HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from October 2002:
TROUBLE ON THE PORT SIDE: STRIKE 1 FOR HOME GOODS.(West Coast's ports shutdown affects industry)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Last week's shutdown of West Coast ports did not immediately affect home goods retailers, but were it to go on for another week, it could seriously hamper the distribution of goods. A protracted lockout of longshoremen at the ports could mean higher costs to ship goods ...
ADAMSON SAYS ALL IS WELL, BUT HOOD SAYS MAYBE NOT.(Kmart executive James Adamson hopeful about retailer's emergence from bankruptcy, while analyst Wayne Hood is less optimistic)
Oct 07, 2002; ... TROY, Mich.-Although Kmart executives are hopeful that the discounter will emerge from bankruptcy by mid-2003, industry watchers such as Wayne Hood are not so sure. While Kmart's chairman and chief executive officer, James Adamson, reaffirmed the retailer's July 2003 estimated ...
MACY'S RIDES INTO ITS NEXT CENTURY.
Oct 07, 2002 ... As Macy's East celebrates the herald Square flagship's centennial, GMM Eric Salus has ...
GLENOIT SET TO EXIT CHAPTER 11 IN TIME FOR TEXTILES SHOW.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Barry Leonard can't wait for Oct. 10. The date marks an end to Glenoit's two years in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, placing the textiles supplier on firm financial footing just one day before the opening of the New York Home Textiles Show. "It's a ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Saks to consolidate Younkers operations, other news items)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Saks to Fold Younkers Into Carson Saks Inc. will consolidate its Younkers' merchandising and home office operations into its Carson Pirie Scott headquarters by Feb. 1, 2003. The company projects annual savings of an estimated $12 million, which will result in the elimination of ...
WAL-MART TO CONTINUE FOCUS ON SUPERCENTERS.
Oct 07, 2002; ... BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Supercenters will remain Wal-Mart's growth engine in the United States for the fiscal year beginning Feb. 1, 2003. The retailer mapped out its expansion strategy for the coming year, with plans for an estimated 48 million square feet of new retail space, an 8 ...
ETHAN ALLEN CUTS PRICES, REVAMPS KIDS LINE.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... DANBURY, Conn.-Aiming to maintain its competitive edge in an increasingly global industry, Ethan Allen is cutting prices on several key furniture collections this week, the direct result of increased efficiencies at the manufacturer's 20 domestic plants. "The plants have to work ...
BEST BETS ON THE BEST BEDS IN THE BEST HOTELS IN TOWN.(New York, New York)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Remember the story of Goldilocks wandering around the Three Bears' cottage, looking for a place to nap? The first bed she tried was too hard for her liking; the second, too soft. It wasn't until the third try that she found something that she deemed "just right." "Just ...
SIX IN THE CITY.
Oct 07, 2002; ... 1 HALLOWED GROUND: Take time to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, with a trip to the recently restored Winter Garden, at West Street between Albany and Vesey streets, next to the site where the World Trade Center towers stood. 2 VOILA: Check out the newest vendor of French ...
MINI RESPITES FROM THE MADNESS THAT IS MARKET.(various parks near home textiles market)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Addled marketgoers, take heart! When you're one embossed towel away from a nervous breakdown, there are places you can go to rest your weary feet and regain your acumen, all within a few blocks of the New York home textiles market. The Park Behind the Madison Belvedere, 28th ...
COUNTRY COMFORT.(home furnishings trend)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... Country, a perennial favorite in homes across America, was a surprising style to be wildly embraced at last month's Maison & Objet fair in Paris. What's not to love? It's an easy style in the best sense, in addition to being ...
MAKEOVER AT MACY'S.(Macy's East renovates Herald Square flagship store)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Macy's East hopes it is cooking up another miracle on 34th Street. The retailer capped off a $200 million renovation of its fabled Herald Square flagship here with a bold facelift of the home department that spotlights exclusive, theme-driven assortments and a pruned, ...
MACY'S CEO: VENDORS MUST CHANGE, TOO.(Hal Kahn)
Oct 07, 2002 ... It's no revelation that Macy's and its department store brethren have been hammered for frittering away what flavored the format in its heyday: a dynamic, service-oriented, one-stop-shopping environment that was an emporium of unusual, exciting merchandise. Department stores have also been ...
ELLE DECOR CREATES AWARDS TO BOOST GLOBAL PRESENCE.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... PARIS-What does a media giant with one of the hottest home furnishings fashion magazines do to increase its global presence? If you're Elle Decor, with 18 editions worldwide, you launch international design awards in 10 categories of home furnishings. Using the credibility of the Elle ...
AUGUST HOUSING PERMITS AND STARTS DOWN FROM JULY, UP FROM PRIOR-YEAR PERIOD.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK-Permits for the construction of new privately owned housing fell in August by 2.5 percent, and actual starts of new housing dropped by almost as much, when compared with July. But on an annual basis, both permits and starts were notably more robust than the year before. ...
SLUSHER IS NAMED DIRECTOR OF LEASING AT L.A. MART.(Jan Slusher)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... LOS ANGELES-Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. and the L.A. Mart have named Jan Slusher director of leasing at L.A. Mart. In her new role, Slusher will be responsible for leasing permanent Gift and Home Accessories showrooms in the West Coast's largest market center for gifts, fine furniture ...
DENIAL IS NOT A RIVER.(improving the furniture industry)
Oct 07, 2002; ... OK, so simmer down out there, you irascible bunch of furniture heads, this is America, and last I checked, expressing my opinion was the core part of my freedom-and-rights combo package. I understand that some of you are upset by my comments about the San Francisco Market, and I appreciate ...
OF CARTONS AND BAGS AND SUCH.(bed-in-a-bag pricing)
Oct 07, 2002; ... A carton of cigarettes in New York City now runs about $68, all sizes, give or take the local considerations of both the neighborhood immigrant-run grocery store and the greed of area politicos. A bed-in-a-bag ensemble in New York City now runs about $59.99, all sizes, give or ...
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
Oct 07, 2002 ... OCTOBER 7-9 Material World Miami Beach Convention Center Miami Beach, Fla. (678) 285-3976 9-10 New York Home Textiles Show 225 Preview Days 225 Fifth Ave. New York 11-14 EX-TRACTS: A Trade Show for ...
THE BASICS APPROACH; BEDDING SUPPLIERS ARE FOCUSING ON VALUE AND FASHION AT THE NEW YORK MARKET.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Basic bedding manufacturers are emphasizing the tried-and-true formulas this fall market: sharp price/value equations, designer and brand names, and comfort-driven designs. "We think that the consumer, more than ever, is sensitive to price point," said Bob Hickman, vice ...
SHEET MAKERS HOLD THE LINE ON THREAD COUNTS.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Forget about pushing the limits on thread counts this market. Domestic mills, and even importers like Sferra Bros. and Melange Home, which in the two previous markets created a buzz with their luxury multi-ply, 1,000-thread-count sheets, are currently talking about ...
TEXTURES AND EMBELLISHMENTS HIGHLIGHT BATH TOWEL OFFERINGS.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-In bath towels, the neutrals are adding more texture and getting more embellished, while the fancies get fancier at this market. Pillowtex enhanced its Charisma luxury white towels with the use of venise lace and embroidery. Springs Industries is layering its Wamsutta ...
FOR THE LATEST IN BATH PRODUCTS, IT'S A MATTER OF NATURAL SELECTION.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-The bath collections launched at this fall's home textiles market may be mass-produced, but suppliers don't want them to look that way. In accessories, bath companies are shooting for the artisan look of hand-blown glass and pottery, and the natural appeal of wood and ...
COLOR, TEXTURES DOMINATE SOFT WINDOW INTRODUCTIONS.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Luxurious colors and textures, embellished sheers and semisheers, and better top treatments will headline the introductions in soft window this market. Across the spectrum, there's a lot of interest in embellished sheers, some newness in kitchen tiers and a great demand ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(includes multiple articles)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Springs Names Window Design Team Leader Springs Industries has appointed Arian Teague as its window design team leader, charged with strengthening the company's window fashions business. In this new post, she reports to Nancy Webster, Springs' vice president of creative ...
WHIMSICAL DESIGNS, BRIGHT COLORS COVER THE TABLES AT MARKET.(table linen, kitchen textiles)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-As we head into the fall market, spring is on the minds of table linen and kitchen textiles manufacturers, who are showing a range of products for use indoors and out. "Spring is always fun," said Rae Ellen Blum, vice president of Lintex. "There's a whole lifestyle ...
