HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from May 1999:
HAIER AND HIGHER: CHINESE AIM AT AMERICAN MARKET.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-The quiet giant is stirring. Haier has big plans for the American market. Haier Group Co. is a rapidly growing Chinese manufacturer of consumer appliances and electronics. It has sold compact refrigeration in the U.S. since 1990, but suppliers and retailers have ...
SEALY OPENS NEW HQ WITH A BANG; REASON TO CELEBRATE: Q1 SALES UP 6.2 PERCENT.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... ARCHDALE, N.C.-Sealy's new world headquarters, opened here in mid-April, will give the company a more streamlined approach to research-and-development and manufacturing, centralize its operations even more and move the company into the hub of the home furnishings industries. ...
BEDDING BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999 ... In-House Awards Simmons awarded Hanes Industries, a Leggett & Platt company, its 1998 Supplier of the Year Award. Sealy announced that its Albany, N.Y., manufacturing plant won top honors in its Quality Awards program for the second year in a row. The plant, which beat out 24 ...
MAJOR MILLS CONTINUE RECORD RUN; SHAW AND MOHAWK REPORT SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN FIRST QUARTER.(Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, financial results for first quarter of 1999)
May 03, 1999 ... DALTON, Ga.-Good times continue to roll for the carpet industry. The two largest carpet manufacturing corporations in the world, Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries, have reported sales and earnings for the first quarter of 1999 that reflect such an assessment. ...
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
May 03, 1999 ... MAY '99 1-2 Minneapolis Spring Mid-Season Home Furnishings Market International Market Square Minneapolis, MN (612) 330-9476 5-7 Proposte Villa Erba Cernobbio Como, Italy 011-39-2-805-5349 9-12 IntoHome ...
CAJUN-HOT 'GOURMANIA'.
May 03, 1999; ... This is not your normal feeding frenzy. This is "gourmania." This is where buyers gorge on new products upon which consumers will overindulge. Gourmania is a state of mind -- a somewhat altered state -- but one in which chefs are superheroes, nonetheless. Kitchens and cooking ...
VACS UNVEILED.(vacuum cleaner manufacturers to introduce new products at Gourmet Products Show in New Orleans)
May 03, 1999; ... Mix and match -- long a battle cry of the fashionable yet pragmatic -- is the philosophy followed by many vacuum cleaner manufacturers showcasing products at the Gourmet Products Show in New Orleans. While not all vacuum cleaner manufacturers are taking the wraps off new ...
ONEIDA REJECTS LIBBEY MERGER BID.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Oneida Ltd. last week rejected an offer by Libbey Inc. to merge the two leading tabletop companies, in a deal valued at $501 million. Although Libbey made two offers, raising the cash price for Oneida's shares in its second offer, the Oneida board of directors decided ...
THERE'S A NEW KID ON THE BEDDING BLOCK.
May 03, 1999; ... I'm HFN's new bedding editor and I don't even have a bed. Now that we've gotten that little confession out of the way, let me amend the statement while you get up and dust yourself off. I've actually had a futon in one size or another for about 19 years now and enjoy its ...
ADL TO HONOR FURNITURE EXECS AT GALA.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Furniture industry notables from around the country are preparing to gather June 3 at the New York Hilton for the annual Anti-defamation League's National Interior Furnishings & Design Division Awards Gala. The ADL's 1999 American Heritage Award will go to the Goldberg ...
THE SAK TO OPEN MEGASTORE; HOME-BUSINESS GROWTH SPURS NEW STRATEGY.
May 03, 1999; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-With its first home-furnishings collection barely out of the box, The Sak will go full-steam into home with the opening of its first megastore operation later this year, HFN has learned. Best known for its funky handbags, the manufacturer is currently ...
PAMIDA GETS BUYOUT OFFER, STILL TESTS NEW HOME.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... OMAHA, Neb.-Pamida Holdings Corp., noting increased activity in its stock, said that it has received a buyout proposal from an undisclosed third party to acquire all of its outstanding common stock. Pamida, a value-oriented general merchandise operation, is currently discussing the deal. ...
IMPACT FURNITURE CONFERENCE TO TACKLE ISSUES; SPEAKERS, DISCUSSION TOPICS NAMED.
May 03, 1999 ... HOT SPRINGS, Va.-The fifth annual HFN & High Points Impact Furniture Conference will raise issues critical to the industry as it approaches a new millennium and explore ways in which furniture retailers and suppliers can work together to effectively -- and creatively -- address them. ...
