HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from December 1996:
Holiday picture brighter: stores heartened by upbeat signs.
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK--Only two months ago, Blockbuster Video's Bill Fields was calling Santa "a tightwad." Retailers were concerned--and still are--about a holiday selling season that is five days shorter than last year's. The figures aren't in from "black Friday," as retailers have ...
Clayton exit a surprise.(Joe Clayton resigned from RCA Corp.)
Dec 02, 1996; ... INDIANAPOLIS -- The resignation last week of Joe Clayton, the man who brought us the 18-inch satellite TV dish, caught most of the executives in the electronics business by surprise.After more than two decades with RCA, when it was an independent company and a subsidiary of larger ...
Luxury the lure in home lines: shoppers long on cash make Short Hills bloom.(The Mall at Short Hills, near Millburn, New Jersey)
Dec 02, 1996; ... MILLBURN, N.J. -- The atmosphere of the strong luxury home furnishings market permeates The Mall at Short Hills here, where wealthy shoppers can arrive by helicopter or merely use the valet parking service.Here, in this tony 1.35-million-square-foot shopping center about 15 miles ...
Two industries OK digital TV standard.(television, computer industries)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- The TV and computer industries reached an accord last week to recommend an open standard for digital TV. If the agreement is approved by the FCC, this will allow TV companies to manufacture high-definition television, or HDTV, for the retail market as early as 1998.The ...
Badcock chain's CEO dies.(Wogan Stanhope Badcock Jr.)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... LAKELAND, Fla. -- Wogan Stanhope Badcock Jr., chairman and chief executive of the W.S. Badcock retail chain, died of pneumonia Nov. 20 at his home here. He was 64.Since 1963, when Badcock was named president of the company his grandfather founded around the turn of the century, the ...
Engle joins Cone.(head of sales Murray S. Engle; Cone Decorative Fabrics)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- Murray S. Engle has been named executive vice president of sales and marketing for Cone Decorative Fabrics.It is the second management change since Richard Downing left as Cone's president in June. Earlier this fall, Rodney Innocenti was named to the newly created post ...
Investor group buys Neostar.(Neostar Retail Group)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... DALLAS -- A group of investors led by the chairman of Barnes & Noble has purchased the assets of 460 stores from Neostar Retail Group, the owner of Software Etc. and Babbage's.The new owners plan to operate the software stores under the name Babbage's Etc.Neostar, which ...
Expanding the season.(holiday retail businesses marketing for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- There may be a short Christmas selling season, but retailers seemed determined to make the most of it by homing in on two alternative holidays, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.HomePlace, the superstore chain based in Valley View, Ohio, is offering a Hanukkah boutique in selected ...
Atlanta fertile for retail.(Georgia's strong economy)
Dec 02, 1996; ... ATLANTA -- Atlanta's strong economy, fueled by its image as a new international city, bodes well for retail growth here, as the city continues to attract new stores despite an increasingly competitive environment.Over the past five years, high employment, income and population ...
Sleep safety check: identifying perils of old mattresses.(fire hazards)
Dec 02, 1996; ... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Sleep Products Safety Council of the International Sleep Products Association in working with the National Association of State Fire Marshals to study fires which may involve second-hand mattresses.The study, expected to be completed by next June, will ...
Waccamaw's way with rugs: retailer writes its own book on merchandising.(includes related article on rug retailing)
Dec 02, 1996; ... MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- As new categories of home furnishings retailing are being invented, the face of the rug business continues to change. Waccamaw Corp. is one of the new breed of stores which the industry is watching closely."As a total home decorating center, rugs are a large ...
Pulling up the rugs.(rug business in Dec 1996)
Dec 02, 1996; ... DALTON, Ga. -- December isn't the hottest time of year for rug sales, but retailers around the country are trying to warm it up.By the time December arrives, consumers have made their home spruce-up purchases for Thanksgiving, marketers say, but retailers are also discovering that ...
Caldor tests limits; taking its furniture mix even higher.(Caldor Inc.'s approach to quality)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NORWALK, Conn. -- Based on the assortment, you would think you're dealing with an upscale traditional furniture store.There are graceful Queen Anne dining tables and chairs in rich mahogany, curio cabinets in a choice of oak or cherry, oak-framed glider rockers, farmhouse tables ...
