HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from September 1998:
SOME RETAILERS REPORT SOFT SALES IN AUGUST.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Some home furnishings retailers experienced `Labor' pains in August as a later holiday weekend this year delayed certain store purchases until September, minimizing retail sales gains for a few key players.J.C. Penney, Federated Department Stores, Sears and Dillard's were ...
HOME DEPOT FINE-TUNNING CONVENIENCE STORE FORMAT.
Sep 07, 1998; ... SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J.-Hardware industry heavy-hitter Home Depot has laid the preliminary foundation for its newest retail format -- a sort of 7-Eleven of hardware stores. What makes the fledgling "convenience" store concept interesting is it will likely feature a stronger fashion component ...
3M REINFORCES SCOTCHGARD BRAND.
Sep 07, 1998; ... ST. PAUL, Minn.-Just about every consumer knows the name Scotchgard and connects it to carpet and upholstery that is soil and/or stain resistant.But 3M, manufacturer of the well-known protective finish, wants to make sure consumers understand Scotchgard's value and recognize the ...
CATEGORY MANAGEMENT.(definition)
Sep 07, 1998 ... Category Management is a business process designed to improve overall business results for both retailers and their trade ...
DEFINING THE NEW HAND HELD & STICK VACUUM CATEGORY.
Sep 07, 1998 ... The convenience of a small, lightweight, easy-to-use vacuum cleaner has made hand vacs and stick vacs an indispensable staple in millions of American households.But while saturation levels and slowed new product introductions in hand vacs have led to a relative flatness of that ...
RETAIL PSYCHOLOGY.(importance of getting to know customers)
Sep 07, 1998; ... Without question, we need to know our customers. In the days of mom-and-pop retailing, that was easy. You knew your customers because they were your friends and neighbors.Now it's different.Stores are big, and sometimes unfriendly. We need research to do the job mom and ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(includes multiple briefs)
Sep 07, 1998; ... After Brief Stint, Carter Leaves AFMAAfter joining the American Furniture Manufacturers Association as vice president of public relations in May, Peggy Carter is leaving to assume the role of vice president of corporate affairs for the Sara Lee Corp.Carter's departure ...
CATEGORY MANAGEMENT JUST ANOTHER BUSINESS FAD?
Sep 07, 1998; ... HOW DOES IT RELATE TO HOME PRODUCTS? WHO'S INVOLVED? WHAT, EXACTLY, IS IT?As recently as last year, not many in home products retailing could answer these questions. Today, the buzz is that, for many retailers, Category Management has become a business imperative. Consequently, ...
'CHANGE IN TASTE' HELPS DRIVE HOME IMPROVEMENT SPENDING AT RETAIL.
Sep 07, 1998; ... It is no secret that people are spending more time in their home, a place now more appropriately called the "cocoon" by some marketers. The growing trend of larger family or recreation rooms, home offices, plush bedrooms, and various other "living" spaces within the home for entertainment or ...
RECALL OF KIDS' FURNITURE.(PJ Toys recalling items sold at Target stores.)
Sep 07, 1998 ... PJ TOYS, CPSC SEEK TO RETRIEVE LEAD-PAINTED ITEMS SOLD AT TARGETWASHINGTON -- PJ Toys, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling about 8,300 units of a variety of children's furniture sold at Target stores. Some of the paint on this ...
A PRIMER ON CATEGORY MANAGEMENT.
Sep 07, 1998 ... At the heart of Category Management is the category plan. This starts by analyzing information to develop insights about consumers, competitors, and market conditions, and provides the basis for developing strategies and tactics. The category assessment is the first step in the development ...
MOST STORE FORMATS SEE DROP IN SHOPPERS OF 38 FORMATS, EXCEPTIONS ARE SUPERCENTERS, ELECTRONIC RETAIL, HOME FURNISHINGS STORES, DOMESTIC SUPERSTORES.
Sep 07, 1998; ... As Americans devote less time to shopping, most retail formats have seen a falloff in the number of frequent shoppers visiting their stores. The upside is that once in a store these customers are more likely to make a purchase than before, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers in its Retail ...
EXECUTIVE CHANGES.(Colin Beasley out as International Wallcoverings chief)(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998 ... Crown Crafts Tabs Ginn Director of MerchandisingCrown Crafts Inc. has appointed John Ginn director of merchandising for the company's Woven Products Division. He replaces Andrew Lelchuk, who accepted a licensing position with Coca-Cola.Ginn will be responsible for ongoing ...
CATEGORY MANAGEMENT.
Sep 07, 1998 ... HOW TO SELECT A SUPPLIER PARTNER: A CASE STUDYRetailer A, a strong regional grocery chain with 300 stores, has decided to deploy a Category Management program in its food storage category. Rick has been appointed to be the retail category manager for food storage. Although Retailer ...
J.C. PENNEY BEEFS UP TRAINING-TRACKING SYSTEM.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-J.C. Penney is preparing to introduce a new system designed to manage staff training records more effectively, an initiative that ultimately will provide the company with tangible evidence about how training contributes directly to the bottom line.The department store ...
CATEGORY MANAGEMENTTHE SOFTER SIDE OF CATEGORY MANAGEMENT.(collaborative relationships with trading partners)
Sep 07, 1998 ... One of the foundations of Category Management is collaborative trading partner relationships. They are the human "glue" that binds all the other components of Category Management together and allows them to work."We have a better understanding of the dealers' thought processes and ...
HOW DOES CATEGORY MANAGEMENT DIFFER FROM WHAT IS BEING DONE NOW?
Sep 07, 1998 ... How Does Category Management Differ from What is Being done Now?According to Brett Bradshaw, true Category Management mandates that buyers are no longer responsible simply for buying the right items at the lowest possible price. Their responsibilities increase dramatically, and ...
HOW TO GET MARKET-LEVEL DATA WHEN NO MARKET-LEVEL DATA EXISTS.
Sep 07, 1998 ... For many home product categories, market-level data (for example, retail store movement data for the entire market), may be weak or nonexistent. In these cases, the Category Management team may have to generate market-level data of their own. The retailer/supplier team needs market-level ...
FASHION'S NICE IF PRICE IS RIGHT--AWARE OF THE SELECTION, TODAY'S TEXTILE SHOPPERS WANT A GOOD DEAL FIRST.(study results)
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Bath and bed textile retailers beware! While consumers can be very loyal, they know they have choices and will take advantage of them if they don't find the shopping experience they seek.As reported in last week's issue of HFN [Aug. 31, 1998, page 8], a recently tabulated ...
NEW EXPO DESIGN CENTER SETS THE STANDARD.
Sep 07, 1998; ... ATLANTA-The new concept for Expo Design Centers, which Home Depot has been refining ever since it opened its first in 1991, is quite different from that of some existing stores on Long Island, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas and Atlanta. And the ratio of decorative home to home textiles is also ...
KRAVET INKS PACT FOR WALL COVERINGS.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998 ... NEW YORK-With the aim of capitalizing on growth opportunities at the high end of the home decorating industry, Kravet has formed a strategic alliance with Imperial Home Decor Group (IHDG) of Cleveland. Through the agreement, Kravet will distribute the IHDG's Van Luit, Sterling, Katzenbach & ...
DECORATIVE PILLOWS'--PIZAZZ PULLS IMPULSE.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-As buyers prepare to shop October's New York Home Textiles Show next month, many will be paying close attention to one item on their shopping lists: decorative pillows. Retailers across all distribution channels are convinced of the power of impulse sales, and decorative pillows fit ...
HOME TEXTILES BRIEFS.(includes multiple items)
Sep 07, 1998 ... Glenoit Launching New Home Textiles FirmGlenoit Corp., New York, is expanding its presence in the home fashions arena with the launch of Madison Landing, a new home textiles company. The new line of decorative pillows, table linens, duvets and other fashion accessories will debut ...
SCOTCHGARD: THE ACCIDENTAL BRAND.
Sep 07, 1998; ... ST. PAUL, Minn.-It started with an accident, and its very existence is based on consumers' mishaps. But the Scotchgard brand's new marketing strategy, presented last week at 3M headquarters here, is far from haphazard.In spite of its 95 percent consumer awareness level, the brand ...
MILL GETS VERTICAL.
Sep 07, 1998; ... SPARTAN MILLS HOME FASHIONS EXPANDS CAPABILITIES AND CUSTOMER OFFERINGSNEW YORK-Spartan Mills, based in Spartanburg, S.C., has continued to expand its customer offerings since it created the Home Fashions division a year and a half ago. The privately owned company created the Home ...
GETING STARTED.
Sep 07, 1998 ... GETTING STARTEDExcerpted from "Category Management: Getting Started," published by Food Marketing Institute.Most retailers and suppliers that have made the successful transition recommend implementing Category Management in steps. Specifically, they recommend assessing ...
A PRIMER ON ACTIVITY-BASED COSTING (ABC).
Sep 07, 1998 ... ABC is an analytical tool that has been picked up by businesses as a fundamental element of Category Management. ABC assigns costs to activities in the workplace as a way of both revealing those costs (which may have been previously hidden) and finding ways to reduce them. Ultimately, it ...
MATS' MAGIC KNOWS NO SEASON--SUPPLIERS AIM TO BRING PROFITS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-As the holidays approach, mat manufacturers are looking for innovative ways to stay on top of the season without losing sight of what has made them successful in the past. But the holidays come and go so quickly, getting a hold on this potentially profitable business is not always ...
SHARPENING THE RUG FOCUS--CONSUMERS' VIEWS ON RUGS INCLUDE SOME SURPRISES.
Sep 07, 1998; ... CHICAGO-In the rush to create new products and get them to market, suppliers and retailers sometimes forget the most important part of the equation -- the consumer.A recent trio of consumer focus groups, held here as part of an ongoing program of consumer research co-sponsored by ...
SHAW LAUNCHES THE PROGRAM.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998; ... DALTON, Ga.-As of Aug. 1, Shaw Industries took the first steps in building a diversified floor covering offering with the rollout of ceramic tile through its distribution network to markets in Florida and Chicago.David Wilkerson, vice president of Shaw's Wholesale Hard Surface ...
MAPLES EXPANDS PLANT.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998 ... SCOTTSBORO, Ala.-Maples Rugs has begun a building and equipment expansion that will allow the company to increase quality on existing lines and develop new categories in bath, accent/scatter and area rugs.According to Wade Maples, company president, a 60,000-square-foot building ...
KUDOS FOR CREATIVE MERCHANDISING.(AMERICASMART RECOGNIZES RUG SHOWROOMS FOR VISUAL DISPLAY)
Sep 07, 1998 ... AMERICASMART RECOGNIZES RUG SHOWROOMS FOR VISUAL DISPLAYATLANTA-No longer content to simply bring new and beautiful merchandise to market, rug suppliers are now spending considerable time, money and creative talent in designing effective, unique ways to show the lines as well. ...
THE CATEGORY MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
Sep 07, 1998 ... CATEGORY REVIEWCategory ManagementWhat is it? What is its structure?Category RoleHow important is the category?How to leverage the importance?Category assessmentHow is category doing?Versus potential? Versus ...
FURNITURE STOCKS TUMBLE.
Sep 07, 1998; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Everyone in "furnitureland" is worried about the market, and they don't mean High Point or Tupelo.Last Monday's 512 point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average took most furniture stocks with it, but analysts said well-managed furniture retailers and ...
