HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from September 2000:
SODERQUIST'S RETAILING LEGACY: WAL-MART'S ETHICAL FOUNDATION.
Sep 04, 2000; ... BENTONVILLE, Ark.-He's been called the spirit of Wal-Mart, the keeper of founder Sam Walton's legacy. But in the end, Don Soderquist might very well go down in the record books as a rare breed in American business: a retail ethicist. Soderquist retired last month as senior vice ...
J.C. PENNEY NAMES TROY SENIOR VP OF SUPPLY CHAIN.
Sep 04, 2000; ... PLANO, Texas-As it works to centralize buying and forecasting functions, J.C. Penney has named Timothy Troy senior vice president and director of supply chain management, a newly created position. Troy's Sept. 13 appointment is subject to approval by the company's board of ...
CROSCILL'S EVOLVING IMAGE.
Sep 04, 2000 ... NEW YORK-The look of Croscill's logo has morphed considerably over the years, and the latest version is as sleek and shiny as the new platinum color. Just this past January, the company removed "fashions" from its official name, ...
CATALOGER FOR SEARS, WARD SEES A YEAR FOR THE BOOKS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... CHICAGO-It's performance, not size, that counts. In retailing, vendor performance may not be the sexiest issue, but it's one that can make or break a retailer. And it's the key to growth for 7-year-old Direct Marketing Services Inc. (DMSI), which publishes home catalogs for ...
AMERICAN TEXTILE MANAGES TO REFINE ITS NICHE.
Sep 04, 2000; ... PITTSBURGH-American Textile Co. is never satisfied. Even after 75 years in business, after finally finding its niche, it keeps on tweaking -- through product innovation, strategic expansion and aggressive marketing. "This is our business. We want to do what we do best," said ...
CHEROKEE'S FATE STILL UNCERTAIN.
Sep 04, 2000; ... SPARTANBURG, S.C.-The uncertain fate of the Spartan International Cherokee Finishing facility in Gaffney, S.C., has caused much concern and speculation in the textiles industry. "We are in conversations with a few different players to acquire Cherokee and it's extremely positive," said J ....
FORMER PENNEY CEO DIES.
Sep 04, 2000 ... MURRAY HILL, N.J.- Donald Seibert, J.C. Penney's former chief executive officer and fifth chairman of the board, died here on Aug 28. He was 77 years old. Seibert joined Penney in 1946 as a shoe salesman. He subsequently rose through the executive ranks and in 1963, was named ...
GEORGE CHAPMAN, HOUSEWARES VET, IS DEAD AT 74.
Sep 04, 2000 ... CHERRY HILL, N.J.-George S. Chapman, housewares veteran and founder and past president of Artcraft Wire Works, died Aug. 14 after a long illness. He was 74. Chapman started Artcraft Wire Works, later named Artwire, in 1946. Along with producing specialty wire products, he ...
PHILIPS SET TO BUY OPTIVA.
Sep 04, 2000; ... SNOQUALMIE, Wash.-Philips Domestic Appliances and Personal Care (DAP) has agreed to acquire Optiva Corp., based here. Optiva, the maker of the Sonicare sonic toothbrush, rakes in 46 percent of the power toothbrush market in the United States and has annual sales of $175 million ....
BROADLOOM'S HARD-LINE APPROACH; CARPET COMPANIES ARE FINDING WAYS TO MAKE OTHER SURFACES SHINE.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-A shift in consumer preference away from all broadloom to a variety of flooring is a cloud with a silver lining for both flooring retailers and manufacturers. "Although there are still consumers who carpet their living rooms, too, there is a shift here to hard surface ...
SAKS CEO: 'WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER'.
Sep 04, 2000; ... BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-A flurry of change continues to shake up Saks Inc. The $6.4 billion retailer, which will spin off its upscale Saks Fifth Avenue chain into a separate, publicly held company by November, is on a mission to boost sales and earnings performance of its ailing ...
NEWS BRIEFS.
Sep 04, 2000 ... Louis de Poortere of Belgium Declares Bankruptcy Louis de Poortere S.A. of Belgium has declared bankruptcy. According to a statement by Louis de Poortere USA, the American Louis de Poortere, a private company not owned by Louis de Poortere of Belgium, will not be affected. David ...
AUGUST COMP SALES: DOG DAYS FOR MOST.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-Although discount retailers, drugstores and warehouse clubs posted strong comparable-store sales for August last Thursday, results for most retailers were poor. But home goods remained a cozy refuge as retailers and analysts stressed that the category continues to be ...
NTGA SLATES EXEC CONFERENCE.
Sep 04, 2000 ... NEW YORK-"B2B or B2C? Changing Business Models in a Changing World" will be the theme of the National Tabletop & Gift Association's executive conference, to be held here Sept. 12 at the Helmsley Hotel. The event's keynote speaker is Dr. Frank Feather, a futurist, author, ...
WATERFORD CRYSTALLIZING GROWTH PLANS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-Imagine that Mercedes-Benz, a dominant player in the luxury car market, could also claim to outsell all the Buicks, Chevys and Fords on the road. That is the position Waterford Crystal enjoys in the tabletop world: It is the premier crystal brand that also commands a ...
RUG RATIONALE: BALANCING THE NEEDS OF THE BIG AND SMALL.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-In the area rug business, it seems that the headlines are mostly generated by large manufacturers supplying even larger retailers. There have even been complaints from small to midsize retailers that the large suppliers don't want to be bothered with the demands of dealers that ...
MEYER PLANS FALL CIRCULON ADVERTISING BLITZ.
Sep 04, 2000; ... VALLEJO, Calif.-Meyer Corp. plans to heavily promote its Circulon Style cookware this fall with the launch of a new advertising campaign. The company said it will be the largest ad blitz ever for the high-end Circulon line. The print campaign will kick off in the ...
HUSTLE IN BRUSSELS: THREE SHOWS KICK OFF FALL.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-It's that time of year again. Pack those bags and head off for the latest round of trade shows. Kicking off the fall season is Decosit 2000, the International Trade Fair for Upholstery Fabrics, which runs from Sept. 10 to 13 at the Brussels Expo, Belgium. This show is ...
SPRINGS' BED-IN-A-BAG BAGS BIG BUCKS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... FORT MILL, S.C.-Did you hear the one about the $500 bed-in-a-bag? What might have elicited laughter just a few markets ago is no joke for Springs Industries, which is continuing its pioneering ways in the category. After its higher-end Bedroom Solutions met with retail success, ...
DIDDEL MARKS A MILESTONE.
Sep 04, 2000; ... Judging by Katha Diddel's energy and enthusiasm, it's not hard to believe that she has been the driving force behind Katha Diddel, a high-end supplier of fine textiles, needlepoint pillows and rugs, for two decades. On Aug ....
VIVE LA FRANCE.
Sep 04, 2000 ... Bloomingdale's and French cutlery manufacturer Sabatier teamed up for an in-store event at the New York flagship that featured a cooking demonstration by Alex Lee of Manhattan's ...
HOMEPLACE TO CARRY QVC BEDDING LINE.
Sep 04, 2000; ... WEST CHESTER, Pa.-QVC, based here, said last Thursday it is launching its Northern Nights branded down and feather bedding program at HomePlace. All 118 stores will carry a select assortment of comforters, feather beds and pillows, manufactured by Seattle-based Pacific Coast ...
WAL-MART MOVE COULD SHIFT MAJOR APPLIANCE LANDSCAPE.
Sep 04, 2000; ... BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Wal-Mart's decision to sell major appliances could start a revolutionary shift in how the white goods are sold, according to industry observers. Two weeks ago, Wal-Mart announced a trial program with General Electric Corp. to offer a full line of GE-brand ...
WHIRLPOOL SEES EARNINGS SPIRALING DOWN.
Sep 04, 2000; ... BENTON HARBOR, Mich.-Citing Circuit City's pullout of major appliances, as well as changing business conditions in Europe, Whirlpool Corp., based here, said its earnings would fall 37 percent below Wall Street estimates for the third quarter. In a statement last Wednesday, the ...
BRADLEES MAY FACE LABOR, CREDIT WOES IN 2ND HALF.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-Bradlees Inc., a regional discounter in the Northeast, could be facing some second-half headaches. While some credit problems may be in the offing, a labor crisis could be near. Members of the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1262 in Clifton, N.J. -- representing ...
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
Sep 04, 2000 ... september 3-7 Autumn Fair Birmingham National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, England (201) 659-0134 6-8 Shop Design Asia 2000: International Trade Fair and Conference for Shopfitting, Display and Merchandising Suntec ...
