Is Better Homes & Gardens a subsidiary of Dotdash Meredith?

Better Homes & Gardens is not a separate subsidiary but a wholly-owned brand within Dotdash Meredith's media portfolio. Dotdash Meredith, formed through IAC's acquisition of Meredith Corporation in December 2021, owns and manages the Better Homes & Gardens brand across all platforms including print magazine, digital properties, and licensed products. The brand operates within Dotdash Meredith's Home & Garden vertical, with dedicated editorial teams for content production and a specialized consumer products division overseeing the Walmart licensing program. While Better Homes & Gardens maintains its distinct brand identity and creative direction, all strategic decisions and financial management fall under the Dotdash Meredith corporate structure.

Is Better Homes & Gardens publicly traded?

Better Homes & Gardens itself is not publicly traded as a separate entity. However, the brand's ultimate parent company, IAC (InterActiveCorp), is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol IAC. IAC owns Dotdash Meredith, which in turn owns Better Homes & Gardens. Investors can gain indirect exposure to Better Homes & Gardens' performance by investing in IAC stock. Additionally, Walmart (NYSE: WMT), the exclusive retail partner for Better Homes & Gardens consumer products, is also publicly traded. As of February 2026, IAC has a market capitalization of approximately $7.8 billion, while Walmart's market cap exceeds $580 billion.

When was Better Homes & Gardens founded or acquired?

The Better Homes & Gardens brand has a rich history spanning over a century. The magazine was founded in 1922 by Edwin Meredith in Des Moines, Iowa, initially under the title "Fruit, Garden and Home" before being renamed to Better Homes & Gardens in 1924. The magazine remained under Meredith Corporation's ownership for nearly 100 years until December 2021, when IAC acquired Meredith Corporation for $2.7 billion and merged it with its Dotdash digital publishing unit to form Dotdash Meredith. The brand's expansion into consumer products began specifically in 2004 when Meredith Corporation established the licensing agreement with Walmart for Better Homes & Gardens branded home goods. This partnership has continued and expanded following the transition to Dotdash Meredith ownership.

Who founded Better Homes & Gardens?

Edwin Meredith founded Better Homes & Gardens magazine in 1922. Meredith was a notable business leader and publisher who had previously served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Woodrow Wilson from 1920-1921. After his government service, Meredith returned to publishing, establishing what would become one of America's most enduring and influential lifestyle brands. The magazine was part of his vision to provide practical advice for improving American homes and gardens during the country's post-World War I housing expansion. The Better Homes & Gardens brand evolved significantly over the decades, but its core focus on accessible home improvement, gardening, and lifestyle content has remained consistent with Meredith's founding vision, even as ownership transferred to Dotdash Meredith in 2021.

What is Better Homes & Gardens' current market position?

Better Homes & Gardens holds a dominant position in both media and licensed consumer products. As a media brand, it maintains a combined monthly audience of approximately 43 million consumers across print (7.6 million circulation), digital properties (32 million monthly unique visitors), and social media platforms (10.5 million followers). The magazine ranks as the 5th largest consumer magazine in the United States by circulation as of 2026. In licensed consumer products, the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart generates approximately $3.9 billion in annual retail sales, making it Walmart's #1 home department brand and one of the most successful licensed brands in retail. The brand occupies a strategic middle-market position, offering elevated design and quality at accessible price points, and currently includes over 5,000 products across multiple home categories including furniture, decor, bedding, kitchenware, organization, and outdoor living.

Where are Better Homes & Gardens products manufactured?

Better Homes & Gardens products are manufactured through Walmart's global supply chain network across multiple regions. As of 2026, approximately 38% of products are made in North America (U.S. and Canada), 42% in Asia (primarily China, Vietnam, India, and Malaysia), and 20% in Mexico, Central America, and Europe. Manufacturing allocation varies significantly by product category, with large furniture items increasingly produced in North America following Walmart's strategic supply chain rebalancing initiative that began in 2023. All manufacturing partners must adhere to Walmart's Responsible Sourcing standards, which were significantly strengthened in 2024 with enhanced environmental and labor requirements. Product design originates from Dotdash Meredith's Consumer Products division in New York, with development refined through Walmart's product centers in Bentonville, Arkansas and Shenzhen, China before production begins at various manufacturing facilities.

