At Home group teeters on bankruptcy as tariffs take toll
The American store chain At Home Group is contemplating filing for bankruptcy due to financial woes, reports "The Wall Street Journal." The situation has been aggravated by tariffs enforced by U.S. President Donald Trump, as the company imports the majority of its goods from overseas.
In 2021, At Home was acquired by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman for $2,8 billion (£2,1 billion), which involved taking on its debt. Despite this, the company is still facing financial struggles that could result in its bankruptcy.
An American company may go bankrupt. Trump’s tariffs blamed
The American home décor store chain At Home Group is experiencing serious financial difficulties. According to "The Wall Street Journal," the company is considering filing for bankruptcy. The main issue is the challenge of managing its debt obligations.
However, the company has also been impacted by its own government. As a company that imports the majority of its products, the tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump (10% on base import tariffs to the U.S. and 145% on Chinese products) have presented significant problems.
At present, At Home is collaborating with investment bank PJT Partners and operational advisor AlixPartners LLP to devise a strategy to overcome this challenging situation.
The At Home chain, established in the 1970s as Garden Ridge Pottery, underwent rebranding in 2015 and began to expand rapidly. A central element of the company's strategy was competitive pricing and a wide variety of products that appealed to both the middle class and those seeking value for money.
Currently, the company operates over 260 stores across 40 U.S. states, offering a broad selection of home décor products.
Comic book prices up for the first time in 15 years
Trump's tariffs are also impacting other industries. Due to the restrictions imposed by the American administration, Image Comics, renowned for series like Spawn, is increasing prices for the first time in 15 years.
Comic book prices are expected to rise by 33%. This price increase will affect popular titles like "Spawn" and "King Spawn." It is a consequence of the escalating costs of importing paper and printing.
China: "Irrational level" of U.S. tariffs
Meanwhile, tariff disputes continue. The spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce remarked that U.S. tariffs on Chinese product imports have "reached an irrational level." This statement was in response to a White House publication indicating that some Chinese goods exported to the U.S. are subject to tariffs "up to 245%."
Why such levels? Analysis by "The New York Times" suggests that the actual rates may vary. For instance, syringes imported from China, which were subjected to a 100% tariff before the reciprocal tariffs inaugurated in 2025, now encounter a 245% effective rate due to additional "reciprocal tariffs" of 145%. However, some products, like children's books, are subject to a "zero" tariff rate.