Shaw Industries.(to acquire The Carpet Exchange)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... DALTON, Ga. -- Shaw Industries said it plans to buy The Carpet Exchange, a Seattle-based chain of 22 floor covering specialty stores. The Carpet Exchange operates in three northwest states and is said to be the largest-volume floor covering retailer in the Pacific Northwest.The ...
Oriental Accent.(Oriental Accent licenses with Winterthur Museum)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... DALLAS -- Oriental Accent, a marketer of decorative porcelain, lamps, furniture and accessories, has signed a license with the Winterthur Museum. The company may have new products based on furnishings of the museum in April, according to Kit Bolliger, Oriental Accent's ...
Aktrin to conduct study for the Canadian furniture industry.(Aktrin Research Institute)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... Oakville, Ontario, Canada -- Aktrin Research Institute, together with the Charles E. Napier Company Ltd., obtained a contract from the Canadian Federal Government to conduct a benchmark study for the Canadian Household Furniture Industry.The purpose of the study is to compare key ...
Leaving Tensor.(Tensor Corp. President Norman Schimmel to step down)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- After a total of 23 years, Norman Schimmel plans to step down as president of Tensor Corp. at the end of the year.Schimmel joined Tensor in 1970, and served in a number of positions, including vice president of marketing and executive vice president before he became ...
Making a name for themselves: basic bedding suppliers use brands to spur a tradeup.
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- The basic bedding business is not so basic these days. Basic bed pillows and mattress pads increasingly are being marketed with the added clout of a brand name.Brands are being used to add perceived value and get consumers to trade up from commodity goods. And when a ...
Stand and deliver: fabric buyers want mills to improve. (lack of timely deliveries are a problem in furniture fabric industry)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Furniture fabric merchandisers said the issues that most affected their buying in 1996 were poor delivery, the absence of one strong color palette and a limited array of designs. Few of these manufacturers voiced expectations for a better 1997.Delivery has clearly been ...
Fieldcrest Cannon. (sold certain blanket assets to Pillowtex)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Fieldcrest Cannon completed its sale of certain blanket assets including inventories and equipment to Pillowtex. The purchase price of $30 million, was received in cash and includes a long-term trademark license royalty agreement under which Pillowtex will sell ...
Firing up kitchen. (Design Imports India, importer of kitchen textiles)
Dec 02, 1996; ... SEATTLE -- Smaller can be better.Just ask William Travers, general manager of Design Imports India, an eleven-year-old importer that has created excitement on retail floors with its creative merchandising concepts in the area of kitchen textiles."It can actually work to ...
Assessing '96, projecting '97.(Home Textiles)
Dec 02, 1996; ... Items of the Year -- products I feel give home textiles added interest -- and will influence merchandising of these lines in 1997 -- start with a towel, the "Sahara" solids made by Fieldcrest Cannon for Wal-Mart.This is one of the few bath towels made and sold that does not use ...
Hollyn brings the sun to Eisenhart's Garden.(home furnishings designer Lynn Hollyn gets licensed by Eisenhart Wallcovering to produce Sunsplashed Garden collection of vinyl sidewalls and all-cotton fabrics)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996; ... HANOVER, Pa. -- Eisenhart Wallcovering has licensed home furnishings and accessories designer Lynn Hollyn to create Sunsplashed Garden, a collection of vinyl matte-finish sidewalls, borders and all-cotton fabrics. The goods are manufactured by Jeffrey Fabrics, a converter.Hollyn, ...
Scotty's fills out in vacs; chain aims to woo female customers.
Dec 02, 1996; ... WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Hardware and home center chain Scotty's has moved beyond wet/dry vacs to offer a broader selection of vacuum cleaners, aimed at its female customers.Scotty's, which owns about 90 home centers and 50 hardware stores, is located mainly in Florida, but also has ...
Upping the ante in water filtration: rivals take pains to build trust - and the brand.
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- While brand recognition is an asset in most consumer-products businesses, according to water filtration vendors, this is especially true in their market. If people are going to trust a product that deals with their health and well-being, it must carry a name that is well trusted, ...
Honeywell inks a deal.(acquires Filtercold Corp.)
Dec 02, 1996; ... SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- Honeywell Inc. closed the deal last week on the acquisition of Filtercold Corp., a niche vendor of upscale water filtration systems. The deal strenghtens Honeywell at retail and its position in the home environmental products market."This acquisition enhances ...
Personal care push: stores spotlight higher-margin items.
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Retailers are featuring personal care products in holiday promotions, capitalizing on consumers' interest in the category and focusing on higher-margin products. Health care appliances, too, occupy priority spots in seasonal circulars, as retailers add more of them to their ...
Swarovski America Ltd.(appoints Victoria Veh director of marketing)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... CRANSTON, R.I. -- Swarovski America Ltd. has named Victoria Veh director of marketing. Veh is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of marketing programs. Jean Bullock was ...
Kaz Inc.(Martin Cohen resigns as VP of marketing)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- After eight years of work with Kaz Inc., Martin Cohen has left the firm to pursue other business ...
Bloomingdale's.(advertises Braun coffeemakers, personal care and health care products from Honeywell, PUR, Culligan, Duracraft and Bionaire)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- Bloomingdale's devoted four pages in a recent holiday circular to Braun products: One page featured coffeemakers; the remaining three, personal care and health care products.Three Braun coffeemakers were promoted, one at $49.99 and two at $79.99; one coffee and espresso ...
Lenox Brands.(signs contract with Colonial Williamsburg to manufacture Queen Anne coffee service)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Lenox Brands has teamed up with Colonial Williamsburg to produced the Queen Anne coffee service under the ...
K-Tel International Inc.(reports financial results for first quarter of 1997)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- K-Tel International Inc. reported net sales for its fiscal 1997 first quarter of $15.62 million and net income of $852,000. Consolidated net sales for the same period last year were $16.62 million; operating ...
Lifetime Hoan Corp.(reports financial results for third quarter 1996)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... WESTBURY, N.Y. -- Lifetime Hoan Corp. posted record third-quarter results. Net sales rose more than 13 percent to $25.1 million, compared with $22.1 million reported for the same period last year. Net income was $2.9 million, compared with $2.4 million, a 22 percent increase.Net ...
Metro addresses healthy living.(Metro Marketing's cookware products)
Dec 02, 1996; ... GARDENA, Cal. -- Marketing is the name of the game at Metro Marketing, which has plans to roll out new sets of mostly existing products at the upcoming housewares show from a pasta kit to a new Healthy Cooking collection."We emphasize functionality through both the product itself ...
K-Tel forms unit to lift profile.(K-Tel International Inc. creates K-Tel Direct Media & Marketing)
Dec 02, 1996; ... MINNEAPOLIS -- In a move to leverage its brand name, K-TEL International Inc. has joined forces with direct marketing executives Gary Hewitt, Doug Gravnik and Valerie Castle to establish a newly formed K-TEL subsidiary, K-TEL Direct Media & Marketing."The K-TEL brand name has ...
Wine racks raking in sales.
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Perhaps it was because the FDA reported that red wine unclogs clogged arteries, or perhaps it was only coincidence. Whatever the reason, wine sales have climbed over the last few years, and with them, sales of wood wine racks, according to woodenware suppliers."Wine ...
Category-killers stress open-stock ability. (housewares)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Category-killers are exploiting their greater ability to manage open-stock business."There's a lot of strength in open stock, and category-killers have the opportunity to do a better job because they have more space," said Sal Gabbay, vice president of Gibson Overseas ....
New Panasonic women's shaver. (ES208 Smooth Operator wet/dry shaver)(Product Announcement)
Dec 02, 1996 ... SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic is currently shipping its new ES208 Smooth Operator wet/ dry shaver for women, which follows the introduction of the ES881 wet/dry linear shaver for men, which was presented late last spring.The ES208 will be sold through the company's traditional ...
Metal Ware: expanding Nesco. (line of kitchen electrics)
Dec 02, 1996; ... TWO RIVERS, Wis. -- Metal Ware, makers of the Nesco roaster, will use the upcoming housewares show as the launch pad for an expanded line of Nesco kitchen electrics.The new line, which will include two electric woks, three electric griddles and two electric kettles, will be ...
The ins, outs of design. (health-care-related products)
Dec 02, 1996 ... Question of the month: What role does product design play in health-care-related categories?Mike Matthews, Homedics, makers of massage and aromatherapy products:"Design is a critical point of difference when it comes to consumer satisfaction. Good design is intuitive ...