How has the acquisition by IAC/Dotdash affected Better Homes & Gardens products?

The 2021 acquisition of Meredith Corporation by IAC and subsequent formation of Dotdash Meredith has had several notable impacts on Better Homes & Gardens products at Walmart. First, the integration of Dotdash's digital expertise has led to enhanced online shopping experiences, including expanded product detail content, improved photography standards, and interactive features like augmented reality room visualization tools launched in 2024. Second, the licensing program has been expanded with 15 new product categories introduced since the acquisition, including smart home technology products and eco-friendly lines that leverage Dotdash's strength in these content verticals. Third, the 2024 licensing renewal established deeper integration between editorial and product teams, with content creators providing direct input on upcoming product collections 18 months in advance. Finally, the consolidated media approach has enabled more sophisticated cross-platform marketing campaigns linking magazine features, digital content, and social media directly to Walmart product collections, resulting in 27% higher conversion rates compared to pre-acquisition campaigns.

Household & Consumer Goods

Who Owns Better Homes & Gardens?

Better Homes & Gardens products at Walmart are manufactured under license from Dotdash Meredith, with Walmart as the exclusive retailer. Dotdash Meredith, a subsidiary of IAC (NASDAQ: IAC), owns the brand and licenses it to Walmart, who manufactures and distributes the products. The licensing agreement, renewed in 2024, makes Walmart the exclusive retailer for Better Homes & Gardens branded home goods products.

Parent Company

Meredith Corporation

Founded

1922 (magazine), 2000s (Walmart product line)

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

New York, NY, USA (Dotdash Meredith)

mid rangemass marketUnited Statesall-agessustainable materialseco friendly productsresponsible sourcinghome efficiencygarden sustainabilityOfficial Website

Who Owns Better Homes & Gardens?

Parent Company: Meredith Corporation
Ownership Type: Licensed
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: MDP

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Better Homes & Gardens	Meredith Corporation	Licensed

History of Better Homes & Gardens

Founded: 1922 (magazine), 2000s (Walmart product line)
Founders: Edwin Meredith (magazine founder), Meredith Corporation (brand owner)

Better Homes & Gardens began as a magazine founded in 1922 by Edwin Meredith in Des Moines, Iowa. Meredith, who had previously served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1920-1921) under President Woodrow Wilson, established the publication to serve the growing interest in home improvement and gardening following World War I. Originally titled "Fruit, Garden and Home," the magazine was renamed "Better Homes & Gardens" in 1924 to better reflect its expanding content scope and aspirational positioning. Within its first decade, circulation reached over 1 million subscribers, establishing it as a cornerstone of American domestic life and a trusted source for practical advice on homemaking, gardening, and cooking.

Throughout the 20th century, Better Homes & Gardens evolved alongside American domestic culture. The 1950s saw the magazine flourish during the post-war housing boom, with circulation exceeding 6 million by 1960. The brand expanded into cookbooks, with the iconic red-and-white checked Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book first published in 1930 and becoming one of America's best-selling cookbooks with over 40 million copies sold across its 17 editions. The magazine continually adapted to changing lifestyles, addressing topics from Victory Gardens during World War II to dual-career households in the 1980s and sustainable living practices in the 2000s.

The brand's expansion into physical consumer products began in earnest in 2004 when Meredith Corporation established a landmark licensing agreement with Walmart for a line of home goods. The initial collection included approximately 200 items across bedding, bath, decorative accessories, and gardening products. This strategic partnership allowed Walmart to elevate its home goods offerings with the trusted Better Homes & Gardens name while providing Meredith with a significant new revenue stream beyond traditional publishing. By 2006, the line had expanded to over 500 products and became one of Walmart's fastest-growing private label collections.

Throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, the Better Homes & Gardens product line at Walmart expanded dramatically in both scope and sophistication. By 2015, the collection included over 3,000 items spanning furniture, home decor, kitchenware, bedding, bath, storage solutions, and outdoor living products. The brand became known for offering stylish, affordable home products with aesthetic appeal beyond typical mass-market offerings. Particularly successful categories included outdoor furniture, lighting fixtures, and decorative accessories, with several collections winning industry design awards.