PIER 1 TO HAWAII--FURNITURE TAKES THE LEAD IN GROWTH.
Sep 07, 1998; ... FORT WORTH, Texas-After blanketing the continental U.S. with wicker settees, metal dining chairs and now upholstered furniture, Pier 1 Imports may soon be selling to consumers in all 50 states.The retailer reported it will enter the Hawaiian market by opening two stores there in ...
INDEPENDENTS' DAYS--HFN RESEARCH PEGS THE STORE OF CHOICE FOR FURNITURE SHOPPERS.(Independent retailers are stores of choice)
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Independent retailers are the stores of choice for the majority of America's furniture shoppers, according to HFN's current round of consumer research.Among women who purchased at least $200 worth of furniture in the 18 months prior to July 1998, well over half shopped for ...
NO SLEEPING ON LABOR DAY--BEDDING RETAILERS BEAT DRUMS TO DRAW TRAFFIC.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Holiday weekends are becoming increasingly popular among retailers hoping to enliven bedding sales -- and Labor Day was no exception.From themed events to deep discounting, retailers nationwide tapped into the possibilities of promoting mattresses during peak consumer ...
RTA BESTS ASSEMBLED FURNITURE IN HOUSEHOLD PURCHASES.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-More consumers purchased ready-to-assemble than assembled furniture in 1997, according to new research.Nineteen percent of 6,200 consumers surveyed in a PricewaterhouseCoopers study said they purchased RTA furniture in 1997, compared with 16.9 percent who said they ...
SUPERMARKETS SUCCEED WITH CATEGORY MANAGEMENT.(reprint of Supermarket News article about Supervalu)
Sep 07, 1998; ... Supermarkets enjoy the longest familiarity with Category Management initiatives, and consequently have more demonstrable measures of success. The following article appeared in Supermarket News this spring following an industry meeting on ECR.SUPERVALU REPORTING SKU DROP, SALES RISE ...
FURNITURE INDEX SLIDES INTO FALL.(National Furniture Buying Index drops)
Sep 07, 1998 ... CHARLESTON, S.C.-Analysts' rosy projections for a strong fall season in furniture are not coming true, thanks to consumers. The National Furniture Buying Index dropped one point from August, a fourth straight monthly drop, to 72."Consumers are unsettled in their buying plans due in ...
FURNITURE SHOPPERS: REDUCE MY RISK. (survey shows that shoppers want right to return merchandise)
Sep 07, 1998; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Risk reduction tops the list of factors influencing furniture shoppers in the purchasing process, according to a recently released PricewaterhouseCooper survey.A whopping 75 percent of shoppers rated the right to return unsatisfactory products as being "very ...
FURNITURE BRIEFS.(Dinaire sold investor group)(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998 ... Hardenburgh to Retail GroupDouglas K. Hardenburgh has joined The Retail Group as creative director of the company.The Retail Group is a 13-year-old strategic design firm based in Seattle, Wash., whose clients include Nike, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Sears, Roebuck & Co ....
NEW, BIGGER SHOWROOMS SET.(International Home Furnishings Market drawing more manufacturers)
Sep 07, 1998; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-he International Home Furnishings Market continues to grow in importance, motivating manufacturers who have never shown here previously to open permanent showrooms in time for October, while others move to larger quarters or expand existing showrooms.Among the ...
A WALL'S BEST FRIEND.
Sep 07, 1998; ... HOUSTON-When a consumer redecorates her home, she thinks first about wall coverings, window treatments, furniture, rugs and lighting. But when it comes to artwork, oftentimes, she isn't quite sure how to choose proper wall decor to fit in with her home furnishings.She may already ...
ART MOVES TOWARD GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY, CREDIBILITY.(Accessories Resource Team)
Sep 07, 1998; ... SEDONA, Ariz.-The trade association for decorative accessories is developing educational programs, certification standards and is demanding greater respect as a serious business advocacy group.The Accessories Resource Team means business. That's the message it is sending to ...
