HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from March 2002:
ADAMSON'S PLAN FOR PULLING KMART OUT OF THE BLUES.(Kmart chairman James Adamson)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-If and when Kmart recovers from its very public bankruptcy, some vendors might find themselves out in the cold. Kmart's new chairman, James Adamson, said in his first major interview last week that the retailer is taking a hard look at discontinuing some underperforming ...
GOIN' SOUTH OF THE BORDER.(Furniture and appliance manufacturing in Mexico)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-China may be cheaper, but Mexico's closer. That's a big reason why manufacturers are increasingly heading over the border to produce home goods. Vendors also cite preferable relationships with Mexican factories and greater ability to control the manufacturing ...
NAFTA GIVES TEXTILES FROM MEXICO A BOOST.(household textile imports from Mexico to the US have increased)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002; ... Household textile imports from Mexico have grown considerably since the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in January 1994. Government data show that imports of non-apparel textiles, which reached more than $1.28 billion in 2000, grew at an average annual rate of ...
WAL-MART DE MEXICO SETS SIGHTS ON MORE.(focused on more growth)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Although Wal-Mart has earned a spot as Mexico's leading retailer, the world's biggest company is hungry for more. Mexico, with its large population of young people and fragmented retail landscape, represents a fertile growth opportunity for the $220 billion chain. ...
HFN'S ERARDY IS NAMED GROUP PUBLISHER OF WWD.(Ralph Erardy)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... NEW YORK-Ralph Erardy, senior vice president and publisher of HFN, has been named senior vice president and group publisher of Women's Wear Daily and Children's Business, marking his return to WWD where he was publisher before he joined HFN. Kris Reid, group associate publisher ...
WAL-MART'S REAVES READY TO LEARN HOW TO RELAX.(Wal-Mart senior vice president Dennis Reaves to retire)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Dennis Reaves knows how to run the home merchandising section of the world's biggest retailer, but he's a novice when it comes to the art of leisure. "I want to learn how to play," said Reaves, who has opted to retire as senior vice president and general ...
MAY TIES THE KNOT, ACQUIRES PRISCILLA.(May Department Stores acquires Priscilla of Boston)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... ST. LOUIS-Building on its burgeoning bridal empire, May Department Stores purchased a 19.5 percent interest in the Knot, a leading online planning resource. Last week, the retailer also acquired certain assets of Priscilla of Boston, an upscale bridal gown retailer, in a cash ...
COURT APPROVES PILLOWTEX REORGANIZATION.(bankruptcy reorganization plan)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -Pillowtex moved a step closer to emerging from Chapter 11 last week after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved its reorganization plan. The court approval paves the way for Pillowtex to mail its disclosure statement, which seeks ...
BRYLANE CRANKS THE VOLUME WITH NEW KITCHEN CATALOG.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Fueled by the success of its home textiles offerings, Brylane is expanding its home selection beyond textiles with the introduction of a kitchen catalog that dropped in February. Brylane Kitchen is an 88-page, digest-size book containing tabletop, cookware, bathroom ...
MEX AND MATCH.(Mexican housewares)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... Viva Mexico! Its rich heritage and customs have inspired many as retailers continue to be enchanted by the wares they find south of the border. Products that run the gamut from useful to richly cultural are heading north and finding their way to store shelves ...
HOOVER AHEAD OF OTHER BRANDS IN JANUARY VACUUM AD FREQUENCY.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.-Hoover kept its lead in January as the most frequently advertised major vacuum cleaner brand, an ongoing survey shows. Ads for the popular brand reached 2,433 during the month, well above second-place Dirt Devil. The ads are placed in more than a hundred ...
KMART HOPES NEW ADS WILL GIVE IMAGE A SPIKE.(new advertisements produced by Spike Lee)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... TROY, Mich.-Can Spike Lee do the right thing and help clarify Kmart's murky image? Only time will tell. The bankrupt chain recently unveiled its brand positioning campaign, which includes television spots directed by Lee, whose films include "Malcolm X" and "Do the Right Thing." ...
HOUSE BEAUTIFUL IN BIG PUSH TO SHOW WHAT SETS IT APART.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-If you've got it, flaunt it. That could be the subtext of a new editorial and marketing initiative House Beautiful is launching with its April issue. "Only in House Beautiful" is a multitiered campaign developed with the goal of communicating the magazine's point of ...
TARGETING EXPANSION; PHILIPS LOOKS TO ADD MORE PARTNERS AFTER AN INTRODUCTION WITH A MAJOR RETAILER.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... STAMFORD, Conn.-Philips' small-appliance test phase with Target has come to a close, but it has no intentions of leaving the retailer behind. The company said it will continue to add to the line at Target while investigating avenues for retail expansion. Tom Evangelista, senior ...
FUNCTION, STYLE COME TOGETHER IN AMBIENTE OFFERINGS.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... FRANKFURT, Germany-More than 150,000 visitors headed to Ambiente here, the world's largest consumer goods trade fair, to search for trends among the 5,000 exhibitors who came from 85 countries. In housewares, they found a muted color palette, curvaceous shapes and an emphasis on function. ...
NARDA OFFERING PROGRAMS TO HELP ITS MEMBERS EXCEL.(North American Retail Dealers Association)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... LOMBARD, Ill.-The North American Retail Dealers Association is instituting a series of programs to enhance excellence among its members. NARDA's theme for its spring institute later this month is "You Can Be Extraordinary." The association, composed primarily of appliance, ...
MORE SOPHISTICATED DESIGNS CLEANING UP IN SMALLWARES.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... ATLANTA-Cleaning products companies are turning well-designed smallwares into a big business. Previously, smallwares were either well designed or inexpensive. Now, as the popularity of well-designed, comfortable smallwares cleaning products has increased, more and more vendors ...
MARTIN'S NAMES NEW EXECUTIVES.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... STERLING, Va.-Martin's Inc., importer and sole distributor of Herend porcelain and Present Tense Home Artistry pottery, has appointed James Gouldin national sales manager. He reports to Dianne Murphy, president of Herend USA, and Kimberley Kimball, president of Present Tense. ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(includes several articles)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... GLM Aids Sept. 11 Fund-Raising Effort George Little Management's Funds for a Future campaign raised $50,000 for Sept. 11 relief efforts through two fund-raising activities held in connection with the New York International Gift Fair last month. The money was raised ...
SULLIVAN TO HEAD PFALTZGRAFF COMMUNICATIONS.(Floyd Sullivan)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... YORK, Pa.-Floyd Sullivan has joined The Pfaltzgraff Co. as director of communications, a newly created position. Sullivan's experience includes 16 years with Noritake, where he headed the communications department before being named senior vice president of tabletop for the U.S ....
GIBSON OVERSEAS FOUNDER REMEMBERED.(Nejat Gabbay)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif.-Gibson Overseas founder Nejat Gabbay, who died Nov. 6, 2001, was remembered by his family and employees at the International Housewares Show in Chicago. Gabbay gained experience in the tabletop industry working with his father in a family glass import ...
POST-SEPT. 11 'COCOONING' IMPACTING BOTTOM LINE.(Pier 1 Imports Inc., Williams-Sonoma Inc.)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Following the events of Sept. 11, the consumer "cocooning" trend triggered a shift in spending to home-related goods from travel and other segments. Now, retailers and several vendors of home goods are starting to reap the benefits with stronger bottom lines. Last ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(earnings reports from Federated Department Stores and Big Lots)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... Federated Posts 4th-Quarter Loss Federated Department Stores posted a net loss last week for the fourth quarter as charges relating to the divestiture of its Fingerhut unit cut into profits. However, the retailer raised its earnings outlook for 2002. The company told Wall Street ...
WHOM DO YOU TRUST? SURVEY'S RESULTS SHOW RETAILER GET THE NOD.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-As the impact of Enron's accounting foibles continues to ripple through the market, one trend is quickly emerging: The public's trust of business -- oil companies, brokerage firms and utilities -- is quickly evaporating. "It's terrible for industry," said Bob Kenzer, ...
HOUSE DRESSING.(Kips Bay, Traditional Home magazine)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... Get ready, get set, decorate! Traditional Home magazine recently hosted the annual renovation party for the grand dame of show houses, Kips Bay. Held in the unrenovated house on East 74th Street in ...
A SEAT AT THE OSCARS.(No. 19 chair made by Allsteel Inc. included as gift to ABC executives at the Academy awards)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... Cinema stars won't be the only ones getting all the attention at the 74th Annual Academy Awards. The Allsteel No. 19 chair is also getting a starring role -- in the "Presenter's Basket." The coveted ...
IKEA ACQUIRES VACANT SITE FOR 2ND NEW JERSEY STORE.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... PARAMUS, N.J.-A long-vacant parcel of land in northern New Jersey that was formerly occupied by an Alexander's department store has been purchased by IKEA. The site is at the northwest corner of the intersection of routes 4 and 17. IKEA plans to build three structures, including ...
TARGET SEES PROFIT SOAR IN FOURTH QUARTER.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002; ... MINNEAPOLIS-Target Corp. said last week that profits for the fourth quarter soared, mostly on the strength of its discount store business. Net income climbed 19.2 percent in the fourth quarter to $658 million, or 72 cents per share, from $552 million, or 61 cents per share, in ...
BUYOUT FIRM TO PURCHASE WICKES FOR $32 MILLION.(Bruckmann Rosser Sherrill and Co. signs letter of intent to acquire Wickes Furniture)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002 ... WHEELING, Ill.-The New York buyout firm Bruckmann Rosser Sherrill & Co. has signed a letter of intent filed in a California state court to acquire Chicago-based retailer Wickes Furniture for about $32 million. According to the letter of intent, the firm, whose holdings include ...
SPRINGS TO ACQUIRE TWO BURLINGTON BUSINESSES.(Springs Industries, Burlington Industries)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Staying true to its vision of becoming the largest provider of home textiles products, Springs Industries has agreed to acquire the bedding and window consumer products businesses of bankrupt Burlington Industries for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition, the second for ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... Gilmartin Takes Intercontinental Art Helm Veteran retailer Jane Gilmartin, most recently the chief merchandising officer at Service Merchandise, has joined Intercontinental Art a home decor company based in Compton, Calif., as president and chief executive officer. Gilmartin succeeds Ken ...
BDO: DECEMBER ORDERS UP DOUBLE DIGITS.(BDO Seidman report examines year 2001 residential furniture orders)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-New orders jumped 11 percent in December 2001 over the same month a year earlier, according to manufacturers of residential furniture surveyed by BDO Seidman. For 2001, new orders declined 8.5 percent. New orders in December were down 15 percent from November ...
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
Mar 04, 2002 ... march 9-11 Atlanta Spring Gift, Accessories & Holiday Market (Temporaries) AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta (800) ATL-MART 9-12 Atlanta Spring Gift, Accessories & Holiday Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta ...
BEST BUY SITE LEADS IN MONTHLY VISITS.(web site leads home furninshing industry in number of visitors)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-The Web site of appliance and electronics giant Best Buy was visited by more people in January than any other home furnishings site, just outpacing the site of Office Depot. A monthly review for HFN by Jupiter Media Metrix found that Bestbuy.com received more than 5,900 ...
WITHIT NAMES LYKE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.(Women in the Home Industries Today, Sara M. Lyke appointment)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Women in the Home Industries Today has appointed Sara M. Lyke its first full-time executive director. Lyke comes to WithIt with extensive experience in sales, management, strategic and tactical planning, information systems, business process improvements and ...
SHOW YOUR STRIPES; RUGS WITH BRIGHT AND COLORFUL LINES ARE MAKING A FASHION STATEMENT.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Suppliers are making statements with bold, vibrant stripes with strong spring and summer appeal. Capel is going for stripes in a big way with its 2002 catalog, broadening their offerings with four new designs in multiple colors. "We think it is really hot in a casual ...
A LARGER FLOORING AMERICA PREPARES FOR CONVENTION.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... MANCHESTER, N.H.-Since Flooring America's fall convention was canceled due to Sept. 11 and more than 75 new stores have joined the flooring group, attendance at the program being held April 18 to 20 is expected to be strong. This is the first convention since Flooring America ...
WINTER WINNERS: TRIBAL, CONTEMPORARY.(Rug retailers are putting tribal and contemporary styles at the top of their lists)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-As they review winter market introductions and make their final selections, rug retailers are putting tribal and contemporary styles at the top of their lists. Gabbehs from Iran, a tribal style, scored high with retailers. In the contemporary category, favorites ranged ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... CMI Names Connell To Sales Manager Post Braided rug manufacturer CMI has appointed Mary Jane Connell sales manager. In this newly created position, Connell will be responsible for managing the company's sales force. For more than 13 years, Connell has held ...
