HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from July 2003:
CASH-STRAPPED PILLOWTEX BUYS TIME WITH LENDERS.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... KANNAPOLIS, N.C.-Pillowtex Corp. said last week that it was in default of its quarterly loan payment, but its creditors have agreed not to seek immediate action through July 10. The mill said it was continuing to work with its lenders to review strategic alternatives. One ...
HFNDEX: RETAILER CONFIDENCE UNCHANGED IN Q2.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Despite talk of an impending economic recovery, senior executives in the nation's retail establishments have shown no increase in optimism during the second quarter. The HFNdex, a proprietary measure of executive perceptions of the economy today and in the near future, ...
MOHAWK ADDS DIVISION, SIGNS WAITES DEAL.(Mohawk Home acquires business from Brumlow Home, signs license with Raymond Waites)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... SUGAR VALLEY, Ga.-Mohawk Home went on a small shopping spree recently, buying the bath rug arm of Brumlow Home and signing a license with designer Raymond Waites. The tufted bath rug division, which does more than $25 million in sales in largely private-label products, fills out ...
STAR WARS.(Letter to the Editor)
Jul 07, 2003 ... To the editor: We read Leslie Newby's "Star Power" article in HFN, June 9, here at J. Robert Scott with particular interest. For more than 30 years, