How Are Your Favorite Home Retailers Doing? Must-Read Articles

Claudia and Julea -- You're right, paper publications are really on thin ice right now, and not likely to recover. I'm a newsaholic, and have to admit that I get about 85% of my news content online (aside from the wonderful NPR news on the radio). But shelter magazines hold a special place for in the design business, as they're inspiration for us and for our clients. They help crystalize our dreams and aspirations for our homes. Looking at pictures online is all fine and good, but they're not the same as clipping a glossy magazine with examples of what we love, and resources for finding them. Losing print publishing (in all its forms) really is a loss of true journalistic standards. As much as I enjoy blogs, I realize that they're a different animal from news publications.

So, folks, which magazines would you miss the most if they dissolved?

Maureen, Cindy and Melissa -- Yes, we really depend on these retailers for our staging and design businesses, and it can be pretty sobering to see them falling like dominoes (or Domino magazine!). I wonder where the future lies as Baby Boomers start downsizing from their expansive homes, and as the Great American Pastime is no longer filling up McMansions with lots of furniture and upgrades. I see a lot of good things from that, don't get me wrong. But we're already seeing the impact on the industries that cater to home furnishings.

David -- Yes, it will be much more difficult for us long-term if our favorite staging resources aren't available close at hand. Of course we feel for the employees we've worked so closely with over the years too. Let's hope an economic recovery will be on the horizon soon before too many more people suffer.

Gail: Oooooh yeah... Veranda's a good one! Yes, Pier One has been a staple for years, although I understand that they've been teetering on the brink of financial trouble for quite awhile. Maybe they'll continue to be like a cat with nine lives -- I know there are lots of stagers on AR who would miss them! Thanks for commenting, Gail!

I'm with you, Sylvia. While I'd much rather focus on the positive, I'm also a pragmatist, and the truth is that it's a very challenging time for so many professions right now. The world will always need the gifts of creativity and original thought, and I hope that those who are currently in transition will find new and fulfilling contributions to make.