ON THE HORIZON.
May 03, 1999 ... Executives who will address the Fifth Annual HFN & High Points Impact Furniture Conference, "Horizons 2000 -- Creative thinking for the Millennium," include: Farooq Kathwari, chairman, president and chief executive, Ethan Allen Faith Popcorn, chief executive and ...
A TASTE OF GOURMET'S FLATWARE.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... Addressing the trend in upscale downstairs wares, flatware manufacturers are increasingly upgrading stainless-steel grades and designs. The following is a roundup of flatware being presented at the Gourmet Products Show. Reed & Barton is featuring its upgraded flatware at the ...
RESTAURANT DIRECTORY OF NEW ORLEANS FOR 1999.
May 03, 1999 ... Alex Patout's Louisiana Restaurant 221 Royal St. New Orleans, LA (504) 525-7788 Andrea's 3100 19th St. Metairie (New Orleans), LA (504) 834-8583 Bayona 430 Rue Dauphine New ...
BEYOND THE PALE.
May 03, 1999; ... White is always in style. Colors may come and go, and pale pastels may be the rage in department and specialty stores right now, but there is always room for whiteware. Expect to see a plethora of whiteware -- in numerous incarnations -- at the Gourmet Products Show. ...
A SAMPLING OF GLASSWARE.
May 03, 1999; ... Designer and handmade looks, bejeweled stemware and millennium themes dominate the glassware collections on view at the Gourmet Products Show. Arc International's Cristal D'Arques brand is showcasing Eden, two lines of stemware with frosted-glass stems topped with jewel-toned ...
FURNITURE BRIEFS.
May 03, 1999 ... BOMBAY LINKS TO SHABANG! The Bombay Company is going online with Shabang!, the Internet shopping community. Online shoppers at Shabang! will be able to purchase complete Bombay collections of furniture for the home office, bedroom, dining room and family room. ...
TRUSERV: IT'S NOT JUST TOOLS ANYMORE.
May 03, 1999; ... ATLANTA-It's the world's largest member-owned wholesale cooperative, ranking second only to McDonald's in number of locations. Its roster of 10,300 retailers racked up sales of $4.25 billion in 1998. But TruServ Corp. is building an all-in-one home empire on old-fashioned tenets ...
THE SYMBIOSIS OF BEDS AND BEDDING; FURNITURE AND SOFT-GOODS MANUFACTURERS PAIR UP FOR SUCCESS.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Two manufacturers are better than one -- especially when beds and bedding are concerned. This form of partnering creates a win-win situation. At least that's the way a number of manufacturers of luxury linen and high-end custom bedding, as well as their furniture-making ...
TEXTILES BRIEFS.
May 03, 1999 ... Ex-Unifi Chief Kretzer Dies William Kretzer, 52, who recently retired as president and chief executive of Unifi, died April 23 at Wesley-Long Community Hospital in Greensboro, N.C., following a heart attack. Kretzer had been with Unifi, one of the world's largest yarn ...
THE FORCE IS WITH THEM. . .AGAIN; STAR WARS PREPARES TO CONQUER THE MERCHANDISING UNIVERSE.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Like the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader wanna-bes who queued up at theaters a month in advance, it seems that some retailers can't contain their excitement for the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace, the prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy. ...
PENNEY'S REVAMPS KITCHENWARE; MAJOR PRIVATE-LABEL PROGRAM TO DEBUT.
May 03, 1999; ... PLANO, Texas-J.C. Penney's kitchenware department recently completed a massive makeover that included doubling the category's space in its larger stores and decreasing or eliminating the assortment in smaller stores. The retailer also is gearing up to roll out a new ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999 ... Judge OKs Bailout of Service Merchandise A federal judge gave final approval to a $750 million financing package that will keep Service Merchandise in business through its bankruptcy reorganization and allow the retailer to keep paying suppliers and employees. ...
NACCO CUTS LOSS AND SALTON GAINS.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio-Nacco Housewares Group reported it has narrowed its net loss to $800,000 for the first quarter, ended March 31, 1999. A year ago, Nacco Housewares lost $1.3 million in the first quarter. The company, which owns the Hamilton Beach Proctor-Silex ...
ZAK DESIGNS ACQUIRES TREASURE CRAFT.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... SPOKANE, Wash.-Zak Designs has purchased Treasure Craft to strengthen its merchandise mix in both the upstairs and downstairs tabletop markets. Zak, a leading acrylic and melamine tableware supplier, will incorporate Treasure Craft products, namely its licensed and non-licensed ...
READING CHINA CLOSES ITS DOORS.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... NEWARK, Del.-Reading China & Glass last week was forced to liquidate the inventory and assets of its remaining 18 stores in eight states. The company, which filed for bankruptcy in October 1998, had hired in March of this year a "turnaround" management firm to maneuver the ...
FRESHNESS SEEN AT SPRING SHOW; BUYERS DELIGHT IN NEW LOOKS FROM LONGTIME VENDORS.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Colored glassware, metallic finishes and innovative designs from veteran manufacturers topped the list of buyers' finds at the New York Spring Tabletop Show last week, while millennium merchandise monopolized the market. There was no unifying theme this year, but ...
ACCESSORIES APLENTY IN ATLANTA.
May 03, 1999; ... ATLANTA-TruServ retailers said they were looking for upscale merchandise at the company's Spring Market held in Atlanta. "We've always tried to beat Wal-Mart prices, but now we're looking for moderate to medium-high priced goods," said John Lottes of Perryville, Mo., whose daughter is a ...
NOTHING CASUAL ABOUT OUTDOOR OFFERINGS; MANUFACTURERS AT HIGH POINT MARKET EXPAND DISTRIBUTION BEYOND THE PATIO.
May 03, 1999; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Strong traffic greeted manufacturers of casual outdoor furniture as they kicked off the 1999 selling season at the International Home Furnishings Market. Although this market is hardly a challenge to the casual furniture and accessories market, to be held in ...
BEEMER: FURNITURE ON A ROLL FOR '99; CONSUMERS SPEND MORE ON FURNISHINGS.
May 03, 1999; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-The furniture industry can expect a banner year in sales -- but only if it can deliver the goods people want in a timely fashion. That was the prediction of Britt Beemer, founder and chairman of America's Research Group, a Charleston, S.C.-based consumer ...
SABRY EXITS ORIENTAL WEAVERS OF AMERICA.
May 03, 1999 ... DALTON, Ga.-Mohamed Sabry Abouelfatouh, who has held the position of executive vice president of Oriental Weavers of America since the division was ...
ARTISTIC HANG UPS; FORM MEETS FUNCTION IN EUROPEAN-DESIGNED CLOTHES STORAGE.
May 03, 1999; ... MILAN, Italy-For consumers with an appreciation for art and organization, the hanging mobiles introduced at last month's 38th-annual Milan furniture fair may be the piece de resistance. Ideal for hanging clothes, bags and hats, Mobil is not only functional but pretty to look at ....
RETRO-BLADE; VORNADO'S NEW FAN DESIGNED WITH HISTORY IN MIND.
May 03, 1999; ... ANDOVER, Kan.-Ever wonder what kind of fan was cooling off Humphrey Bogart and his leading lady in those classic noir films? Vornado's newest offering, the Silver Swan, would have fit the bill. The latest fan introduction by Vornado has a die-cast aluminum ...
CONAIR UNFOLDS PLAN FOR THE MILLENNIUM; COMPANY SEEKS GROWTH THROUGH NEW TRENDS.
May 03, 1999; ... STAMFORD, Conn.-Through a strategy of identifying new fashion trends and aggressively introducing new products, Conair plans to increase its 1999 sales to $850 million. And the company, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, has its sights set on reaching $1 billion in ...
HOME SOLUTION BRIEFS.
May 03, 1999 ... Weather-Strategy Conference Planned The Strategic Weather Services and the International Quality & Productivity Center are planning a two-day event focused on how to prepare retailers and consumer-product manufacturers for changes in business due to the weather. The ...
EKCO'S LOSS WIDENS; LIFETIME HOAN POSTS DECLINES.
May 03, 1999; ... NASHUA, N.H.-The Ekco Group Inc., parent of Ekco Housewares, posted a first-quarter widening net loss, partly reflecting a kitchen tool business that is sluggish because of pricing pressure at retail and lackluster sales in the U.K. Meanwhile, Lifetime Hoan Corp.'s anticipated ...
TABLETOP SHOW OFFERS GLIMPSE OF GOURMET.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-A sprinkling of new kitchenware items, which will make their official, more ceremonious debut at the Gourmet Products Show this month, was previewed at the New York Tabletop Show here last week. Jim Peikon, Bloomingdale's divisional merchandise manager of housewares, ...
BRIEFS.(Cookware Manufacturers Assn)(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999 ... CMA Takes Anti-Dumping Stance, Develops Non-Stick Coating Standards The Cookware Manufacturers Association (CMA) said it will support the continuation of anti-dumping duties on imported stainless steel cookware from Korea and Taiwan, and on porcelain-on-steel cookware from ...
CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
May 03, 1999 ... The U-Line photograph in the Product Preview Section (HFN, April ...
THE CONTAINER STORE ACQUIRES ELFA INTERNATIONAL; RETAILER CONSIDERS EUROPEAN EXPANSION.
May 03, 1999; ... DALLAS-In an unusual move, national storage retailer The Container Store has purchased Elfa International, a European manufacturer of a wire drawer and shelving system. The Container Store had previously been the North American distributor for Elfa. According to the principals ...
THE VERDICT IS IN... VACS ROCK.
May 03, 1999 ... Movers and shakers, vacuum cleaner manufacturers have ...
FABRIC WORLD TURNS TO PROPOSTE THIS WEEK.
May 03, 1999; ... CERNOBBIO, Italy-Proposte, the exclusive Italian fabric fair showcasing high-end furnishing fabrics and curtains runs May 5- 7 at the Villa Erba, in the lakeside town of Cernobbio. At this month's show, some 114 exhibitors will be giving their take on the year 2000 to a select ...
NEWELL COOKWARE STRONG IN QUARTER.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999 ... In the cookware arena, both Mirro and Calphalon were reported to be performing beyond expectations, particularly due to the sell-in with Wal-Mart and Target. In the first quarter, sales were up almost 20 percent for cookware, due in part to new products and increased shelf space at Mirro ...
BUILDING WALL DECOR BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-The wall decor business is full of opportunities for incremental sales and profit dollars. Successful merchants in the business seek out niches to fill, are able to react quickly, and are committed to growing the category. They realize that the definition of wall decor ...
TARGET GETS STIFFEL, ABBEY FOR FASHION LAMP ROLLOUT; UPSCALE BRANDS MAKE THEIR MASS-MARKET DEBUT.(top designers)
May 03, 1999; ... MINNEAPOLIS-Target Stores, in its effort to snag top designers and upscale brand names in key merchandise categories, has signed on Stiffel and Robert Abbey to produce decorative lamps for a boxed program that will roll out in August. This summer, Stiffel will ship nine SKUs and ...
MOHAWK FORMS RUG AND TEXTILES DIVISION.(Brief Article)
May 03, 1999 ... CALHOUN, Ga.-Mohawk's acquisitions in 1998 of Newmark Rug Co. and American Weavers, combined with the product lines from existing Mohawk divisions Aladdin Bath Rug and American Rug Craftsmen, are being reorganized as the Mohawk Rug and Textiles division. Between its various ...
HIGH POINT RUGS: OLD & NEW.
May 03, 1999; ... High Point, N.C.-While many rug styles did debut at High Point market last month, some suppliers are slowing the rush of introductions and instead pinpointing the "right" look and backing it with prompt delivery and better service. Shields Smith, marketing manager for Shaw, ...
BIG BOX IS BIG BUSINESS; RUG SUPPLIERS FIND SPECIALTY RETAILERS AN EFFICIENT SELLING FORCE FOR FLOOR-COVERING PRODUCTS.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Some consumers have an eye for fashion, while others have a nose for bargains. The ability of big-box specialty retailers, such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens 'n Things, to reach both is a value rug manufacturers find hard to resist. Michael Shabtai, president of The ...
PUTTIN' ON THE STYLE; FLOOR-CARE MAKERS FOCUS ON FORM, TEXTURE AND COLOR AS SELLING TOOLS.
May 03, 1999; ... The modern vacuum cleaner needs to sell itself. A majority of the business now derives from mass merchants and other volume-driven chains that provide a minimum of sales help. Cartons and displays take on the task of explaining features. Most of all, the machine itself must ...
VAC SHIPMENTS KEEP SOARING.
May 03, 1999 ... NORTH CANTON, Ohio-The most successful March in history, the number-two month ever, completed the biggest quarter the floor-care business has seen. Manufacturers' shipments of full-sized vacuum cleaners numbered 1,650,296 units. Relevant comparisons were with the previous March ...
AHAM TO MOVE OFFICES TO D.C. IN JULY.