A boost from WCES. (1997 Winter Consumer Electronics Show)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- After a tough year for their industry, Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association executives are giving convergence products a bigger play at the 1997 Winter Consumer Electronics Show in hopes that the emerging category of products will give the business a new vitality. ...
Consumer yule lists. (Holiday Purchase Patterns survey conducted by the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Desktop or portable computers, color TVs, portable stereo products, cordless phones, VCRs and computer printers topped a survey list of what consumers are most likely to buy as gifts this holiday season.These were just some of the findings revealed in the third annual ...
A video record: 'Independence Day' orders top 'Toy Story.'
Dec 02, 1996; ... LOS ANGELES -- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment reported that it has received almost 22 million advance orders from retailers for Independence Day, just beating out the previous record, set last month by Walt Disney Co.'s Toy Story.Independence Day, released in theaters ...
Autosound gets a new beat: companies pump up marketing to spur growth.
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Retailers and manufacturers are looking for new ways to breathe life into the car audio market, which has been suffering from steadily declining sales for several years.Unlike home audio, which is expected to rebound on the coattails of DVD in 1997, mobile electronics ...
JVC mini stereos due.(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- JVC is hoping to be a trendsetter with two new miniature stereo systems that will be introduced to the market early next year.The systems include a center unit that houses only a CD player and a tuner. It measures about 5 inches wide, 6 inches high and 10 inches deep ....
New HBO video label targets heavy 4th qtr.(HBO Home Video's HBO Perspectives label targeting African-Americans)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- In an effort to find a place in a fourth quarter brimming with video megahits, HBO Home Video has launched a new label -- HBO Perspectives -- aimed at African-Americans.The collection -- three titles that get their juice from drama rather than tornadoes and erupting ...
Small fries challenge PCS powerhouses.(personal communications services)
Dec 02, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Sprint PCS, AT&T Wireless and PrimeCo. Personal Communications are not the only players vying for a piece of the PCS pie.Other, lesser-known companies are getting ready to do battle as well, armed with PCS licenses of their own, but handicapped by little or no brand ...
Cellular One-2-3 cracks credit barrier.(new billing systems brings more customers)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... Cellular service provider Cellular One has unveiled Cellular One-2-3 pay-as-you-go cellular service in Buffalo, N.Y. Cellular One, a unit of SBC Communications Inc., said Cellular One-2-3 allows users to pay in advance for airtime. ...
Staples to buy 82 acres for headquarters in framingham.(Massachusetts)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... Westborough, Mass.-based Staples Inc. has agreed to buy 82 acres of land in Framingham, Mass. for its new corporate headquarters.Staples will purchase up to 900,000 square feet at the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 9 interchange. Phase one of construction is scheduled to begin in ...
AirTouch opens 1st store.(AirTouch Paging)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... Dallas-based AirTouch Paging celebrated the grand opening of its first retail location in Monroeville, a suburb of Pittsburgh."Pittsburgh is an important new market for us because of its favorable demographics and its proximity to our Ohio operations," said Charlie Jackson, ...
Sharp: we don't do Windows.(Sharp Electronics Corp. handheld computers do not run on Microsoft's Windows CE)
Dec 02, 1996; ... LAS VEGAS -- Sharp Electronics Corp. unveiled the latest entry in its Zaurus line of handheld computers. But unlike other handhelds shown at Comdex, Sharp's unit does not run on Windows CE, a scaled-down version of Windows 95.Many in the industry are crediting Windows CE with ...
New Memorex accessories.(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... LAS VEGAS -- Memorex will launch a full line of PC accessories at CES including storage cases, ergonomic products, input devices and cleaning products. The company also unveiled new retail packaging.Memorex, looking to position itself as the one-stop source for PC accessories, will ...
CompUSA to market handwriter system.(Communication Intelligence Corp. teams with CompUSA)(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 1996 ... LAS VEGAS -- Communication Intelligence Corp., which specializes in pen computing, will market its Handwriter product through CompUSA.Handwriter is an input system that brings pen computing to desktop Windows users. It is expected to sell for under $300.The Handwriter ...
Domotechnica seen being 'bigger, better.'(appliance trade fair to have 1,600 exhibitors)
Dec 02, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- Claiming that the February event will be bigger and better than ever, the folks who run Domotechnica brought their message to Chicago and here last week.More exhibitors from more nations, more floor space and better organization were promised for "the world's leading ...
