HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from April 1995:
Macy's makes its mark. (Federated Merchandising's marketing strategy)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - Federated Merchandising intends to combine the best of both worlds now that the company has taken over Macy's - and that includes picking up Macy's housewares moniker, The Cellar, and Macy's Tools of the Trade and Charter Club private label programs.Terry Lundgren, ...
Brits in deal for Syroco. (Marley PLC) (includes related article on Marley)
Apr 03, 1995; ... BOSTON - Syratech Corp. is selling its casual outdoor furniture division, Syroco, to concentrate on its growing tabletop and giftware endeavors.Syroco manufactures and markets injection-molded resin casual furniture and accessories; last year it bought Omni, which is a marketer of ...
Springing for Dawson. (Springs INdustries to buy Dawson Home Fashions)
Apr 03, 1995 ... NEW YORK-In a deal that would make it the unequivocal market leader in shower curtains, $2.1 billion Springs Industries Inc. has signed a letter of intent to acquire Dawson Home Fashions Inc. The acquisition is expected to be completed before May 31.Dawson, whose business is ...
Cal cool. (Calvin Klein Home Collection) (includes related articles on Calvin Klein products and marketing)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - Do you know anyone who could convince the major department stores to give up some of their best retail space for a collection they've never seen?Perhaps? What if this collection is brand new for this person? What if he only has a limited base of knowledge about the ...
Bed, Bath & Beyond eyes $600 million for the year.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - Bed Bath & Beyond expects sales in the range of $570 million to $600 million for the fiscal year that began last month, according to Ron Curwin, chief financial officer. This volume would represent a gain of 30 to 35 percent over the year just completed.In the coming ...
500 Radio Shacks on drawing board.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... FORT WORTH - Tandy Corp. says it will increase the number of Radio Shack stores by about 500 in the next five years.One hundred new company-owned and operated stores are slated to open each year for the next five years, depending on market conditions, which would give the chain ...
Macy's West taps Sullivan. (Jeremiah Sullivan)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... LOS ANGELES - Jeremiah Sullivan will join the Macy's West/Bullock's division of Federated Department Storm May 1 as president and chief operating officer. a new position. Sullivan ...
Home goods prices in line. (February, 1995)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... WASHINGTON (FNS) - Retail prices for home furnishings in February continued their moderate stance, increasing a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent as they kept pace with prices for all retail goods, which increased 0.3 percent, according to the Labor Department.Compared to the ...
Conair files for IPO. (initial public offering)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... STAMFORD, Conn. - Conair Corp., the $650 million haircare, telecommunications add housewares firm, filed a registration for an initial public offering in Washington late last week.Bear Stearns & Co. is the lead ...
Shoppers talk, Tysons Corner listens. (Tysons Corner Center)
Apr 03, 1995; ... WASHINGTON (FNS) - Tysons Corner Center's mall map will be updated soon, largely because of intensive discussions with groups of customers known as focus groups. The mall's seasonal shopping bags may soon be a thing of the past, largely for the same reason.Tysons Corner Center, ...
Shopping centers: nations swap strategies. (Second World Congress of the International Council of Shopping Centers)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... VIENNA - The shopping center industry is preparing for an international approach.The Second World Congress of the International Council of Shopping Centers in Vienna attracted exhibitors and visitors from 37 countries, including Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Argentina, the United ...
Malling of America: new challenges. (Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - As many as 15 percent of all regional malls will not survive in their current form by the year 2000, according to experts cited by the International Council, of Shopping Centers (ICSC)."This represents at least 200 million square feet of problems and opportunities," ...
Cohesive selling for simplified lives.
Apr 03, 1995; ... CHICAGO (FNS) - Consumers at the turn of the century will be looking to simplify their lives, and marketers who want to reach them should abandon the current fragmented marketing and endless line extensions in favor of unifying themes.Laurel Cutler, vice chairman of Foote Cone & ...
Closeup: British, French merchandising.
Apr 03, 1995 ... STANFORD, Cal. - When a shopper goes into Marks & Spencer or Sainsbury's in London looking for a new store-brand product, she knows she's going to walk out with a good-value, high-quality product.Why isn't the same true in France or the United States? Why does one see such big ...