PIONEER IN IMPORTING GOODS FROM CHINA BECOMES BRENTWOOD ORIGINALS CHAIRMAN.(Hal Alden profile)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... CARSON, Calif.-Sourcing in the textiles industry today is as inevitable as death and taxes. But this hasn't always been the case. Hal Alden, the founder and longtime president of Brentwood Originals, was one pioneer who paved the import road from China for the textiles ...
GLOBAL SOURCING IS CHANGING THE MIDDLEMAN'S MISSION.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-The role of the home textiles middleman is evolving. These go-betweens, often one- or two-man operations who mostly specialize in individual deals, used to be involved primarily in domestic sourcing but have now broken into the international arena by connecting overseas ...
[0] NEWS BRIEFS.(includes several articles)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... Phillips Leaves 828, Forms New Company Ivan Phillips has left his position as executive vice president of sales and marketing at 828 International Trading Co. to build his own business called Delos. With headquarters in Atlanta, Delos will import handmade and ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... La-Z-Boy Makes Executive Appointments Tom Zollar has been named managing director of La-Z-Boy Europe, a new division that designs, manufactures, markets and distributes motion furniture throughout Europe. He reports to John Case, president of the La-Z-Boy Upholstery Group. ...
ART NAMES PRESIDENT, ANNOUNCES UPCOMING EVENTS.(Accessories Resource Team, Sandra Standefer and Ana Hester appointments)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-The Accessories Resource Team has named Sandra Standefer president of ART. Standefer, director of market development for The Home Co., had been serving as co-president of the industry association with Steve McKee, who resigned last month from The Home Co. to take a post at ...
M&M INKS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH KIM PARKER.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-The home industry may not know Kim Parker by name, but it has already seen her designs in other well-known collections. Now Parker is introducing her own line of rugs, pillows, tapestries and bedding in a licensing agreement with M&M Design International. ...
TUPELO'S TORRID PACE; ORDER WRITING AND RETAILER TRAFFIC WERE HEAVY FROM THIS MARKET'S START.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002; ... TUPELO, Miss.-Retail buyers, most buoyed by better business at home, came to the Tupelo Furniture Market ready to write. And they came earlier than ever. Most of the major retailers shopping this market sneaked in the side door prior to the formal opening on Thursday, Feb. 21, ...
ELVIS SHARES THE STAGE WITH KATHY IRELAND.(Standard Furniture and Style-Line Furniture to offer new furniture collections)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... TUPELO, Miss.-A pair of celebrities was the talk of Tupelo as vendors showing at market here gave retailers a sneak peek at new furniture collections bearing the names of Kathy Ireland and Elvis Presley. Standard Furniture, the new Ireland licensee for case goods, was showing ...
WAKING THE SPREAD; SUPPLIERS ARE STRIVING TO KEEP THE BEDDING CATEGORY ALIVE WITH NEW DESIGNS AND FEATURES.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Some may view bedspreads as a dying product category in the home textiles world. But there's still a small, loyal audience, and suppliers are eager to give them what they want. The popularity of quilts and duvet covers might be partially responsible for the gradual ...
THE INCREDIHBLE SHRINKING WORLD OF EQUITY TEXTILES ANALYSTS.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Now you see them, now you don't. They still crank up their financial projections and pepper top executives with tough questions, but these days the number of textiles equity analysts, like the textiles company earnings they keep close track of, are decreasing. ...
[0] NEWS BRIEFS.(includes several home furnishings industry articles)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... Alexander Joins Bardwil As Senior Vice President Judi Alexander, the former director of advertising and marketing services at WestPoint Stevens, has joined Bardwil Linens as senior vice president of marketing and product development. Alexander succeeds Bonnie Hayes, ...
PROFITS INCREASE IN Q4 FOR TJX'S HOMEGOODS.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-Management at off-price retailer TJX Cos. said its HomeGoods business brought in fourth-quarter operating profits last week that "more than doubled" while comparable-store sales came in with an 11 percent increase. Operating income for the quarter ended Jan. 26 ...
SPIKE, MEET MARTHA.(Kmart's ad campaign using Spike Lee)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... Kmart is introducing America to its spiritual awakening. The retailer's new ad campaign, spearheaded by Spike Lee-directed television commercials, promises to convey a compassionate sentiment with Kmart claiming to be "the store that understands what really matters in life." ...
HOME ALONE.
Mar 04, 2002; ... The Finish Line I think we've all turned into 6-year-old kids in the back seat of the station wagon on a family trip, incessantly asking the same question over and over again: "Are we there yet?" How else to describe the endless babble about the state of ...
HOME SUITE HOME; KATHY HILTON'S NEW LINE OF TABLETOP ITEMS AND COLLECTIBLES WITH QVC IS A HIT.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... WEST CHESTER, Pa.-QVC unveiled Many Splendid Things, a giftware and tabletop collection by Kathy Hilton, last week to great success, according to Chris Morley, director of merchandising of home fashions for QVC. The 13-piece collection includes such tabletop items and collectibles as ...
SOME VENDORS FEELING TENTATIVE ABOUT THEIR ATTENDANCE AT TENDENCE FAIR.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002; ... FRANKFURT, Germany-Inevitably, one cannot attend a trade show without getting into a discussion about the next show down the road. Such was the case in Frankfurt last month, where talk at Ambiente focused on its sister exhibit, Tendence, which takes place every August at the ...
ROSS-SIMONS CONTINUES EXPANSION WITH 14TH UNIT.(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... DURHAM, N.C.-Continuing its retail store expansion, Providence, R.I.-based Ross-Simons has opened a store -- its 14th -- at The Streets at Southpoint here. The grand opening will feature a $5,000 shopping-spree sweepstakes that will be open to all who visit the store through ...
STEAK OUT.(International Housewares Association, meeting; Frankfurt, Germany)(Brief Article)
Mar 04, 2002 ... FRANKFURT, Germany-The International Housewares Association held its annual Ambiente bash at the All-American Steakhaus at the Frankfurt Messe ....
PORTABLE APPLIANCE SHIPMENTS DECLINE ACROSS BOARD IN 2001.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 04, 2002 ... WASHINGTON-At least the numbers were consistent. Something of an off year for manufacturers' shipments of portable appliances concluded with declines across the board. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers reported that dollar and unit totals each fell 5.9 percent in ...
AUCTIONS: HITTING BELOW THE BELT?(reverse auctions by retailers)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 11, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Reverse auctions by retailers are causing an average 19 percent drop in wholesale prices ...and we ain't seen nothing yet. In the first definitive study of the reverse auction process and its impact on the home furnishings industry, new HFN exclusive research shows ...
WHAT SHE REALLY WANTS.
Mar 11, 2002 ... Today's bride is walking down the aisles ... the retail aisles, more determined ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 11, 2002 ... Timberlake Questions Lexington Buyout Furniture maker Lexington Home Brands, nearing a March 31 deadline for a proposed management buyout, was on the defensive last week as Bob Timberlake Inc., its key licensor, raised doubts about the buyout and the company's direction. ...
WHAT IS BED BATH TO DO WITH HARMON?(Bed Bath & Beyond buys health and beauty aid discount retailer)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 11, 2002; ... UNION, N.J.-Bed Bath & Beyond's acquisition last week of Harmon Stores Inc., a New Jersey-based health and beauty aid discount retailer, has sparked copious speculation on what the highly successful retailer has up its sleeve. One strategy would be for Bed Bath & Beyond to grow ...
CRISIS AT KMART: THIS WEEK'S NEWS.($2 billion in financing)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 11, 2002 ... Kmart won bankruptcy court approval last week for $2 billion in financing to keep operating as the retailer works through its reorganization. Kmart's attorney said last week that the company would announce store closings, which would involve $750 million worth of ...
DILLARD'S QUELLS TAKEOVER RUMOR, POSTS HIGHER FOURTH-QUARTER PROFIT.(Dillard Department Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 11, 2002; ... LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Better inventory turns, reduced debt and a growing private-label business strengthened Dillard's fourth-quarter results. The department store chain, the object of speculation of a Federated Department Stores or May Department Stores takeover, posted sales in ...
APPELL LOOKS BACK ON PFALTZGRAFF LEGACY.(Louis Appell Jr. retires from Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Mar 11, 2002; ... YORK, Pa.-Fifty years in the dinnerware business has taught Louis Appell Jr. a thing or two about plates. As the retiring president and chief executive officer of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co., an entity that includes radio and television stations, an Internet Service Provider and The ...