BETTY CROCKER COOKWARE GETS A TEST RUN IN CANADA.
Sep 04, 2000; ... MINNEAPOLIS-Betty Crocker is flexing her brand muscle across the border, selling on retail shelves in Canada cookware that won't appear in the United States until next year. "The Betty Crocker cookware line is already being tested at several Canadian retail accounts and is doing ...
DELIVERING AS PREMISED; COOKWARE MAKERS VOW TO FULFILL ORDERS ON TIME THIS FOURTH QUARTER.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-The orders are in, the ad campaigns are set to go, the products are hot. The fourth quarter is in sight and so is the worry that your cookware vendor won't ship on time. "To me, not shipping is the single worst thing that can happen in retail," said the divisional ...
NEWS BRIEFS.
Sep 04, 2000 ... Kincaid Furniture Adds Laura Ashley License Kincaid Furniture, known for its solid wood furniture, has entered into a licensing agreement to manufacture and market Laura Ashley furniture. Under the license, Kincaid will produce bedroom, dining room, upholstered, entertainment, ...
IN BOOKS: KEEPING UP WITH THE BOBOS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-Move over, yuppies. As the darlings of the consumer products industry, you've been replaced. In his new book, "Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There," writer David Brooks identifies a new demographic of consumers: the bourgeois bohemians, or bobos. ...
TO THE MANOR BORN; TESSILE'S NEW BEDDING COLLECTION WAS INSPIRED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON ESTATE.
Sep 04, 2000 ... NEW YORK-The bedding is all brand new but its design inspiration is deeply rooted in George and Martha Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Tessile Inc. Design Studio in Brooklyn, N.Y., is previewing its licensed Mount Vernon collection, inspired by textiles, artifacts and gardens ...
A DOWN DEAL FOR SIMMONS AND HOLLANDER.
Sep 04, 2000; ... ATLANTA-It seems like a no-brainer: Take a national mattress brand, build an entire bedding program around it and roll it out into concept shops that sell it all. But nobody's done it -- until now. Atlanta-based Simmons, the industry's third-largest mattress manufacturer, just ...
THE BIRTH OF A MATTRESS; NEW BEDDING SETS ARE OFTEN THE RESULT OF BRAINSTORMING AMONG SEVERAL PRODUCERS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... MEMBANE, N.C.-A few weeks ago, representatives from Hickory Springs huddled with Kingsdown executives at Kingsdown's headquarters here. It was a brainstorming session in which Kingsdown and Hickory Springs knocked around some ideas for a new model sleep set. Kingsdown wanted to ...
THIS FALL IS GOING TO BE HOT AT BLOOMINGDALE'S.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-If it's hot, then Bloomie's has it covered. That's the message the upscale department store wants to drive home with the launch of the hot@Bloomingdale's fall campaign, which the retailer is calling a monthlong celebration of the season's hottest trends. ...
THE YOUTH ROUTE FOR LANE; FURNITURE MAKER SEEKS TO FILL VOID WITH FOUR JUNIOR COLLECTIONS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... ALTAVISTA, Va.-Lane Furniture has hurled itself headlong into one of the industry's fastest-growing categories, the one for growing people -- youth furnishings. Lane made enough extra samples of all four of its introductory junior collections to prelaunch with Rich's and ...
A NEW STANDARD FOR AIR CLEANERS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... Consumers want to know, and so do the retailers who have to explain it. It's the Clean Air Delivery Rate, an objective standard by which shoppers can compare air cleaners before making a purchase. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, which helped develop CADR, ...
AHAM CAMPAIGN AIMS TO CLEAR THE AIR.
Sep 04, 2000; ... CHICAGO-The confused consumer is about to get an unprecedented education in selecting an air cleaner, and suppliers are betting that knowledge means sales. Months in the making, the manufacturers that dominate the category and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers have ...
SHERMAG GETS INTO LEATHER.
Sep 04, 2000; ... MONTREAL-Buoyed by a strong year at its Sofas International division, Canadian furniture manufacturer Shermag Inc. is launching an upholstered leather division that is expected to generate another US$13.8 million ($20 million Canadian) in annual revenue within the next two or three years. ...
BOUTIQUE NEW YORK.
Sep 04, 2000; ... World-class shopping is as much a part of the New York mystique as Times Square or Seventh Avenue. Uptown, midtown or downtown, home furnishings stores offer looks as diverse as the neighborhoods in which they are found. The Upper East Side has a particularly high concentration of high-end ...
BANKRUPTCIES, LATE PAYMENTS DOWN BUT CORPORATE DEBT KEEPS RISING.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-Business bankruptcy filings are down for the third straight year. Loan delinquency rates are down for the fifth straight year. Is the American culture of indebtedness beginning to fade? Not necessarily. In fact, corporate debt in the first quarter of this year grew ...
CORRECTIONS.
Sep 04, 2000 ... Harvey Sloane has been named senior vice president of sales and marketing for Lamont, a bath furnishings supply company. His name was incorrectly stated in an article in the Aug. 28 issue of HFN. Lamont will be introducing a juvenile line later ...
WINE SELLER.
Sep 04, 2000 ... Part retail shop, part restaurant and part cafe, the goal at Chicago's Bin 36 is to educate wine novices. The restaurant specializes in pre-paired wines and food selections to take the guesswork out of ordering the ...
GLEAMING IN THE CITY OF LIGHT; HOME FASHION TRENDS WILL TAKE CENTER STAGE IN PARIS AT MAISON & OBJET.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-American retailers and vendors will look to Europe's fashion capital, Paris, for trends to translate for the U.S. market as Maison & Objet opens its doors there Sept. 8 to 12. Maison & Objet, dubbed the International Home Decoration, Giftware and Tableware Exhibition, ...
PROGRESSIVE ADDS TO WEB PRESENCE.
Sep 04, 2000; ... SEATTLE-Progressive International has beefed up its presence in cyberspace with two new deals. The maker of kitchen tools is preselling its SilverStone line of kitchen tools to consumers at Amazon.com. In a separate deal, Progressive has also formed a strategic partnership with ...
TAKEOUT, HOTEL STYLE.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-Fall in love last night? With those 400-thread-count, twisted Egyptian cotton sheets, the chair you ate dinner in or the mirror you admired yourself in this morning? In today's boutique hotel, it is possible to take these, and almost anything else that isn't nailed down, home with ...
COMP SALES DILUTE EARNINGS FOR TOP PERFORMERS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... NEW YORK-Sagging comp-store sales cut into earnings as retailers put less money in their pockets for the second quarter over the previous quarter. However, the ones who fared better than most included home goods specialty merchants such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens 'n Things ...
HANSEN'S IDLING PLANS NOT IDLE TALK AT PILLOWTEX.
Sep 04, 2000; ... DALLAS-In an effort to keep inventories under control, Charles M. Hansen, chairman and chief executive officer of Pillowtex, said he will continue to suspend production at manufacturing plants if necessary. "It doesn't matter what line, be it sheets, towels, blankets or ...
THE BUSTLE FROM BRUSSELS.
Sep 04, 2000 ... BRUSSELS SPROUTS three fabric shows this month, where the offerings include this collection ...
SAME-STORE SCAMS AND SHAMS.
Sep 04, 2000; ... The news that the big British retailer Marks & Spencer had another rotten financial performance wasn't terribly important to most of us on this side of the Atlantic. After all, the store has been struggling for years and seems to be unable to do much about it. Besides, who really cares ...
QVC REVAMPS HOMESTYLE DIVISION, NAMES WHITNEY VP.
Sep 11, 2000; ... WEST CHESTER, Pa.-QVC Inc. has realigned the executive ranks of its Homestyle Division as the company continues to rapidly build its housewares business. To that end, QVC has named housewares veteran George Whitney vice president of merchandising of the Homestyle Division ....
DIXIE GROUP EXPECTS LOWER Q3 EARNINGS.
Sep 11, 2000 ... NEW YORK-Continuing to grapple with internal and external issues that have adversely affected its sales and earnings this year, The Dixie Group Inc. said its earnings for the third quarter ending Sept. 30 will be below analysts' current estimates. The company attributes its low ...
A NATURAL CHOICE; SOME RUG SUPPLIERS ARE TAKING A COTTON TO COTTON AT THIS MONTH'S MARKET.
Sep 11, 2000; ... NEW YORK-It's almost a cliche to use the words cotton and natural in the same sentence. What makes these two words inseparable? More than any one quality, cotton has a high perceived value for natural comfort that is reflected in its price and distribution. "Plus, cotton rugs ...
DUPONT THINKING GLOBAL IN FLOORING REALIGNMENT.