A significant corporate change occurred in December 2021 when IAC acquired Meredith Corporation for $2.7 billion, merging it with its Dotdash digital publishing unit to form Dotdash Meredith. This acquisition transferred ownership of the Better Homes & Gardens brand to the newly formed company, with IAC (NASDAQ: IAC) becoming the ultimate parent company. The Dotdash Meredith merger integrated Meredith's iconic print brands with Dotdash's digital publishing expertise, creating one of America's largest publishers while maintaining the valuable licensing relationships established under Meredith.

In April 2024, Dotdash Meredith and Walmart announced a five-year extension of their licensing agreement through 2029, significantly expanding the product range to include new categories like smart home technology, sustainable materials, and organization solutions. The renewed partnership introduced enhanced digital integration, with Better Homes & Gardens editorial content directly linked to product pages through QR codes and augmented reality features allowing customers to visualize products in their homes before purchase. By early 2026, the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart had grown to over 5,000 products generating approximately $3.9 billion in annual retail sales, making it one of the most successful licensed home goods brands in the retail market.

About Meredith Corporation

Meredith Corporation operates through multiple business segments including national media brands, local television stations, and licensing operations. The company's business model focuses on serving American consumers across multiple platforms with trusted content and branded products.

In 2026, Meredith Corporation continues to operate as part of the Dotdash Meredith conglomerate, having been absorbed into the new conglomerate since 2021. The company serves 185 million Americans monthly through its various media properties and licensed products, maintaining a strong position in the women's lifestyle market, reaching 90 percent of U.S. female millennials through its brands. Meredith's publications had a readership of more than 120 million and paid circulation of more than 40 million, with websites having nearly 135 million monthly unique visitors and broadcast television stations reaching 11% of U.S. households.

The company has successfully expanded into licensing agreements, allowing its trusted brand names to appear on physical products while maintaining brand integrity and generating additional revenue streams beyond traditional publishing. In 2026, Meredith announced the 2026 Southern Living Idea House will call Texas home, continuing the brand's tradition of showcasing innovative home design and lifestyle concepts. Additionally, culinary stars including Bobby Flay, Maneet Chauhan, Tyler Florence, Stephanie Izard, Tiffany Derry, Brooke Williamson, and Andrew Zimmern will take center stage at the 2026 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, demonstrating the company's continued investment in experiential marketing and brand engagement.

Meredith has also embraced digital innovation, with People Inc. announcing an AI content partnership with Meta in December 2025, reflecting the company's commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence for content creation and distribution. The company launched People's iconic Puzzler for free, daily play on the People app, expanding its digital entertainment offerings. Real Simple launched an expansive product line exclusively with At Home, and debuted its eighth annual Real Simple Home in downtown Manhattan, showcasing the brand's influence in home and lifestyle markets. Travel + Leisure named Brazil the 2026 Destination of the Year, demonstrating the company's continued authority in travel content and recommendations.

Founded: 1922
Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NYSE: MDP
Revenue: not publicly disclosed

Visit Meredith Corporation website

View full company profile for Meredith Corporation

Where Is Better Homes & Gardens Made / Based?

Headquarters: New York, NY, USA (Dotdash Meredith)
Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Vietnam, Various international locations

Better Homes & Gardens Sustainability & Ethics

Better Homes & Gardens operates within Walmart's comprehensive sustainability framework, which addresses climate resilience, natural resource regeneration, circular economy practices, supply chain ethics, and animal welfare. As a licensed brand under Dotdash Meredith, Better Homes & Gardens products benefit from Walmart's global sustainability initiatives while maintaining the brand's commitment to home and garden environmental stewardship.

Climate Resilience and Energy Efficiency: Through Walmart's climate strategy, Better Homes & Gardens products are part of initiatives addressing climate change and sustainable supply chains. Walmart operates in 19 countries with a global supply chain, implementing robust energy and climate strategies that help strengthen business operations and communities. Better Homes & Gardens products increasingly feature energy-efficient designs and materials that reduce environmental impact while maintaining quality and affordability for consumers.

Circular Economy and Waste Reduction: Better Homes & Gardens participates in Walmart's transition from a "take-make-dispose" approach to a circular economy that values reuse, recycling, and material regeneration. The brand focuses on reducing waste across operations and developing innovative packaging and products that minimize environmental impact. Many Better Homes & Gardens products now incorporate recycled materials and sustainable packaging options, supporting Walmart's goal of reducing waste across global operations.