PORTMEIRION TO GROW BEYOND BOTANIC GARDEN PATTERN--NEW PRESIDENT OUTLINES NEW PRODUCTS, AD CAMPAIGN.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Using the strength of its pattern Botanic Garden as a base, Lawrence Bryan, the new president of Portmeirion, plans to expand his company by introducing new products, implementing a major advertising campaign and increasing the marketable customer base.Portmeirion, with ...
PFALTZGRAFF HOPES TO SCORE WITH OUTSTANDING SUPPLIERS--NEW SOURCING ALLIANCE CREATED TO IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS AND REDUCE COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998; ... YORK, Pa.-In what promises to be a meeting of the minds, Pfaltzgraff and its key suppliers will discuss ways to improve business during an inaugural conference here in October.The goal of the Pfaltzgraff Global Sourcing Alliance will be to enhance Pfaltzgraff's relationships with ...
GEARY'S GOES FOR NEW LOOK--BEVERLY HILLS STORE REVAMPED TO HIGHLIGHT TABLETOP BOUTIQUES.
Sep 07, 1998; ... BEVERLY HILLS, Cal.-In the year since the Ross brothers of Ross-Simons fame acquired Geary's of Beverly Hills, the latter retailer has undergone a significant facelift in its store here, as well as in its catalog.Darrell Ross and Mark Ross, who bought Geary's in October of 1997 ...
FLATWARE FUELS TABLETOP'S GROWTH.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Stainless steel flatware continues to be a shining segment of tabletop.The total flatware market grew nearly 10 percent from 1996 to 1997, from $752.9 million to $835.6 million in retail sales, according to HFN statistics. While stainless steel flatware's share of the ...
FULL PLATE SET FOR TABLETOP MARKET. (special events planned)
Sep 07, 1998 ... NEW YORK-Table-setting options, a report on the purchasing habits of women while engaged, and lots of good food are among the special events Forty One Madison is planning for Tabletop Market here in October.The Fall '98 New York Tabletop Market opens Saturday, Oct. 24 and runs ...
MIKASA'S ROY BURNS DIES.(retired senior VP suffers heart attack)
Sep 07, 1998; ... SECAUCUS, N.J.-Roy Burns, retired senior vice president of Mikasa, died of a heart attack in his home on Aug. 27. He was 61 years old.Burns first joined Mikasa in 1968 as a salesman, and was a key contributor to the growth of the Mikasa brand over the last 30 years. Since its ...
EXPANDING CLOSETS--NEED FOR MORE SPACE SPURS SALES OF ORGANIZATION GOODS.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Retailers and suppliers of wire ventilated shelving for closets are reaping hefty retail sales of these goods. Not bad for one of the oldest storage and organization categories.Wire shelving has been sold for decades, but lifestyle trends as well as the introduction of new ...
SITRAM-ROYAL DOULTON PACT FOR PATTERNED COOKWARE.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998; ... PARSIPPANY, N.J.-Sitram has signed a worldwide licensing pact with the Royal Doulton Co. to make and distribute cookware. It is the first cookware licensing deal for Royal Doulton. The agreement includes the brand names Royal Doulton, Old Country Roses and Doulton Everyday, according to Dick ...
NEW HOME FOR VACS AT SERVICE MERCHANDISE.
Sep 07, 1998; ... BRENTWOOD, Tenn.-Today, Labor Day, marks the beginning of a new retail season and format for $3.6 billion retailer Service Merchandise Co.As part of Service Merchandise's corporatewide remerchandising strategy from catalog-showroom to self-service mass merchat, the 353-store ...
GLADWARE INTRODUCES VERSATILE--DISPOSABLE FOOD CONTAINERS ITEMS MAY BE THE FORERUNNERS OF A NEW CATEGORY IN FOOD STORAGE.