Reflections on Stanley Hardware.(The Stanley Works' Stanley Home Decor unit)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - the Stanley Works, the $2.5 billion consumer products powerhouse best known for its tools and hardware, is moving into home furnishings with a new business unit called Stanley Home Decor, which win market a line of decorative mirrors.The move is poised to bring ...
Lightning fast. (Pergament Home Center lighting departments)
Apr 03, 1995; ... MELVILLE, N.Y. - One thing you won't find at a Pergament Home Center lightning department is a brass-bound chandelier. Another is dust. Pergament executives know their customer wants something more fashionable than the brass-bound. They also know the average customer shops their stores once ...
Rolling out the rugs at market. (area rugs to be shown at International Home Furnishings Market)
Apr 03, 1995; ... HIGH POINT, N.C. - Area rugs, which have been gaining importance in the past few years at the International Home Furnishings Market, this month will have a bigger presence than ever.There will be about 45 suppliers showing. this month, up from about 25 only two years ago. New this ...
Simmons Caribbean Bedding Inc. (building Carolina, Puerto Rico, manufacturing plant)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... ATLANTA - Simmons Caribbean Bedding Inc., Simmons Co.'s Puerto Rican plant, has broken ground for a new manufacturing facility in Carolina, Puerto ...
Gabberts puts McKee at helm. (Gabberts Furniture and Design Studio; Stephen McKee)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... MINNEAPOLIS - Gabberts Furniture and Design Studio, a top 100 home furnishings retailer, has a new president and chief operating officer with the promotion of Stephen McKee to those positions.For the past eight years, McKee was vice president and chief operating officer for the ...
Big Dorel results in fourth quarter. (Dorel Industries)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... MONTREAL - Reporting a strong performance by its ready-to-assemble furniture lines, Dorel Industries Inc. said it posted record fourth quarter results.For the fourth quarter ended last Dec. 30, sales were $91.24 million, up from $65.75 million for the fourth quarter of 1993 ....
Wilton Armetale in lamps. (launching lamp and mirror product lines)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... HIGH POINT, N.C. - Wilton Armetale is branching out from tabletop and serve-ware into home decor and will launch a line of table, accent and candlestick lamps and large wall mirrors at the home furnishings market here this month.Wilton Armetale's collection, manufactured of its ...
Signature, Shoal Creek making a comeback. (Venture Lighting International's Signature Lighting and Shoal Creek lighting)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... CLEVELAND- The Shoal Creek lighting line has re-emerged, and its new owners hope to return the name to the stature it had in its heyday.Parent company Venture Lighting International, which acquired the rights to the Shoal Creek name in 1993, has introduced 150 new, handpainted ...
Capel's out to banish ho-hum. (rug advertising)
Apr 03, 1995 ... TROY, N.C. - According to Kea Capel, marketing and creative services manager for Capel, retailers are ready for a revolution - an advertising revolution."Retailers are bored and confused by their manufacturer-supplied ad materials," says Capel. "Too many mediocre ideas get placed ...
Tapistron plugs in CYP, deals with Canada firm. (Tapistron International sells computerized-yarn-placement machine to Graphics Tufting Center; Peerless Carpet Corp.)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... RINGGOLD, Ga. - Tapistron International, based here, reported it has installed one of its first computerized yarn placement (CYP) machines in the Dalton, Ga., carpet industry, and agreed to a product development deal with the largest carpet manufacturer in Canada."I am thrilled ...
Bibb cuts N.Y. staff.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - THE Bibb Co. has downsized its New York office by 27 percent, giving the boot to eight of 30 employees.The move was financially motivated, according to a former Bibb Co. executive."They are desperate for cash," he says. "Tom Foley [chairman and chief ...
House dressing. (designer home collections)
Apr 03, 1995; ... SAN FRANCISCO - Back in 1983, just before he launched his home collection. Ralph Lauren made a prescient to observation. "If my things start selling well," Lauren said, "I can tell you that many designers will jump into the business."Lauren was right on target with his prediction - ...
Into the towel melee: Fieldcrest to hit 'magic' $9.99.
