At Home Group mulls bankruptcy amidst Trump tariff woes
The American store chain At Home Group is considering filing for bankruptcy due to financial problems, reports "The Wall Street Journal." The situation was exacerbated by tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, as the company imports most of its goods from abroad.
In 2021, At Home was acquired by the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman for $2.8 billion, which included assuming its debt. Despite this, the company still faces financial difficulties that could lead to its bankruptcy.
An American company may go bankrupt. Trump’s tariffs blamed
The American home décor store chain At Home Group is in serious financial trouble. According to "The Wall Street Journal," the company is considering filing for bankruptcy. The main problem is the difficulty in managing its debt obligations.
However, an additional blow was dealt to the company by its own government. For a company that imports most of its products from other countries, the tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump (10% on base import tariffs to the U.S. and 145% on Chinese products) proved to be a huge problem.
Currently, At Home is working with investment bank PJT Partners and operational advisor AlixPartners LLP to find a way out of this difficult situation.
The At Home chain, founded in the 1970s as Garden Ridge Pottery, underwent rebranding in 2015 and began to grow dynamically. A key element of the company's strategy was attractive pricing and a wide range of products that attracted both the middle class and value-for-money seekers.
Currently, the company operates over 260 stores in 40 U.S. states, offering a wide assortment of home décor items.
Comic book prices up for the first time in 15 years
Trump's tariffs are also affecting other industries. Due to the restrictions imposed by the American administration, Image Comics, known for series like Spawn, is raising prices for the first time in 15 years.
Comic book prices are expected to increase by 33%. This price hike will affect popular titles like "Spawn" and "King Spawn." It's a result of the rising costs of importing paper and printing.
China: "Irrational level" of U.S. tariffs
Meanwhile, tariff skirmishes continue. The spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce assessed that U.S. tariffs on Chinese product imports have "reached an irrational level." This was in response to a White House publication stating 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" indicates that the actual height of the rates may vary. For example, syringes imported from China, which were subject to a 100% tariff prior to the reciprocal tariffs introduced in 2025, now face a 245% effective rate due to additional "reciprocal tariffs" of 145%. However, some products are subject to a "zero" tariff rate (e.g., children's books).