Sustainable Materials and Sourcing: Better Homes & Gardens products are manufactured through Walmart's global supply chain network, which adheres to responsible sourcing standards. Walmart's Responsible Sourcing program helps prevent forced labor, address unsafe working conditions, and promote the dignity of workers in consumer product supply chains. Better Homes & Gardens furniture and home decor items increasingly use certified sustainable materials, including FSC-certified wood for furniture products and recycled plastics for decorative accessories.

Animal Welfare Commitment: Through Walmart's animal welfare initiatives, Better Homes & Gardens garden products and outdoor living items are developed with consideration for animal welfare concerns. The company works closely with suppliers, farmers, and partners to address animal welfare throughout supply chains, particularly for garden tools, outdoor furniture, and products that may impact wildlife habitats.

Home and Garden Environmental Stewardship: As a brand focused on home and garden living, Better Homes & Gardens maintains a specific commitment to environmental stewardship in residential contexts. The brand's product development emphasizes eco-friendly gardening practices, water conservation solutions, and home products that support sustainable living. Better Homes & Gardens editorial content frequently features environmental education, sustainable gardening techniques, and eco-friendly home improvement advice, extending the brand's environmental commitment beyond products to consumer education.

Awards & Recognition

Better Homes & Gardens has received significant recognition throughout its 100+ year history for editorial excellence, design innovation, and consumer trust, establishing its position as one of America's most authoritative home and lifestyle media brands.

Editorial Excellence Awards: Better Homes & Gardens magazine has received numerous awards for editorial excellence, including recognition from the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) and the Association of Magazine Media (AMC). The magazine's consistent quality in home improvement, gardening, and lifestyle content has been acknowledged through prestigious industry awards that celebrate journalistic excellence and consumer service.

Homes & Gardens Design Awards Recognition: While separate from the Better Homes & Gardens brand, the annual Homes & Gardens Design Awards represent significant recognition in the home design industry that aligns with the brand's aesthetic and quality standards. These awards celebrate innovative interior design, architecture, and garden design, with Better Homes & Gardens frequently featuring award-winning projects and designers in its editorial content, extending the brand's influence in home design excellence.

Consumer Trust and Brand Recognition: Better Homes & Gardens maintains exceptional brand recognition, with 97% brand awareness among U.S. consumers according to market research. The brand has been consistently ranked among America's most trusted media brands, receiving recognition from consumer research organizations for its reliability, accuracy, and helpfulness in home and garden guidance.

Digital Media Innovation: Better Homes & Gardens has received recognition for its digital media innovation, including awards for website design, mobile applications, and digital content delivery. The brand's successful transition from print-dominant to digital-first publishing has been acknowledged by media industry organizations for maintaining audience engagement while expanding digital reach.

Licensing Industry Recognition: Better Homes & Gardens' licensing program with Walmart has been recognized as one of the most successful brand extension partnerships in retail. The program has received awards from licensing industry organizations for its innovative approach to extending media brands into consumer products while maintaining brand integrity and quality standards.

Home Improvement Authority Recognition: Better Homes & Gardens has been acknowledged as a leading authority in home improvement and DIY projects by tool manufacturers, home improvement retailers, and industry associations. The brand's testing programs and product recommendations are frequently cited by manufacturers as validation of product quality and performance.

Better Homes & Gardens Recalls & Controversies

Better Homes & Gardens has maintained a strong operational record throughout its history, though the brand has faced some challenges related to product quality issues through its Walmart licensing partnership and broader industry dynamics affecting media brands and licensed consumer products.

Walmart Product Quality Issues: As a licensed brand sold exclusively through Walmart, Better Homes & Gardens products have occasionally been affected by Walmart-wide product recalls and quality control issues. These incidents typically involve specific product categories rather than systematic brand problems and are addressed through Walmart's standard recall procedures and customer service processes. Recent examples have included certain furniture items with structural integrity issues and kitchen products with manufacturing defects, all of which were addressed through standard retail recall processes.

Media Industry Transition Challenges: Like many traditional print media brands, Better Homes & Gardens has faced challenges related to the transition from print-dominant to digital-first publishing. The brand has successfully navigated this transition through strategic digital investments and content adaptation, though the process has involved workforce reductions and operational restructuring that have affected some long-term employees and traditional publishing workflows.