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - The hotly contested solid-color towel business just got hotter with Fieldcrest Cannon's decision to introduce a solid-color program at the "key" price point of $9.99.The line, which will be unveiled at the April market, will compete for shelf space with solid-color ...
Mancini designing Portfolio prints. (Wesley Mancini Ltd.)
Apr 03, 1995; ... Bethpage, N.Y. - Wesley Mancini Ltd. has been named the primary design source for the printed fabric division of Portfolio Textiles. Portfolio is the converting arm of Kravet Fabrics.Beth Kimless Greene, director of marketing at Portfolio, says: "Wesley is known for being so ...
Converter Qualitex diversifies into home furnishings arena.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW York - Qualitex, a 50-year-old print and dye custom converter to the apparel industry, is slowly tapping into the home furnishings industry.Like many of its home furnishings counterparts, Qualitex felt the pressures of increased competition. "The apparel business is getting ...
Slipcovers in fashion limelight.
Apr 03, 1995; ... New York - The slipcover market is one of the best opportunities in home furnishings today, say fabric executives, and there seems to be no end to the potential growth.Suppliers say the home decorative industry is becoming more competitive. Fabric suppliers who were once quietly ...
Finding ways to deflect price hike. (pricing of twin-size bedsheets)
Apr 03, 1995; ... Adjusting retail prices to take into consideration higher mill costs in a way that does not have a negative impact on sales is what occupies home textile merchants more now than in recent years. For two main reasons: the increases by suppliers added to what they obtained last year are too ...
The Bibb Co.(Market Preview: Bed & Bath)
Apr 03, 1995 ... COLORFUL JESSICA: Jessica Mc-Clintock patterns are alive with color. "People are starved for color," says Anthony Noberini, stylist. "This is the most we put out for her. The look is cleaner, fresher, more saturation." Ribbon Roses is McClintock's first use of pale yellow. Florabunda, an ...
Sure Fit to adopt brand names of new parent Fieldcrest Cannon.(Market Preview: Accessories)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - Leading slip-cover supplier Sure Fit, which was purchased by domestics mill Fieldcrest Cannon this year, is dropping its existing brand names in favor of its new parent's brands.Sure Fit's Decor Express and Homescapes product lines, primarily mass-market labels, will be ...
Fashion Inds.(Market Preview: Table Linens)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... A TABLE FOR EVERY TASTE: Fashion Industries is setting the table with five new prints ranging from harvest fruit-and-floral patterns to textured block-print styles to large-scale florals. Available in prepacks wholesaling from $5.50 to $7.50. ...
Riverdale.(Market Preview: Accessories)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... HALL OF FAME: Jena Hall is Riverdale's newest license and another good reason to take in the company's largest line yet in decorative pillows and accessories. The new collection includes five themes ranging from jungle animals and skin designs to romantic tapestries to occupation pillows ...
Ex-Cell Home Fashions.(Market Preview: Accessories)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... BLUE-RIBBON PANELS: Having built its reputation on the strength of its panel prints, the Linde/Vogue decorative pillow division has lots more, grouped into collections for more impact on the retail floor. There are Victorian florals; Pig Heaven featuring four humorous pig motifs; Jenny's ...
Georgia Tufters.(Market Preview: Bed & Bath)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... TUFT LUCK: Georgia Tufters is showing an all-polyester tufted chenille bedspread targeting the opening price point (wholesale cost: $18 twin). The regimental sunflower pattern, developed with catalogs in mind, is in bright yellows and greens. For department stores, there is an all-natural ...
Whisper Soft.(Market Preview: Bedroom Ensembles)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... SCANDANAVIAN STYLE: Whisper Soft is turning to Scandinavia for design inspiration with brushstroke looks. The five designs range from primary colored abstracts, to pastel florals paired with stripes, to juvenile vehicle patterns. All are on 180-count 50/50 blend. "They give off an ...
Arlee.(Market Preview: Accessories)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... NATURALS HIT THE DEC: Arlee is bouncing a huge natural statement off its decorative pillows with 30 new SKUs. These all-cotton woven naturals include a botanical leaf, fleur-de-lis and coordinated stripe designs. For added interest, some are fringed, some are welted, and other are ...
