devastating. I’ve reached out to people I know and we’re trying to help in any way we can…”
Burns, her husband Richard Tubman, and his brother Harold Tubman offered the enterprise to the Richards as a result of their youngsters didn’t need to proceed the household enterprise.
Longtime prospects are shocked and dissatisfied
The information about Circle Furnishings’s closure after greater than 70 years shortly reached social networks, stunning and disappointing longtime prospects.
“Whoa. And here I was contemplating another purchase from them because I’ve enjoyed my previous purchases so much…,” wrote person Majestic_Economy_881 on Reddit.
Person TooMuchCaffeine37 seconded that thought, saying “Bummer. They have great high quality stuff. Pricy, but solid.”
Different customers had been additionally pissed off to listen to the information concerning the closure, however expressed hope that the enterprise might restructure.
“Ugh, this is terrible. Their furniture is great, sized great for small spaces, and very frequently made in US too. Hope they restructure or change ownership,” wrote person ShaniJean.
Some prospects expressed their disappointment on Instagram the place the information about Circle Furnishings closure was additionally shared.
Person michaeljclarke.images was unhappy and curious to know if there shall be a liquidation sale quickly, whereas others adopted up with heartbroken emojis.
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