HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from November 1995:
Hard lines at Strouds; trying housewares.
Nov 06, 1995 ... NEW YORK--Strouds, the 60-store linen specialist, is branching out into housewares.The $174 million home textile specialty chain, which dubs itself "the linen experts," will begin the experiment with an assortment of housewares in five of its large-format stores by the end of the ...
Home team. (QVC Inc. seeks to increase sales of home furnishings)
Nov 06, 1995; ... West Chester, Pa.--Like much of America, QVC is renovating its home--merchandising, that is.With over $1.4 billion in total sales for 1994, the world's largest and most sophisticated electronic retailer of home furnishing is fine-tuning its formula for reaching Americans within ...
One stop tabletop. (new offerings at the 1995 New York Fall Tabletop Show)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--The fiercely competitive--and ever-shrinking-- numbers of tabletop retailers are looking for one-stop shopping sources to appeal to consumers' varying lifestyle needs.Vendors at last week's New York Fall Tablecop Show aimed to give retailers just what they wanted. ...
October sales soft; electronics is retail's bright spot. (1995)(Industry Overview)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York (FNS)--Consumer electronics was the one bright spot in an otherwise dreary October for retail sales. The continuing poor sales picture cast an ominous outlook or Christmas."If you're not selling computers, you're not selling anything," said Terrence J. McEvoy, an analyst ...
Operating chief for Libbey. (Richard I. Reynolds appointed chief operating officer and executive vice president; Kenneth G. Wilkes appointed chief financial officer and vice president)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... TOLEDO, Ohio--Libbey Inc. has named Richard I. Reynolds to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. He had been vice president and chief financial officer.In his new position, Reynolds will oversee the day-to-day operating activities of ...
Ex-Apple exec takes AST helm. (Ian Diery, former Apple Computer Inc. executive, appointed president and CEO at AST Research Inc.)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... IRVINE, Cal.--In the wake of its sixth consecutive unprofitable quarter, AST Research Inc. moved to shore up its struggling PC business by hiring former Apple Computer executive lan Diery as its new president and chief executive.AST reported Thursday that it lost $96.4 million in ...
T-Fal for electrics. (T-Fal Corp. changing brand name of electric appliance line from Tefal to T-Fal)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... NEW YORK--In a move to capitalize on its franchise in cookware, T-Fal Corp. has changed the name of its electrics brand to conform to the corporate name. Its electrics brand was spelled differently, Tefal, but pronounced like the cookware name.T-Fal's president and CEO, Andre ...
O'Sullivan's qtr. profits drop. (O'Sullivan Industries Holdings Inc., first quarter ending September 30, 1995)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... O'Sullivan Industries reported sales for its first quarter ended Sept. 30 rose about 3 percent to $74.8 million from $72.7 million a year earlier, as net income declined by two-thirds to $1.3 million, or 8 cents a share, from $4.2 million, or 25 cents."We had projected lower ...
Bonny to gain bakeware line. (Bonny Products Inc. acquired by Frederick Cooper PLC)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... Bonny Products Inc., under its second new owner this year, is about to get a line of bakeware. The gadget vendor has been acquired by Frederick Cooper PLC of Worcester, England, from Apax Partners for an undisclosed amount.Cooper plans to launch a line of bakeware products in the ...
Swallen's files Chapter 11.(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... Swallen's Inc., a seven-store discount chain based in Cincinnati, has filed a Chapter 11 petition to reorganize.The chain immediately closed two unprofitable stores. Thomas W. Coffey, counsel to the chain, did not rule out more closing, but said none are imminent.Coffey, ...
Displays: whetting appetites. (Christmas displays)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Retailers spend about a billion dollars on visual merchandising and display each Christmas--about half of what they spend on a yearly basis, according to Doug Hope, publisher of Display Design & Ideas.However, Hope, whose retail trade publication produces the annual ...
Bradlees finding its way back. (from Chapter 11 bankruptcy)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York (FNS)--It took four months but Bradlees Inc. executives feel the 126-store discount chain has recovered from the trauma of Chapter 11 and, with a revamped merchandising effort, improved inventory levels and its vendors and banks aligned behind them, can now start to lay a foundation ...
Update on open systems standards. (Association for Retailing Technology Standards and retail information systems)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Chicago (FNS)--The Association for Retailing Technology Standards (ARTS) updated retail information systems executives on progress in setting open systems standards for the industry at the National Retail Federation's Riscon '95 conference here.Separate ARTS committees released the ...
