Better Homes and Gardens is one of the “Seven Sisters” of women’s service magazines published by Meredith Corporation. Meredith Corporation also publishes books related to home economics, including its iconic red-and-white checkerboard cover cookbook – often known as The Red Plaid Cookbook.
Chrisley reports that the readership profile of Universal Furniture fits well with that of their target market in magazines like Dwell.
Cushions
Better Homes and Gardens produces more home-related products than just magazines, such as furniture. This includes wicker patio sets, ottomans, and living room couches made from either polyester or olefin fiberfill covers and fiberfill for optimal use in wetter climates. At the same time, the latter material offers increased fade resistance for sunnier locations.
The company also manufactures bed sheets, comforters, and quilts; kitchen textiles such as dinnerware and towels; bath hardware like faucets and rugs; as well as decorative pillows and window treatments – often featuring images or text from its various magazine titles – such as Azalea Ridge furniture pieces with floral themes in the bedroom, living room and dining settings.
Better Homes and Gardens not only publishes printed publications but also boasts an expansive website, multiple social media platforms, tablet editions, and mobile apps. Their television show Better premiered on local broadcast stations owned by Meredith in 2007, featuring content from its various magazines along with consumer advice.
Meredith realized as Baby Boomers entered retirement, that women and the home would become ever-more popular subjects of conversation in the 1990s. To remain competitive in its core women’s market, Meredith dropped unprofitable ventures such as its real estate business and most of its book publishing activities; instead, it focused on its core market by streamlining editorial staff and publishing more targeted domestic topics magazines.
Better Homes and Gardens products cater to many consumers, from those seeking decorating tips to those wanting help cooking nutritious meals. In addition to print and online versions of its magazine, Better Homes and Gardens sells licensed goods through retailers like Walmart, such as rugs and furniture such as the Better Homes and Gardens American Made Towel Set made of cotton grown in America by 1888 Mills.
Upholstery
Upholstery fabric covers chairs, sofas, and other cushioned furniture pieces with padding, hiding the webbing, springs, and stuffing that gives them shape while supporting their comfort. As with any decoration choice, upholstery must consider color, durability, overall look, and easy maintenance to choose an appropriate solution for your furniture – especially if there are children, pets, or a busy home! When selecting upholstery for your furniture, it should also be stain-resistant for easy care if required.
Various materials are used for upholstering furniture, each offering its benefits. Natural fabrics like cotton can be more environmentally-friendly but may be less resistant to wear and tear. If you want your furniture to stand the test of time, opt for synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon instead; these durable synthetics tend to be more cost-effective and reliable options than their natural counterparts.
The ideal upholstery for your furniture depends on how often it will be used and the ambiance you wish to create. If you have children, pets, or a busy household with frequent spills and spills, opt for stain-resistant materials that are easy to maintain; darker-hued fabric may help hide stains better.
If you prefer more formal or traditional styles, fabric with embellishments like nail-head trim and decorative welts might be suitable. Meanwhile, more transitional styles feature sleeker lines and less decorative details.
Furniture cushions on sofas and chairs often feature covers made of either polyester or olefin, both durable and stain-resistant materials that work well in different environments; polyester is more water-resistant and suitable for wet climates while olefin fade-resistance makes it more suitable for sunnier conditions.
Universal Furniture recently signed a licensing deal with shelter magazine Better Homes and Gardens, resulting in a line of furniture bearing their brand name. Universal President Randy Chrisley believes this brand will resonate with consumers as its reader profile fits well with that of his target audience – its readers have an average age of 48, a median household income of $60,000, and 82% are homeowners.
Textiles
Better Homes and Gardens magazine was published by Edwin Meredith in 1922 as one of the nation’s largest home and gardening publications, covering home improvement, cooking, crafts, gardening, health, and entertainment. Published 12 times each year by Dotdash Meredith Corporation of Parsippany, New Jersey.
By 1988, according to Marketing and Media Decisions, Better Homes and Gardens led the shelter magazine industry in advertising revenue and page counts printed, drawing four times larger audiences than its nearest competitor. By the mid-1990s, Meredith began using the Better Homes and Gardens name to market brand extensions such as kitchen textiles, bedding, dinnerware, and outdoor cooking appliances – Forbes estimated these products generated income of $1.05.05 for every $1 earned through magazine publication alone.
Better Homes and Gardens products range from furniture and decor items, linens and towels available at Walmart stores, and household essentials that have a longstanding relationship between both companies – consumer research reveals that many Better Homes and Gardens audience members are frequent Walmart shoppers.
Better Homes and Gardens relies on 1888 Mills in Griffin, Georgia as its textile supplier. This factory produces towels made in America and sold at Walmart – using 100% US-grown cotton that’s processed at their plant before being sent out again to be processed into towels, sheets, and comforters in its factories.
Better Homes and Gardens’ catalog features an expansive selection of bedroom, living room, dining room, and office furniture ranging from storage pieces such as dressers and armoires designed to help organize consumers’ belongings to children’s beds with mattresses available and outdoor furnishings like chairs and tables.
Better Homes and Gardens’ quilting projects are trendy among its primarily female readership. It provides beginner or experienced quilters with projects to enhance their abilities; its summer edition even includes a quilt pattern and skill-building advice!
Outdoor Cooking Appliances
BH&G Outdoor Cooking Appliances’ line of outdoor cooking appliances include barbecue grills, gas and electric smokers, and wood-fired pizza ovens manufactured by different companies, yet all share similar features, such as stainless steel construction with durable cast iron grates; the grill and smoker also include rainwater protection lids to keep the rain off of their units.
Better Homes and Gardens has been around for over 100 years, yet it wasn’t always profitable when first released by Meredith Publishing Company. Each issue initially cost up to $2 million to produce; by the late 1920s, though, Better Homes and Gardens outshone McCall’s Good Housekeeping Ladies Home Journal in circulation numbers with approximately 8 Million readers!
Meredith used the Better Homes and Gardens name to license various products to increase profits, such as small booklets sold at checkout counters with titles such as Garden Deck Landscape Planner. Each dollar of advertising revenue generated was worth approximately $1.05.05 earned via licensing the name to other products or services.
Meredith employed the Better Homes and Gardens brand name to market home improvement and decor items, from special interest publications to real estate services and gardening tools sold exclusively by that brand at over 2,000 Wal-Mart stores.
Today, Better Homes and Gardens products are among the most recognized names in home decor products. Customers can shop their online store to find a vast selection of furniture and home decorating items, such as dressers for bedrooms, TV armoires, and bookcases to showcase collections.
Better Homes and Gardens brand products include cookware, kitchen textiles, bath hardware, rugs, and towels – many made in America at 1888 Mills in Griffin, Georgia (one of only six textile mills remaining in America). It also offers Dark Sky lighting to reduce glare when entertaining outdoors after dark; perfect for patios and pergolas alike!
