Ethan Allen CEO on weak earnings: Impacted by government shutdown's impact on consumer confidence

Financial Performance - The company experienced impact from shutdowns on consumer confidence and traffic in the first quarter [1] - Despite shutdowns, written sales in the retail division increased by 52% [2] - The company increased marketing spend to 34% from 23% [3] - The company ended the quarter with $194 million in cash, up from $187 million last year, even after paying $10 million in regular dividends (39 cents) and $6 million in special dividends [4] Operational Highlights - The company manufactures almost 80% of its products in North America [4][5] - The company delivers products at one price throughout North America [6] - The company is continuously monitoring the impact of tariffs, leveraging manufacturing in Mexico and Honduras [7] - The company emphasizes its vertically integrated structure as a strength [3][5][7]