Licensed Brand Quality Control: Better Homes & Gardens faces ongoing challenges related to maintaining consistent quality standards across its extensive product line of over 5,000 items manufactured through Walmart's global supply chain. Variable product quality across different manufacturing partners and price tiers within the collection has occasionally led to customer satisfaction issues, though Dotdash Meredith maintains quality control standards and brand guidelines to address these concerns.

Brand Perception and Positioning: Better Homes & Gardens faces ongoing challenges related to brand perception stemming from its association with Walmart's mass-market positioning. Despite the brand's premium positioning within Walmart's home goods category, some consumers perceive the brand as mass-market rather than premium, creating marketing challenges for certain product categories and price points.

Editorial Independence Considerations: As both a media brand and licensed consumer products brand, Better Homes & Gardens navigates potential conflicts of interest between editorial independence and commercial interests. The brand maintains separate editorial and product development teams, though questions about editorial objectivity regarding product coverage have occasionally arisen from consumer advocates and media critics.

Supply Chain Ethics Scrutiny: Through Walmart's global supply chain, Better Homes & Gardens products are subject to scrutiny regarding manufacturing practices, labor conditions, and environmental standards. While Walmart has strengthened its Responsible Sourcing program in recent years, the brand occasionally faces questions about manufacturing ethics in different regions, particularly regarding worker safety and environmental compliance in overseas production facilities.

Better Homes & Gardens Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Century-long brand heritage providing exceptional consumer trust and recognition (97% brand awareness among U.S. consumers)
+Exclusive Walmart partnership offering unparalleled retail distribution through 4,700+ stores and robust e-commerce platform
+Dotdash Meredith's media channels providing integrated marketing opportunities across print, digital, and social platforms
+Diversified product portfolio spanning over 5,000 items across major home goods categories
+Innovation pipeline supported by Dotdash Meredith's consumer insights and trend forecasting capabilities
+Pricing strategy that delivers perceived premium value at mass-market price points
+Stable licensing partnership recently extended through 2029, providing long-term planning security

Considerations

-Exclusive distribution through Walmart limiting access to luxury retail channels and higher-end consumers
-Dependency on licensing agreement renewal terms and changing Walmart merchandising strategies
-Growing competition from retailers' private label home brands like Target's Threshold and Amazon Basics
-Variable product quality across different manufacturing partners and price tiers within the collection
-Brand perception challenges from association with Walmart's mass-market positioning despite premium positioning within that context
-Limited control over manufacturing quality and sustainability practices managed by Walmart's global sourcing network
-Potential conflicts between editorial independence of Better Homes & Gardens media and commercial interests of licensed products

Frequently Asked Questions About Better Homes & Gardens

Sources & Further Reading

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases

Better Homes & Gardens on Amazon

Competitors to Better Homes & Gardens

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
The Pioneer Woman	Ree Drummond	USA (Ree Drummond's base)	2015	Mass market	United states	Unisex
Mainstays	Walmart	USA	1998	Mass market	Global	All-ages

Learn More About Competitors

The Pioneer Woman

Owned by Ree Drummond

Licensed kitchenware and home decor brand created by Ree Drummond, featuring rustic-inspired products available exclusively at Walmart.

kitchenwarehome-decorlicensed-brand

Mainstays

Owned by Walmart Inc.

Walmart's primary private label brand offering affordable home furniture, bedding, kitchenware, and home decor products for everyday living.

home-furniturebeddingkitchenware

Competitive Analysis

Market Positioning: Better Homes & Gardens competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.

Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.

Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.

Meredith Corporation Stock Information

Jobs at Meredith Corporation

Latest News About Better Homes & Gardens

People Also Searched

Discover popular brands and companies in the Household & Consumer Goods category and related searches from other users.

Brandantibacterial

Activex

Turkish brand of antibacterial and hygiene products manufactured and marketed by Evyap, focused on health and protection.

Brand in Household & Consumer Goods

hygienehealth

Brandcleaning

Ajax

American household cleaning brand launched in 1947 by Colgate-Palmolive, known for its powdered cleanser and the iconic "Stronger than dirt" tagline.

Brand in Household & Consumer Goods

householdsurface-cleaner

Brandbaking-soda

Arm & Hammer

American consumer goods brand owned by Church & Dwight, best known for baking soda-based products including toothpaste, laundry detergent, cat litter, and deodorant.