Sep 11, 2000 ... ATLANTA-DuPont Nylon Flooring has made executive changes to its residential and commercial carpet fiber areas as part of a realignment of its commercial flooring businesses to facilitate global growth in the fiber and service businesses, according to a company statement. "This ...
ORIENTAL WEAVERS PLANS A BUSY FALL.
Sep 11, 2000; ... DALTON, Ga.-Oriental Weavers of America moves into fall 2000 with a series of activities calculated to better serve its traditional customers and win new dealers as well. During the New York Home Textiles Market, Oriental Weavers will roll out a new group of licensed patterns ...
TWO ENSEMBLES MAKE THEIR DEBUT; BURLINGTON HOUSE UNVEILS TWO BATH GROUPINGS.
Sep 11, 2000 ... GREENSBORO, N.C.-Burlington House continues to expand its presence in the coordinated bath category with Silver Aspen and Luminesse, new ensembles including shower curtains; bath, hand and tip towels; bath rugs; and hard accessories. In the less-is-more tradition, Silver Aspen ...
IFDA'S HOLIDAY GALA: A PARTY WITH HEART.
Sep 11, 2000 ... NEW YORK-The International Furnishings & Design Association (IFDA) New York chapter will deck the halls, gather for a great party and spread some cheer at its annual Holiday Gala. The event will be hosted by WestPoint Stevens at 1185 Ave. of the Americas from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5. ...
PEDDLING COMPASSION.
Sep 11, 2000 ... To the editor: Your editorial, "Million Merchant March," in your June 26 issue was excellent. And the response, "A Grateful Merchant," in the Aug. 21 issue was also great. It brought to the surface some very trying issues for today's merchants (buyers). Yes, every manufacturer ...
RETAILERS LABORED OVER LABOR DAY -- IN A GOOD WAY.
Sep 11, 2000; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-While economists are still predicting a soft landing, consumers appear ready to take off again, judging by an informal survey of retail activity over the key Labor Day holiday weekend. Andrew Zuppa, assistant general manager at American Furniture Warehouse, ...
NATUZZI CONFIRMS PLANS TO TEST STORES IN U.S.
Sep 11, 2000; ... SANTERAMO IN COLLE, Italy-Italian upholstery giant Industrie Natuzzi last week confirmed plans to test-market its Divani & Divani franchised stores in the United States. "We expect within the spring or next summer to have pilot stores somewhere in the U.S.A.," said Pasquale ...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICAN TEXTILES.
Sep 11, 2000 ... Surviving 75 years in the home furnishings business is definitely something to celebrate, and that's exactly what American Textiles did last month at a company anniversary party at its Pittsburgh headquarters. In 1957, ...
DEAR ALLEN,.
Sep 11, 2000; ... Just wanted to drop you a quick note before you head off to beautiful downtown Plano later this week. I know you probably might have a little case of those first-day-of-school jitters, but relax ... you're going to do fine. After all, if you're not the right person to be the new chairman ...
FORMER STORE OWNERS SUE LIVING.COM.
Sep 11, 2000; ... ASHEBORO, N.C.-The former owners of Shaw Furniture Galleries, who sold their retail business to Living.com last year, have filed a suit charging the bankrupt e-tailer with failing to pay $1.1 million for the purchase. Shaw Furniture and Austin, Texas-based Living.com each filed ...
QUESTROM TO EARN A PRETTY PENNEY TO TURN AROUND CHAIN.
Sep 11, 2000; ... DALLAS-Allen Questrom is getting nearly $60 million worth of incentive to turn around struggling J.C. Penney Co., where he assumes command Sept. 15 as chairman and chief executive officer. In an 8-K filing made Sept. 1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Penney revealed ...
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES.
Sep 11, 2000; ... Call it what you will -- regression to childhood and the days of cowboys and Indians or simply the desire for rustic simplicity. Retailers and manufacturers are turning out woodsy and outdoorsy products by the containerful. This autumn, from high-end dinnerware to picture frames and ...
REV IT UP, DEALERS, BADCOCK'S MARKS BARKS.
Sep 11, 2000; ... MOBILE, Ala.-Don Marks roared into the W.S. Badcock meeting on a motorcycle, then put out the word to faithful: This promotional, seven-state furniture retailer is looking to expand and upgrade as it closes in on its 100th anniversary. At Badcock's secret agent-theme "Mission ...