Latex redux: foam rebounds in supply lines. (resurgence in latex mattress sector)
Nov 06, 1995; ... High Point, N.C.--It was 40 years ago when latex mattresses reached their peak, accounting for almost 7 percent of the U.S. bedding market. Today, they account for less than 1 percent. But that could change.At the High Point market last month, Spring Air, which supplies ...
Taken to task. (retailers finding sales opportunities in task lighting units)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Retailers are taking lamp departments to task.They're finding healthy turns and gross margins in those functional desk lamps known as task lighting.Compared with the promotional halogen torchiere, which retails for $14.88 or more, yet produces a relatively short ...
Stability job one in lamps. (business relationship between suppliers and retailers critical in portable lamp industry)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Retailers say financial stability has become their number-one criterion in choosing a lamp supplier.It's a decidedly tough environment, according, to buyers. Retailers are trying to do more business with fewer vendors, and lighting importers are fighting tooth and nail to ...
Mass designs: Nourison adds lower-price unit. (new area-rug importing division, Homestyle)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Saddle Brook, N.J.--Area rug importer nourison has created a new division, Homestyle, to target mass merchants, home centers and discount stores.Nourison's strength in the past several years has been in serving a variety, of distribution channels with mid- to higher-priced ...
Masland Corp. (William J. Branch planning to resign as CEO, to be replaced by Frank Preston on January 1, 1996)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... CARLISLE, Pa.--William J. Branch, chairman of Masland Corp., has reported plans to step down as chief executive on Jan. 1. He will remain chairman.Succeeding Branch as chief executive will be Frank Preston, chief operating officer. He joined Masland in January 1994. His previous ...
Cresswell Lighting. (agreement with Tovin Design Associates for new lighting collection)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... HIGH POINT, N.C.--Expensive mattresses sporting retail price tags in the $2,000 range were a continuation of vendors bringing more plush bedding into the marketplace. Vendors included the Greek-inspired Cox & Lawrence line with the top number retailing for $1,999 in queen-size and Spring ...
Brushstrokes: art for masses. (Atelier America introduces Brushstrokes Collection, mass-produced reproductions of oil paintings)(Product Announcement)
Nov 06, 1995; ... High Point, N.C.--Harvey Kalef's dream of bringing realized with his Brushstrokes Collection of oil on canvas framed artwork, introduced at the recent home furnishings market here.The Brushstrokes Collection was developed using a new, patented process that allows for mass ...
Karastan steps up to the Net. (area-rug maker using Internet's World Wide Web to advertise, provide information)
Nov 06, 1995; ... High Point, NC--The number of area rug companies hitting the information superhighway continues to grow. The latest entry is Calhoun, Ga.-based Karastan, which reported at the International Home Furnishings Market here that it has established a page on the World Wide Web.Execs hope ...
Sheep help plug New Zealand wool. (Wools of New Zealand promoting country's wool industry)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--To boost the profile of New Zealand wool in floorcoverings, Wools of New Zealand threw a bash for retailers, suppliers--and sheep.Those live, wooly things were the stars of the presentation, held in a large loft in Manhattan.Nineteen area rug and broadloom ...
Simmons opens facility for R&D.(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... NORCROSS, Ga.--In a further commitment to research and employee development, Atlanta based bedding producer Simmons unveiled the Simmons Institute for Technology and Education (S.I.T.E.) here late last month. The 38,000-square-foot, built-to-suit facility houses a sales training center, ...
MicroCenter unveils modular components. (Modular Solutions Series ergonomically-designed computer furniture)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Irwindale, Cal.-- Micro-Center, a WinsLoew company based here, has launched its Modular Solutions Series of ergonomically designed components.Included in this assortment is the ErgoScape component line, which can be combined to create a compact desk, a U-shaped workstation with ...
Office Star sits pretty at promo price points. (Office Star Products introduces two new executive chairs)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... POMONA, Cal.--In response to requests for feature-intensive seating at promotional price points, Office Star Products, based here, has introduced two chairs designed to fill the bill.The new models added to Office Star's Work Smart Line--EX100 and EX110--are ergonomically designed ...
