June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Industry, Obituaries 
Arthur Garfield "Art" Raymond, Jr. passed away peacefully on June 20, 2026, following a courageous and long-fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry
Rooms To Go announced it has been named a five-star recipient on two USA Today 2026 lists recognizing excellence in the retail shopping industry: America's Best Stores and Most Trusted Brands. Rooms To Go earned five-star recognition on both lists in 2025 as well and continues to set the standard as a market leader in furniture retail.
June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry
As Pride Month comes to a close, IKEA U.S. is deepening its commitment to belonging and allyship with three new donations that expand access to affirming mental health care, support services, and safe housing for LGBTQIA+ individuals and youth — building on its ongoing partnerships with The Trevor Project and Rainbow Railroad.
June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry
NY NOW, New York’s largest wholesale marketplace for gift, home, lifestyle, and accessories, announced a landmark strategic partnership with Ivystone Group LLC and its family of agencies to aggressively rebuild and re-establish NY NOW as the preeminent gift and home show for the Northeast. The alliance unites two industry powerhouses with a singular mission: bring the industry’s most recognized brands back to New York and reengage the region’s independent retail ecosystem.
June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID NJ) celebrated its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) at a gala on June 3 at the Maplewood Country Club in Maplewood, New Jersey. The event also supported The Warehouse NJ, a nonprofit that helps individuals and families create new beginnings by providing household items and furniture. Attendees were encouraged to donate via a QR code in the event program, with the first donors receiving floral centerpieces created by Jerry Rose Floral & Event Design.
June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry
One of the founding members of The Common Thread for the Cure Foundation, Patty Younts, is retiring from the organization after serving as its treasurer for 25 years. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides confidential grants to individuals fighting breast cancer who are affiliated with the design and furnishings industry.
June 30,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry
In 2026, Ghidini1961 is guided by a path that combines the development of new products with the start of a collaboration with Spotti Milano, a historic destination for international design.