NEW YORK FALL TEXTILES SHOW FEATURES AN INTERNATIONAL CAST.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK-Some 350 exhibitors from around the world are showcasing more than 800 lines of bed, bath, linen and home accessories products here at the fall 2002 New York Home Textiles Show, Oct. 11 to 14. Of the exhibitors that have signed up at the 22nd semiannual edition of the ...
SOME CLOTHES ENCOUNTERS ARE ON TAP AT THIS MARKET.(Directory)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-The October textiles market is an equal mix of new and familiar. Among the prominent brands this season are quite a few that crossed over from the apparel industry: Ron Chereskin, Dockers, Izod, FUBU and Jessica McClintock are sporting their new home labels. Haywin ...
NEW YORK PREVIEW; RUG MAKERS ARE READY TO UNVEIL THE LATEST LOOKS, FROM ISLAND TO LODGE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-At the New York home textiles market next week, watch for new area and accent rugs with such designs as coral and snakeskin from a first-time exhibitor; a new island look from the people who brought us Tommy Bahama rugs; lodge looks suitable for a log cabin; and at least three new ...
EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR A STRONG REBOUND AT THE FALL MARKET.(rug suppliers)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Rug suppliers say economic indicators and feedback from buyers lead them to expect a stronger New York home textiles market this fall. After a cautious summer, with some manufacturers limiting the scale of their introductions and others experiencing a slowdown in ...
HOME DEPOT SET TO BUY 3 FLOORING COMPANIES.(Floors Inc., Arvada Hardwood Floor Co., Floorworks Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... ATLANTA-Home Depot has agreed to acquire three companies that supply flooring to builders of new homes. Terms of the acquisitions of Floors Inc. of Landover, Md.; Arvada Hardwood Floor Co. in Denver; and Floorworks Inc., based in Phoenix, were not disclosed. The companies also ...
ANIMAL TRANSPORTATION THEMES TOP JUVENILE RUG INTRODUCTIONS.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Whether they fluttered, crawled or cruised, animal and transportation themes have made their way onto the latest juvenile rugs set to debut at the New York home textiles market. A hungry caterpillar has chewed his way into the new Eric Carle Area Rug Collection by The ...
BATH RUGS GAINING A SCATTERED ROLE.(use as accent, scatter rugs)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-New bath rugs for the New York home textiles market go well next to the tub but also have substantial constructions that make them appropriate for use as accent or scatter rugs as well. Dover, a new Fieldcrest rug made by Pillowtex, comes in a rectangular shape with a ...
BACOVA'S AT MARKET WITH UPDATED LOOKS IN TOW.(Bacova Guild Ltd.)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Bacova Guild Ltd. is adding new designs and changing the construction of some of its 15 different floor mat categories in preparation for the New York home textiles market. The company added colored coir to its flocked vinyl-backed coir mats and updated the ...
APACHE MILLS TO INTRODUCE MAT COLLECTION.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK-Apache Mills is introducing Apache At Home, a collection of 35 mats, at the New York home textiles market in its new, permanent showroom at 295 Fifth Avenue. The Lifetime Series will retail from $9.99 to $29.99 ....
FLOORING AMERICA TO HOLD REGIONAL CONFERENCES.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... MANCHESTER, N.H.-For the first time, Flooring America is breaking up its fall conference into four sites across the country. Conferences are being held in Dallas, Oct. 7-8; in Denver, Oct. 17-18; in Philadelphia, Oct. 21-22; and in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 24-25. As many as 150 flooring ...
FURRY MASKED BANDIT VISITS LACEY MILLS.(raccoon found in facility)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... CARTERSVILLE, Ga.-When John Hale, vice president of sales for Lacey Mills, arrived at work last Wednesday, there was an extremely short masked intruder in the facility. Actually, it was a raccoon and it was sitting on a stack of Polo rugs. Startled by an employee, it ...
CUSTOMWEAVE UNVEILS TUREK CARPET LINE.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... CustomWeave has a new carpet, Turek, which is a 100 percent New Zealand wool with a ...
MOHAWK RAISES EARNINGS EXPECTATIONS FOR SECOND HALF.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... CALHOUN, Ga.-Mohawk Industries raised its estimates for the third and fourth quarters, crediting lower interest rates and reined-in expenses. The floor covering maker predicts its third-quarter diluted earnings per share to rise by 12 to 15 percent from the year-ago period, ...
