If you’ve ordered from Plow & Hearth before—maybe some garden decor, a cozy rug, or one of those log racks—they’ve probably sent a catalog your way. For decades, Plow & Hearth got by as a go-to for home and garden items, shipping sturdy outdoor goods right to your door. But things have started changing fast, and if you’ve heard whispers about them going out of business, well, the story is a little more complicated than just closing up shop.
So, Is Plow & Hearth Going Out of Business?
The short answer: No, not entirely. Plow & Hearth, the brand itself, isn’t disappearing. You will still be able to find products with the Plow & Hearth name. But if you’re used to flipping through their catalog or buying from their website, that’s what’s ending. They’re shutting down all those direct sales channels—no more mail-order catalog, and no more shopping directly on plowhearth.com.
They’re not completely closing; they’re just getting out of the direct-to-consumer game. The way you buy their stuff is about to change for good.
Physical Stores and the End of Catalog Shopping
For years, Plow & Hearth ran several brick-and-mortar stores in Virginia and nearby states. If you’ve ever taken a drive through Madison County and stopped by their big retail shop, you might remember the cozy shopping experience—fireplaces going in winter, wind spinners on display out front.
That’s over now. The stores are closing, one by one. The flagship location in Madison County, Va., is shutting its doors, and other stores have either already closed or are on the way out. Back in the day, Plow & Hearth’s thick seasonal catalogs were a staple in the mailbox for fans around the country. Those catalog mailings are stopping too. If you’re a long-time customer, you probably got a letter explaining that these old-school ways to shop are ending.
On top of the catalog, their own web store is winding down. You won’t be able to buy directly from plowhearth.com or call in to place an order. That’s a big shift for loyal shoppers who liked the direct connection.
Going Where the Shoppers Are: New Online and Wholesale Focus
So what comes next? Plow & Hearth isn’t leaving the market. Instead, they’re switching gears and putting their products in front of you where you already shop. No more direct mail. No dedicated website. Now, you’ll find Plow & Hearth items on Wayfair, Amazon, QVC, and HomeDepot.com. These bigger marketplaces reach way more people than any single brand’s website ever could.
It’s a move a lot of established brands have made recently. Instead of pouring money into small stores or paper catalogs, they go where shoppers are already spending time and money. A lot more business happens online now, and most people prefer to buy everything from the same place, even if it means less of a “boutique” feeling. That’s the world Plow & Hearth is stepping into.
The company isn’t just selling random leftovers, either. You’ll still get the signature products—their top-selling home, garden, and seasonal goods. If you always liked their distinctive outdoor decor or comfy home textiles, those will still be around, just under a bigger retailer’s umbrella.
Why Everything Is Changing: The Reasons Behind the Move
Switching from catalogs and proprietary stores to online wholesale isn’t just a whim. There’s a mix of old-fashioned challenges and very modern problems pushing this decision.
Let’s start with the basics: Mailing catalogs isn’t cheap anymore. Postage costs keep going up, and printing thousands of glossy pages eats up a chunk of the budget. Shipping from a central warehouse—especially for heavy or oversized garden tools and decor—costs much more than it used to, with freight prices jumping after the pandemic.
There’s also the fact that shoppers aged 55 and up still liked catalogs a lot, but that audience is shrinking, and folks in younger generations shop online first. So Plow & Hearth’s customer base, which skewed to an older crowd, isn’t growing the way it once did. Many people now want to buy on their phones, where they’re already shopping for everything else.
Finally, you can’t ignore the competition. E-commerce giants like Amazon and the big-box store websites can reach way more people, offer free or super-fast shipping, and match prices aggressively. So, Plow & Hearth’s parent company, Evergreen Enterprises, took a hard look at the numbers and the trends. They decided they’d do better by letting Amazon and the rest handle the direct sales.
The Human Cost: Store Closings and Layoffs
The business side of the transition is one part of the story. The bigger, often harder part is the impact on Plow & Hearth’s employees, especially in Madison County, Va. When the company decided to shutter its distribution center there, it meant laying off dozens of people who’d worked in the warehouse, handling orders, and running the retail store.
These weren’t new or temporary jobs either—many team members had been around for years. The loss hits not just the workers, but their families and the small local economy. For a small, rural county like Madison, the closure of a leading retailer stings more than in a bigger city.
It’s a tough reminder: when a business changes its model to keep up with the times, it’s not just about digital platforms or cheaper logistics. There are real folks dealing with the other end—packing up, looking for new work, and saying goodbye to old coworkers.
What’s Next for Plow & Hearth Products?
If you loved shopping direct from the Plow & Hearth catalog, the switch might sting. But if you just want their wind chimes, boot trays, birdhouses, or seasonal decor, there’s good news: you’ll still get your fix.
Going forward, you’ll probably have the easiest time finding Plow & Hearth products on the major online marketplaces. Search for them on Amazon, Wayfair, QVC, or HomeDepot.com, and you’ll see the same classic items and plenty of new ones. They’re focusing on their customer favorites and products that always sold well, so the assortment shouldn’t look unrecognizable.
And if you’ve got a favorite item or two, you may discover it’s actually cheaper with the free shipping options or weekly deals these big sites offer. The downside is losing that direct customer service, the familiar paper catalogs, and, of course, their physical store spaces. But for a lot of shoppers, the tradeoff for speed and convenience will be worth it.
Is This the New Normal for Niche Retail Brands?
You might wonder if Plow & Hearth is just another in a long line of catalog brands shutting down, or if this is something different. The truth is, a ton of other niche and mid-sized retailers are weighing these same choices. Some hang onto their old ways longer than others, but many end up making similar moves: if your customers now want to shop on Amazon or Wayfair, then that’s where you have to be.
This change cuts some costs, but it comes with downsides—especially for loyal customers who loved the personal touches. Brands are trying to keep their signature ideas alive, just in a more crowded, competitive marketplace. If you’re curious about how other brands are adapting to the e-commerce shift, sites like Sera Business look at these trends in detail.
Right now, for Plow & Hearth, it means evolving into a familiar name and a line of products on someone else’s shelf, rather than a place you visit in person or by mail.
No, Plow & Hearth Isn’t Gone—Just Different
To wrap things up, Plow & Hearth isn’t vanishing. Their products, customer reviews, and signature style will still be around, just not through the old catalog or their own web store.
If you’re a loyal fan, it might feel like an end of an era, and honestly, it sort of is. The shopping experience you remember—stationery catalogs on the table, ringing up the store for advice, or chatting with a local clerk—is going away. But the brand itself is staying. Their best-selling garden and home items will show up on the biggest web marketplaces, still ready for your backyard or sunroom.
This kind of evolution is happening with all sorts of long-running brands. Businesses adjust when habits and costs change. If you’re nostalgic for the catalog days, you’re not alone. But if you’re mainly looking to buy quality garden gear and home decor with a couple of online clicks, Plow & Hearth is still in the mix—and they probably always will be, just with a new way to reach you.