Sep 07, 1998; ... DANBURY, Conn.-First Brands Corp., distributor of Glad garbage bags, plastic wrap and sandwich bags has introduced its first food storage containers -- Gladware Tight-Sealing Containers.Instead of going head-to-head with the giant suppliers of durable food containers, Gladware is ...
CLOCKS LOOK TO CHIME LOUDER--FASHION, INNOVATIVE FEATURES AND BOOMER PURCHASING POWER HOLD PROMISE FOR CATEGORY.
Sep 07, 1998; ... Profit, like time, is relative in the clock category. Although perceived as a somewhat mature category with little room for growth, a focus on clocks as home decor items; boomers' disposable incomes; and new alarm clock features are keeping sales ticking.According to industry ...
VAC SHIPMENTS UP, UP, AWAY.(Brief Article)
Sep 07, 1998; ... NORTH CANTON, Ohio-Unit shipments of upright, canister and stick vacuum cleaners took another sharp upturn in July, following a strong June, according to the Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturers Association (VCMA).In July there were 1,198,660 units shipped, 16.4 percent more than the ...
NEW ENGLANDERS COME CLEAN--LAUNDRY-CARE STUDY OFFERS GLIMPSE INTO CONSUMER HABITS.
Sep 07, 1998; ... BOSTON-Hide the iron and pass the sponge.When consumers in New England have to clean, they'd much rather wash dishes than press clothes. In fact, a survey found that among domestic cleaning chores, the order of preference was dishes, laundry, vacuuming, dusting and ironing. ...
TAKING THE KITCHEN OUTDOORS: GRILLS GET SIZZLING.
Sep 07, 1998; ... NEW YORK-Outdoor grilling has become a real American pastime. And the fact that consumers are willing to pay more for better merchandise has not been lost on suppliers and retailers.According to the Barbeque Industry Association (BIA), the grill market is growing in size and price ...
BRITA DELAYS SHIPMENT OF ULTRA FAUCET FILTER.
Sep 07, 1998; ... OAKLAND, Cal.-The Brita Products Co. will postpone shipment of its Ultra Faucet Filter, its newest faucet-mount filter system, until after Christmas due to logistical problems in production."We had some delays in getting set up for large scale production, which caused us to miss ...
BBQ TOOLS HEAT UP.
Sep 07, 1998; ... As consumer tire of searching the world for new cuisines, they are re-discovering downhome American cooking right in their own backyards. It's a trend that is translating into real dollars for retailers selling barbecue accessories, and for manufacturers making innovative products in the ...
HOUSEWARES BRIEFS.(includes multiple news briefs on various topics)
Sep 07, 1998 ... Brita Sponsoring Coastal Cleanup CampaignThe Brita Products Co. is pitching in to help International Coastal Cleanup, a worldwide one-day beach cleanup to be held on Sept. 19. This year marks the second year the water filtration manufacturer is sponsoring the event. Brita will give ...
HOT PRODUCT PROSPECTS.(0(1)
Sep 07, 1998 ... GRILL & RACLETTEA new Party Grill & Raclette from Toastess takes its cue from the traditional Swiss melted cheese dish, raclette. The raclette cheese melts into special raclette pans, is scraped out onto French bread or potatoes, and served with a dry white wine. The product serves ...
QVC GERMAN BASH WILL COINCIDE WITH OKTOBERFEST.
Sep 07, 1998; ... WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Electronic retailer QVC will run a 24-hour, on-air German celebration to coincide with the city of Munich's world-renowned Oktoberfest, according to a spokesperson for QVC.More than 200 authentic and German-inspired products will be shown at the event beginning ...
PHONE CARDS DIAL YOUTH MARKET.
Sep 07, 1998; ... Increasingly, marketers of prepaid phone cards are targeting techno-savvy youths using a plethora of strategies that could include everything from Bugs Bunny to Michael Jordan to bluejeans.Youths typically are one of the most receptive market segments for prepaid phone cards ....