May 03, 1999 ... WASHINGTON-The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers plans to move its offices here from Chicago in July, a month after a timely Annual Member Meeting. Joe McGuire, AHAM's new president, said last week that hiring is underway for staffers here. No one from Chicago will ...
NEWELL RUBBERMAID UNVEILS INAUGURAL QUARTER.
May 03, 1999; ... FREEPORT, Ill.-The recently minted Newell Rubbermaid Inc. reported record sales figures for the first quarter but a drop in operating income partly due to Rubbermaid's lackluster performance. Excluding restructuring and other charges in both 1998 and 1999, Newell Rubbermaid ...
WEDGWOOD TIES WINDSOR KNOT; DUCHESS OF YORK STRIVES TO UPDATE WEDGWOOD'S IMAGE.
May 03, 1999; ... NEW YORK-Promising to deliver the "best of Britain," Wedgwood USA recently rolled out the red carpet for its newest spokesperson: Sarah, Duchess of York. Beginning in August, the Duchess, who lives in England, will tour the United States and make personal appearances at about a ...
CORRECTION.
May 03, 1999 ... Portions of C.C.A. International's product line review appearing in the April 26 issue were incorrect. C.C.A. does not produce ...
PROFITS VS. SHELF SPACE; LAMP MAKERS ENGAGED IN PRICE WARS HURT THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
May 03, 1999; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-In today's highly competitive marketplace, lamp suppliers are struggling to increase sales and retail distribution while maintaining profitability. Indeed, many market-share battles are fought on price alone, with suppliers sacrificing profit margins in order to ...
WITHIT WOMEN EXPLORE EXPANDING ROLES; PANEL STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF FEMININE PERSPECTIVE.
May 03, 1999; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-WithIt, the group founded to support and elevate women in the home industries, was highly visible at the spring International Home Furnishings Market. Founding president Jena Hall characterized the 18-month-old group's growth by paraphrasing the movie Field of ...
TOP DESIGNS FROM MILAN; CLASSIC LOOKS, KICKY MATERIALS AND A RETURN TO BAUHAUS MARK OFFERINGS AT THE MILAN FURNITURE FAIR.
May 03, 1999; ... MILAN, Italy-As location is to real estate, materials were to the 38th annual Milan furniture fair, which ran April 13 to 18. While die-hard design pundits groused that innovation was in the materials, not the shapes, buyers rounded out assortments and some placed orders on the spot. ...
LANE GETS INTO LEATHER; NEW DIVISION DEDICATED TO STATIONARY LEATHER UPHOLSTERY.
May 03, 1999; ... TUPELO, Miss.-Action Lane entered the stationary leather market with guns blazing at the spring High Point market, launching a division dedicated to leather. Lane Leather, which will operate as a division of Action Lane, is geared to address explosive consumer demand for leather ...
CORRECTIONS.
May 03, 1999 ... A story in the March 29 issue of HFN misstated the relationship between Dial-A-Mattress and Adam Kidan, founder of eMattress.com. Kidan has ownership interest in Dial-A-Mattress franchises. The two companies are distinct entities. In the April 12 HFN Uncovers, the name of ...
ASIAN ILLS AFFECT DUPONT RESULTS.
May 03, 1999; ... WILMINGTON, Del.-DuPont's fiber units continued to feel the effects of Asia's economic ills in the first quarter of 1999, as sales and earnings were hit by inventory overstocks and falling prices. The Dacron polyester segment posted a loss of $6 million -- contrasted with ...
GUIDE TO NEW ORLEANS.
May 03, 1999 ... Like everyone else, we leave our hearts in San Francisco every spring after the Gourmet Show, but we're definitely not complaining about visiting New Orleans this time around. Exquisite ...
FINDING A HOME AT GOURMET.(Gourmet Products Show)
May 03, 1999; ... As the appeal of the Gourmet Products Show has continued to widen, the managers of the event have decided to embrace its new participants in a special way. For the first time, health and home-comfort exhibitors have a dedicated area at the show. "We had some personal-care and ...
DINING AU NATURAL.
May 03, 1999; ... Bringing the outdoors inside -- with butterflies, flowers and fields -- will be a prevalent dinnerware theme at the Gourmet Products Show. Butterflies flutter across Farfalla by Lynns Concepts, on American Atelier's Floral Daze and on Crystal Clear's Butterfly Garden. Villeroy ...