Krups ups ante on food prep.(wants to be leader in food preparation equipment industry)(Company Profile)
Apr 03, 1995; ... Closter, N.J. - Krups North America's new chief operating officer says he plans to increase the company's business by expanding lines and backing the moveWith less than three months on this latest assignment, Rolf Larsen is still working to put company strategy into place. What is ...
Picasso lives again; JMP-Newcor owner creates Masterpiece.(James Mills, Masterpiece Editions Ltd.)(Company Profile)
Apr 03, 1995; ... Skokie, Ill. - James Mills, president and chief executive officer of JMP-Newcor, has formed Masterpiece Editions Ltd., a firm that is developing and marketing a full collection of home furnishings based on the ceramic and painted works of Pablo Picasso.The newly created firm has ...
KitchenAid plant on tap.(Company Profile)
Apr 03, 1995; ... Greenville, Ohio - The small appliances division f Whirlpool Corp. has moved one step closer to full-line supply with the ground-breaking of a new plant here.The plant, which will replace four operating facilities in the area, will manufacture Kitchen Aid small electrics, including ...
Table timing.(Retroneu/Excel, includes related article on product introduction)(Company Profile)
Apr 03, 1995; ... Garden City N.Y. - Timing is everything to Harmon Stein, president of Retroneu/Excel, a flatware and dinnerware supplier.Retroneu/Excel, with sales of $30 million in 1994, balances two branded lines of tableware addressing distinct markets. The firm's Retroneu brand is marketed ...
Metrokane named Jeffery Bassuk vice president of sales.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... NEW YORK - Metrokane named Jeffery Bassuk vice president of sales, ...
GHC taps Blackwell sales, marketing VP. (General Housewares Corp., John Blackwell)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Industry veteran John Blackwell has been named vice president of sales and marketing for General Housewares Corp. (GHC).Blackwell oversees the company's internal sales and marketing and outside rep organizations. He succeeds Scott Fawcett, who left in February ...
Mass gadgets go on health kick.
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - Americans are cutting out the fat, and mass merchant sales of gadgets geared to low-fat eating are showing healthy increases.Tools and gadgets relating to fresh produce, pasta, herbs, seafood and low-fat cooking in general are on the upswing, manufacturers and retailers ...
Corning upping Pyrex capacity 40%.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... GREENVILLE, Ohio - In a $4.2 million undertaking, Corning Consumer Products Co. will increase production capacity at its Pyrex glass ovenware plant here by 40 percent, Square footage will remain unchanged.The expenditure involves adding a new line to an existing mixing and melting ...
A first for Lamson & Goodnow: cutlery line with plastic handles.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... LAS VEGAS - Lamson & Goodnow Mfg. Co. is doing something it has never done in 155 years of domestic cutlery manufacturing: It is offering a knife line with plastic handles.The forged, fine-edge line, Lamson Sharp Gold, will be unveiled at the Gourmet Products Show. Handles are made ...
Buyers on lookout for everyday ware.(tabletop buyers)
Apr 03, 1995 ... NEW YORK - Tabletop buyers, from catalogs to specialty stores, report growing popularity of casual dinnerware and will look for even more everyday lines at next week's New York Spring Tabletop Show."We're looking for more casual lines in dinnerware," says Greg Johnson, general ...
Wilton is polishing its matte finish line.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... MOUNT JOY, Pa. - Wilton Armetale is eyeing matte finish as a growth opportunity heading into next week's New York Tabletop Market.Wilton is enhancing the matte finish Countryware line of serving pieces with three new items in the Wheat Sheaf pattern. The small and large round, and ...
Essex shows 'Hot Stuff' bakeware.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - The Essex Collection is highlighting its new bakeware collection by designer Heather Outlaw Kurpis at next week's tabletop show.The bakeware line, Hot Stuff, is hand-decorated in colors of terra cotta, apple green, strawberry and lemon yellow."Based on the ...
Muirfield likes things bright. (porcelain dinnerware)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... ISELIN, N.J. - Muirfield will emphasize bright colors in its popularly priced porcelain dinnerware introductions at next week's New York Spring Tabletop Show.There are seven new patterns, each of which is scheduled for July 1995 delivery. The designs range from elaborate geometrics ...