NOURISON SET TO OFFER NEW RUG SIZE.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK-At the New York home textiles market, Nourison will offer a new 5-by-7.5 size in selected styles for its hand-hooked polyacrylic line, EveryWheres. The rugs are handmade and machine-washable. They come in either a hooked-with-carving or tufted-with-carving texture and ...
SOLUTIA ROLLING OUT NEW WEAR-DATED ADS.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Solutia, a nylon manufacturer, is launching its biggest advertising campaign in recent history for its Wear-Dated carpet fiber with new ads in 18 shelter magazines this fall. The ads emphasize the durability of carpets made with this fiber with the headline, "You'll wear out ...
CMI LICENSES LYNETTE JENSEN FOR RUG LINE.(Colonial Mills Inc.)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... PAWTUCKET, R.I.-Colonial Mills Inc., a manufacturer of a braided texture area rugs and accessories, signed a licensing agreement with fabric designer, author and educator Lynette Jensen for her Thimbleberries brand. CMI will manufacture and market an oval braided texture rug ...
HIGH POINT HEADLINERS; MARTHA, OSCAR, BASSETT AND BROYHILL ARE JUST A FEW OF THE BIG NAMES WITH BIG PLANS FOR THE OCTOBER MARKET.(Martha Stewart, Oscar de la Renta)
Oct 07, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Last spring, furniture vendors, concerned about retailers' willingness to commit to major new programs, were unusually conservative at April's furniture market here. Six months later, they're still concerned about retail, but vendors are rolling out the big guns ...
ACCESSORIES FOR EVERY LIFESTYLE TO DEBUT AT THIS MONTH'S MARKET.
Oct 07, 2002; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Lifestyle is the name of the game in accessories this year. At a time when consumers are spending more time at home and identifying more with certain lifestyles, accessories are becoming more important in the market. The proof is that more furniture ...
UPHOLSTERY COMPANIES TAKE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AT MARKET.
Oct 07, 2002; ... HIGH POINT, N.C.-It's a topsy-turvy time in the furniture business. Just look at the upholstery category: Motion upholstery manufacturers are going stationary and stationary groups are going motion. Upholstery vendors showing at October's High Point market are generating new ...
CASUAL FURNITURE BUSINESS FEELING THE IMPACT OF IMPORTS.
Oct 07, 2002; ... CHICAGO-Asian imports are rapidly changing the dynamics of the casual furniture business. But this does not necessarily spell disaster for U.S. producers and independent retailers, who feel they're being edged out of the market. The biggest impact of Asian imports so far has ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(includes multiple articles)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Century Names Blair Marketing VP Century Furniture has appointed David Blair senior vice president of sales and marketing. He reports directly to Bob Maricich, Century's president and chief executive officer. Blair previously was vice president of sales. In his new position, he ...
THE WALL DECOR REPORT.(sales data)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Overall retail sales of wall decor grew 8.6 percent in 2001. Framed art sales topped $1 billion ....
OFF-THE-WALL GROWTH.(wall decor)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... The wall decor classification continues to thrive at retail. This category, which covers everything from small framed prints and plaques sold in specialty chains to grand-scale "leaner" mirrors featured in high-end furniture dealers, has proven resilient in the face of adversity, and has ...
A BRIGHTER PICTURE.(framed art business)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... The framed art business blossomed last year, posting a 12 percent increase in retail sales in 2001 to top the $1 billion mark for the first time ever, according to HFN's exclusive research. A business that big attracts attention, even from retail channels that had never ...
A HEALTHY MARKET, REFLECTED IN NUMBERS.(framed mirrors)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-The retail market for framed mirrors remains healthy and viable, with sales growing by more than 4 percent to $716.2 million during 2001, a year marked by recession and tragedy. This period of growth follows on the heels of increases of 10 percent and more in prior ...
CHANGING CHANNELS.(wall decor merchants)
Oct 07, 2002; ... The top merchants of wall decor are Kohl's, Wal-Mart, J.C.Penney, Linens 'n Things, Garden Ridge, Bed Bath & Beyond and Target, industry sources said. Not surprisingly, these are the retailers who understand the value and healthy profit margins in this decorative ...
A SPECIAL PLACE TO SHOP.(consumers shop for wall art, mirrors at specialty stores)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Specialty stores were the favorite outlet for consumers to shop for wall art and mirrors, according to a recent survey conducted by FurnitureFan.com. Pier 1 Imports, Pottery Barn, Bed Bath & Beyond and other chains, which drew nearly half of all responses, have ...