Levitz names Michael Bozic chairman. (Levitz Furniture Corp., chairman and CEO)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... Boca Raton, Fla.--Levitz Furniture has appointed Michael Bozic its chairman and chief executive, effective immediately, ending the troubled furniture retailer's expedited search for a new leader.Bozic brings with him an extensive retail background. For four years, he has served as ...
Rhodes completes Weberg acquisition. (acquisition of furniture stores from Weberg Enterprises)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... ATLANTA--Rhodes completed the acquisition of 21 retail furniture stores and two distribution centers from Weberg Enterprises, expanding Rhodes to 103 stores in 14 Southeastern, Midwestern and Western state.The move gives Rhodes outlets in the states of Colorado and Texas, and ...
Lea introduces Learning Center. (Lea Industries introduces bedroom furniture for children)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... HIGH POINT, N.C.--It was just a year ago that youth furniture supplier Lea Industries went to 18 youngsters, ages 5 through 12, and asked them what they wanted in their bedroom furniture.And, at last month's International Home Furnishings Market, Lea gave it to them. ...
Fast dry at DuPont: says new rug fiber beats all others. (DryLuxe nylon fiber)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Dalton, Ga.--DuPont hopes its new DryLuxe nylon fiber revolutionizes the bath rug business.According to Fred Johnson, rug segment manager, the DryLuxe fiber "is able to absorb water faster and evaporate water faster because of the way it is engineered."The proprietary, ...
Roomers mill. (Maples Industries Inc. introducing Roomers collection of accent and bath rugs for sale at department and specialty stores)(Company Profile)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Scottsboro, Ala.--Maples Industries is turning over a new leaf.The $60 million rug mill with a major presence in the mass merchants and national chains is moving aggressively to increase its penetration of department and specialty stores.At October market, Maples launched ...
Brave new WOW: but Hometextil fans pan show merger. (merger of World of Window Coverings and Hometextil Americas shows to form The World of Home Fashion)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--The plan by Messe Frankfurt, the German organizer of the Heimtextil trade fair, to merge two U.S. shows drew cheers from exhibitors in its newly acquired World of Window Coverings show and jeers from the Hometextil Americas crowd.Messe Frankfurt will roll both shows into ...
NITRO signs up 4 vendors. (National Independent Textile Retailers Organization)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--NITRO, a group of independent specialty retailers, may soon have to add an "M" to its name to reflect a growing interest from manufacturers.The National Independent Textile Retailers Organization has added Westpoint Stevens, Waverly Home Fashions, Richmark International ...
Minette-Bates Inc. (sues Bates of Maine)(Textiles Express: At the Bar)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C.--Minette-Bates Inc., a supplier of woven blankets and throws based here, has filed a lawsuit against Bates of Maine, alleging the company unlawfully copied its designs, bed patterns, names, logos and ...
Anichini. (opens retail store in Los Angeles, California)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... TUNBRIDGE, Vt.--Anichini, an importer of fine Italian linens and textiles, has opened its first retail store. The 1,800-square-foot store, located at 466 North Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles, features linens, decorative accessories, furniture and handblown glass. For the first time, retail ...
Guild's goods in more U.S. stores. (Trisha Guild's textiles)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Just a year Nago, London-based designer Trisha Gudd's bed linens were in only a smattering of posh U.S. shops, a marked contrast to Europe, where the collection is in all the important department stores from Liberties in the U.K to Bon Marche and Printemps in Paris.This ...
Fashion of the day: less is more. (Seidman Report)(home textiles)
Nov 06, 1995; ... The shape, form and role of fashion is undergoing significant change. The fashion today in home textiles is less fashion. Designers will have to obtain the public's attention from a narrower fashion base, from, for example, new versions of solid colors, and from coordinates favoring not ...
Waites adds a dash of color to Bloomingdale's sale. (Raymond Waites, textile designer)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--By 7 p.m., the cookie tray was bare, the Pellegrino bottles empty and Raymond Waites had finished showing Bloomingdale's shoppers his Vintage collection of decorative bedding.It was the first day of Bloomingdale's White Sale and Waites came to the flagship store here to ...
Upholstered firms want it both ways. (upholstered furniture makers at High Point, North Carolina, market)
Nov 06, 1995; ... High Point, N.C.--Upholstered furniture manufacturers are following the folk axiom "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence," with this season's introductions.In an effort to attract a more diverse customer base, upscale suppliers offered more sharply priced ...