Home office cheer: RTA makers see continued growth. (ready-to-assemble furniture)
Dec 09, 1996; ... HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturers say home office has been a fast-growing business, and they are heading into the new year confident that growth will continue.Last year, sales of home office furniture were firmly tied to the tail of the personal ...
Stores giving thanks: season starts with a bang for home.(retailers of home furnishings expect good sales during Thanksgiving weekend to fuel Christmas business)
Dec 09, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Home furnishings retailers, who had been nervous before Thanksgiving that strong apparel sales might hurt their business, have joined the optimists.The weekend after Thanksgiving got the official Christmas shopping season off to a hopeful start; overall retail sales are ...
Globe-trotting at HomeBrand: one-stop world sourcing from ABC, Trade-Am.(ABC Carpet & Home)(includes related article on Trade-Am's growth plans)
Dec 09, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Manhattan's ABC Carpet & Home is a destination for retailers in search of inspiration. Now they can bring the same merchandising savvy to their own stores through HomeBrand, a new one-stop sourcing company.HomeBrand is a joint venture of ABC and Trade-Am, an area rug ...
Mastercraft on the block.(Collins & Aikman Corp. to divest Mastercraft)
Dec 09, 1996 ... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mastercraft, Collins & Aikman Home Fabrics and Doblin are on the selling block. Together, these companies are believed to constitute the industry's second largest supplier of decorative fabrics, Culp being the biggest.Parent company Collins & Aikman Corp. wants ...
As Thomson turns: taps an exec VP, hears it'll stay French.(Thomson Consumer Electronics appoints James Meyer VP marketing)
Dec 09, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Big doings at Thomson Consumer Electronics last week: The company replaced its top American marketing and sales executive and learned that it was staying French.James Meyer officially got the job of executive vice president for marketing and sales in the Americas. He ...
Regal taps into Melitta.(Regal Ware Inc. to acquire North American electrics business of Melitta)
Dec 09, 1996; ... NEW YORK -- Regal Ware Inc. is going after the high end of the small appliance market by taking over the North American electrics business of Melitta, the $1.6 billion worldwide marketer of coffee and filters.On Jan. 1, Regal Ware, a supplier of cookware and small appliances with ...
3 ex-Sunbeam execs form acquisition firm.(James Clegg, Richard Boynton and Michael Beauregard form Macam Capital Management Inc.)(Brief Article)
Dec 09, 1996 ... CHICAGO -- Three top former Sunbeam Corp. executives -- James Clegg, Richard Boynton and Michael Beauregard -- have formed Macam Capital Management Inc., which is teaming with First Chicago Equity Capital to buy consumer product companies.Macam and First Chicago Equity are seeking ...
Frigidaire, two other Electrolux units melding.(AB Electrolux, Poulan/Weed Eater, American Yard Products)(Brief Article)
Dec 09, 1996 ... DUBLIN, Ohio -- Frigidaire Co. here will merge Jan. 1 with two other AB Electrolux businesses, Poulan/ Weed Eater and American Yard Products, with the focus on combining internal functions. No major changes are planned in sales and marketing.Robert Cook, president and chief ...
Merger to take Bel-Tronics public.(Bel-Tronics Ltd. to merge with Cincinnati Microwave Inc.)(Brief Article)
Dec 09, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- BEL-Tronics Limited intends to go public through a stock-swap merger with Cincinnati Microwave Inc.According to a jointly issued statement, the two makers of radar detectors and cordless telephones have signed an agreement under which Cincinnati Microwave will sell its ...
Halston ceramic bath pact.(company licenses Jackel Inc. to manufacture ceramic bath accessories)(Brief Article)
Dec 09, 1996 ... NEW YORK -- Halston, which has signed a bed and bath licensing agreement with WestPoint Stevens, has licensed Jackel Inc., a gift manufacturer in Middlesex, N.J., to produce coordinated ceramic ...
Taking stock: retailers' results for the four weeks ended Dec. 3, 1996.(Brief Article)
Dec 09, 1996; ... NEW YORK (FNS) -- Winners outnumbered the losers this month by a wide margin, 40 to 19, on the HFN retail stock index in the four weeks ended Dec. 3.Robust third quarter results pushed up shares for 9 out of 10 department store chains including Federated Department Stores., Dayton ...