Waterford names new eastern VP. (Cindy Mimms)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... WALL, N.J. - Waterford Crystal USA named Cindy Mimms vice president, Eastern regional manager for wholesale sales. She reports to Carl Mielke, senior vice ...
Spode's Blue Room boom: new plate, children's set.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - Spode will expand its highly successful Blue Room program at next week's New York Spring Tabletop Show with a children's set, a collectors' plate and other tableware items.Spode has consistently added to its Blue Room line since its inception a year and a half ago. ...
Portmeiron's new dinnerware picks up blue-and-white trend.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW York - Portmeirion, recognizing the popularity of blue and white in the dinnerware market, is launching its first blue and white pattern, Harvest Blue, at next week's New York Spring Tabletop Market.The line includes dinnerware and a full collection of accessories. The ...
Noritake to present ceramic giftware.
Apr 03, 1995; ... SECAUCUS, N.J. - Noritake, a leading upstairs china manufacturer, is presenting its first ceramic giftware collection and 38 new dinnerware patterns at next week's New York Spring Tabletop Show.Noritake is offering two 15-SKU collections of ceramic giftware, sourced in China. Both ...
DeLonghi's parent buys Italian maker Micromax.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... CARLSTADT, N.J. - DeLonghi America's parent company has purchased Italian manufacturer Micromax, confirmed U.S. president McCusker.The terms of the deal were not disclosed.Micromax is based in Italy, as is Delonghi America's parent, DeLonghi Spa. Delonghi produces a ...
Hoover seen pacing Maytag.(1995 marketing strategy)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... NEWTON, Iowa - Maytag expects Hoover to continue to play a key role in the corporation's growth in 1995 as it comes off a record year in floor care sales.The strength of the Hoover vacuum brand in North America should contribute to another favorable year for the parent, said ...
Selfix links loss to restructuring. (1994 finances)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... Chicago - Restructuring and rising resin costs slowed sales and contributed to a net loss for Selfix Inc., a plastic home organization supplier, in 1994.Selfix's new management team focused last year on reducing excess inventory, cutting personnel and building a new product ...
New Hoover uprights: low to high.(vacuum cleaners)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NORTH CANTON, Ohio - Hoover has rounded out its less than one-year-old upright lineup with new value, middle and upscale vacuums that have begun shipping.The additions are designed to give more choices at key promotional price points of $99 to $159, said Jerry Lauer, vice president ...
Weak dollar jitters: Japanese unsure about price hikes. (consumer electronics)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... NEW YORK - As the Japanese fiscal year begins, executives with consumer electronics firms fret over the dollar's continued slide against the yen. Although no one is certain, many japanese marketers believe it is unlikely prices of electronics goods will increase.Many companies ...
Making waves. (International Jensen)(Company Profile)
Apr 03, 1995; ... LINCOLNSHIRE, I11 - Converting diamonds in the rough into polished gems has become audio maker International Jensen's specialty.In the past six years, Jensen has acquired five speaker companies that were basically either little known or "in the rough," needing to be restored to ...
'Small dish big wish.' (Digital Satellite System sweepstakes)
Apr 03, 1995; ... LOS ANGELES - Thomson Consumer Electronics, DirecTv and United States Satellite Broadcasting plan to conduct a Digital Satellite System sweepstakes through retailers. The promotion is supported by DSS programmers such as HBO and The Disney Channel.The $2.5 million "Small Dish Big ...
Kenwood to the races. (concert sponsorship at NASCAR events)(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995 ... LONG BEACH, Cal.- Starting in May, Kenwood U.S.A. plans marketing initiatives to improve its name recognition and help bring customers into retailers.Kenwood is sponsoring the "Speed of Sound Tour" featuring 10 free concerts by bands such as .38 Special, Foreigner and Tanya ...
Polk Audio production leaving U.S.(Brief Article)
Apr 03, 1995; ... BALTIMORE - Polk Audio Corp. says the planned relocation of its remaining loudspeaker manufacturing to Mexico, scheduled for next month, will remove most of its manufacturing from the U.S. The firm will maintain a small presence in San Diego, Cal.Mark Klopfer, Polk's president, ...