Refocus at V&B; niche player goes for casual appeal. (Villeroy & Boch dinnerware and crystal)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--A new management team at Villeroy & Boch, an upstairs niche tabletop supplier, is repositioning both its dinnerware and crystal lines to reflect the taste of American consumers, who are looking for casual and transitional designs at moderate prices."We have been ...
At your service. (Commercial Aluminum cookware; includes related article on Calphalon cooking shows)(Company Profile)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Toledo, Ohio--"They are a leader within our industry from the standpoint of their technical expertise. They are state of the art in their electronic hardware and software."That's the assessment of Bob Ciarrochi, "councillor" for cookware and gadgets at Macy's East, in sizing up ...
DuPont on new front; bakeware liners straight to retail. (Teflon Bakeware Liners)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Wilmington, Del.--DuPont Fluoroproducts has taken a major step in moving beyond its role as an "ingredient" supplier with the introduction of Teflon Bakeware Liners, the division's first end-use housewares product.Launched on QVC Oct. 28, a liner set offering six sheet sizes sold ...
Storage pressures. (storage products industry)(Industry Overview)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Mass merchants, which account for nearly half the retail storage business, are under unprecedented pressure. And that means storage vendors are, too.Bradlees and Caldor are in Chapter 11. Jamesway and Prange Way are headed toward liquidation.So suppliers are ...
Personal care glows at the 5&10. (personal care appliances at F.W. Woolworth Co.)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--F.W. Woolworth means a lot of things to a lot of people.To urban shoppers, Woolworth's --as it's commonly known--historically has been the traditional retailer with the mass merchant prices.To Wall Street Journal readers, it's the shrinking flagship of an ...
Service Merch. big on vac choices. (Service Merchandise Company Inc.)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Nashville--For Service Merchandise, the nation's leading catalog-showroom chain, there are three key elements that underpin its vacuum cleaner strategy. Selection, Selection, Selection. "Value is also important," added Mike Griffith, assistant vice president of appliances and floor care. "We ...
Royal to sell European business. (Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co.)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... CLEVELAND--Royal Appliance, in a move to shore up its domestic vacuum cleaner business, has entered active negotiations to sell off its European operations. According, to a statement released by Royal, the company has suffered $30 million in pretax losses over the last five years in Europe. ...
Tags runs price, product gamut. (Tags Hardware, Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Cambridge, Mass--Just a mile from Harvard Square in an area dense with students and urban professionals, Tags Hardware is a destination for everything from a garlic press to a hammer. This is because Tags- which derives half its business from its housewares department--is as intent on ...
Via's bouquet of teakettles bows. (B. Via International)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Capitalizing on the growing popularity of tea, and with an eye toward consumers' love of gardening and all things natural, B. Via Int'l, the upscale kitchenware division of Ekco Group took the wraps off a new line of novelty teakettles at the New York Fall Tabletop Show. ...
Fairgrove paves Bradshaw's way. (Bradshaw International Inc.)
Nov 06, 1995 ... Santa Fe Springs, Cal.--A year after its acquisition of Aluminum Housewares, gadget vendor Bradshaw Intl. says the addition of the Fairgrove brand has helped it penetrate channels beyond supermarkets and broaden its offering to retailers.The Fairgrove brand has strengthened ...
Wedgwood unveils upstairs Stoneware.(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Wedgwood, a leading upstairs dinnerware supplier, introduced Stoneweave, a collection of solid-colored, embossed stoneware.This comes one year after the firm's successful launch of its Embassy fine china line and Home, its casual, decorated china offering, Wedgwood ...
Whose figures do you trust? (Japonica Partners' reports on World Wide Web site on the Internet)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York-http:// Nwww.japonica.com is all it takes to jet any housewares World Wide Web user into the latest controversy in the industry.Japonica Partners' newly created World Wide Web site featuring information on Sunbeam-Oster's declining market share in key categories might be ...
NHMA pushing Ch. 11 overhaul. (National Housewares Manufacturers Association)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Chicago--The National Housewares Manufacturers Association is spearheading a coalition aimed at making retail bankruptcy filings less costly to manufacturers.The portable appliance division of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers is the first organization to sign on with ...
Shaver ads play for high holiday stakes.