SINGING A NEW TUNE; THE SAN FRANSISCO MUSIC BOX CO. HAS UPDATED ITS IMAGE WITH A NEW PROTOTYPE.(prototype store)
Oct 07, 2002; ... SAN FRANCISCO-If the San Francisco Music Box Co. were to fashion one of its custom-made musical pieces for its new retail stores, the accompanying tune could very well be "Happy Days Are Here Again." The company, one of the leading retailers of musical gifts, is trying to shed ...
TEXTILES, TABLETOP SHOWS PROVIDE THE SETTINGS FOR NEW PRODUCTS.(table linens)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-During the upcoming October textiles market here, a plethora of tablecloths, placemats and napkins that complement dinnerware patterns will be introduced, some of them direct interpretations of what adorns the dishes. Table linens manufacturer John Ritzenthaler Co. is ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(includes multiple articles)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Marketing Seminar Set for Tabletop, Home Accents Leading designers Chris Madden, Susan Sargent and Raymond Waites will discuss cross-marketing trends in the tabletop and home accents industries during "Selling Beyond the Place Setting," a panel discussion from 5 to 6 p.m. on ...
LLADRO'S NEW SHOP IS WORTH A WHISTLE.(sale of cermaic train)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... While a $35,000 porcelain train might stop more than a few shoppers in their tracks, when Michael Kline saw Lladro's A Grand Adventure in the tabletop company's brand-new store in Tampa, Fla., he snatched it up. Kline, a retired insurance executive, bought the limited-edition ...
NEWS BRIEFS.
Oct 07, 2002 ... Helen of Troy Acquires Six P&G Brands Helen of Troy has signed an agreement to acquire both directly and through license agreements six consumer brand names from Procter & Gamble. Brands acquired directly include Condition 3-in-1, Final Net, Vitalis and Ammens. Brands acquired ...
THE WEIGH TO COOK; FOOD SCALE MAKERS ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE THE VALUE OF THEIR PRODUCTS TO THE U.S. MARKET.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Although a staple in European households, where folks measure by volume, food scales have never been as popular in American kitchens. But signs indicate that might be changing, with the food scale category gaining shelf space beyond the specialty store channel and becoming a more ...
VENDORS, CPSC IN LAWS TIFF.(Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Oct 07, 2002; ... WASHINGTON-More than $2 million in fines and civil penalties have been imposed on housewares companies in the past year for cases brought by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Although CPSC maintains the companies were negligent in reporting defects and injuries involving their ...
HOOVER'S STEAMVAC SIMPLIFIES DOUBLE DUTY ON FLOOR CLEANING.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NORTH CANTON, Ohio-A deep cleaner said to shift automatically between washing and rinsing is being marketed by Hoover. The SteamVac model is the latest in a series of V2 upright vacuum cleaners and extractors with dual airflow channels that Hoover began introducing in June. This ...
PANASONIC'S PANTENE DRYERS BOW EXCLUSIVELY AT WAL-MART.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002; ... SECAUCUS, N.J.-Two ionic hair dryers co-branded by Panasonic and Pantene made their debut in Wal-Mart last week and will be an exclusive for the retailer for the duration of the month. Distribution is scheduled to expand beginning Nov. 1. As reported, the co-branding arrangement ...
AN ANSWER TO THE TAKEOUT RUT.(home cooking products)(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... No time to cook? This fall, publishers are trying to entice people to skip takeout food and cook at home instead. Sterling/Mainstreet wants home cooks to roll their own -- sushi, that is. Sterling's Sushi Made Easy kit packs the book of the same name by Kumfoo Wong with four ...
SARA MOULTON OFFERS SECRETS FOR THE TIME-PRESSED COOK.
Oct 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK-Sara Moulton loves to cook, but she loves teaching others to cook even more. During an interview, Moulton can't help but dispense advice about making hash browns from last night's baked potatoes, and then rattles off a recipe for zucchini saute as part of a nice supper. ...
REPORT: DINNERS COOKED AT HOME AT NEW LOW.(Brief Article)
Oct 07, 2002 ... Despite the widely held belief that cocooning Americans are cooking more meals at home, a new report on American eating patterns shows the opposite to be true. The NPD Group's 17th annual Report on Eating Patterns in America points out that although we may love our kitchens, we ...