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Like high rollers in a smoke-filled casino, shaver manufacturer will belly up to the table with plenty of ad dollars in the fourth quarter.Most of them will wager millions that TV and radio commercials and print ads will spark holiday sales.This high-stakes ...
Regina shipping sticks. (stick vacuum cleaners)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995; ... STAMFORD Conn.--In another step on the road to rebuilding its vacuum cleaner business following its acquisition by North American Philips last spring, Regina began shipping three revamped stick vacs in mid-October."We've reduced the noise level substantially," said Mark Normyle, ...
Web of the future. (World Wide Web marketing strategy for consumer electronics firms)
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--Consumer electronics companies are the latest to take a ride down the Internet's information highway. Executive see their Web sited as the new frontier for marketing, advertising and promotion.Fisher, Magnavox, Toshiba, TDK, DirectTc, Ora and even the EIA have launched ...
Sega's surprise: 3 arcade hits set solely for Saturn.
Nov 06, 1995; ... New York--On the same day last week that Sony reported selling its 300,000th PlayStation in the U.S. and Nintendo claimed to have hit the one-billion video game mark worldwide, Sega officials were in town to show off a trio of new titles for Saturn. They also came armed with a surprise. ...
Specials due for 3DO. (holiday specials promotions)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Englewood Cliffs, N.J.--LG electronics and Matsushita have fired another volley for 3DO in the war of the game platforms.Tying in with its first anniversary in the multimedia business, LG Electronics is offering an $80 holiday bonus on its Goldstar 3DO interactive multiplayer. ...
Fedders to buy back a supplier. (NYCOR Inc.)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Liberty Corner, N.J.--Fedders Corp. created NYCOR Inc. in 1987, and now it will buy back the holding company to regain ownership of its supply of Rotorex compressors.An agreement in principle between Fedders'and NYCOR's management--singular in the sense that the Giordano family ...
Sun Television and Appliances Inc. (new superstore in Randall, Ohio)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... COLUMBUS, Ohio--North Randall, a northern suburb of Cleveland, will be the site of Sun Television and Appliances Inc.'s next superstore location.Executives of the 45-store chain said the new 70,000 square superstore will be located on land adjacent to the Randall Park Mall will ...
Sony Computer Entertainment. (names Martin Homlish president)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... FOSTER, Cal.--Martin Homlish has been named president of Sony Computer Entertainment maker of the PlayStation video game system. Homlish had been acting president since August, having replaced Steve Race who left the company just weeks before the debut of the PlayStation in early September ....
Aiwa America Inc. (national brand awareness campaign)(Brief Article)
Nov 06, 1995 ... MAHWAH, N.J.--Aiwa america Inc. kicked off a TV national brand awareness campaign that will run during last few months of 1995 and for the first ...
Three more DSS suppliers. (Digital Satellite System)
Nov 06, 1995; ... The Digital Satellite System juggernaut continues unabated with the addition of three more manufacturers to the list of authorized DSS suppliers.As reported in brief last week, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. and Daewoo Electronics Ltd. have been authorized to ...
Warrantors to hold consumers' hands. (consumer electronics warranty changes)
Nov 06, 1995; ... There will be some fundamental changes in the extended warranty business in the next year as new digital technologies begin to redefine consumer electronics.Most companies in the warranty trade expect to play a more active role in the coming digital age, helping retailers and ...
Majors face dishwasher challenge.
Nov 06, 1995; ... Dishwater penetration of American households finally has exceeded 50 percent.For major-appliance retailers, that presents as much of a challenge as an opportunity.In most white-goods categories, shoppers have experience with the products and generally want replacement ...
Whirlpool standing alone. (against other industry members who want to oppose federal energy standards for refrigerators)
Nov 06, 1995; ... Washington (FNS)--Whirlpool Corp. has publicly split with other manufacturers and their association over proposed federal energy efficiency standards for refrigerators.The Benton Harbor, Mich., firm is sticking by a proposed energy standard that a coalition of manufacturers, ...
Tracking business: programs watch the bottom line. (Merchandising Solutions' BottomLine Retail Channel Support System and The BottomLine Retail Chains Database)
Nov 06, 1995; ... El Segundo, Cal.--So how do computer vendors track sell-through at retail? They can get feedback from a variety of sources including buyers, distributors and tech support staff.Trouble is, oftentimes the information is late in coming, weeks after the sell-in of products, and that's ...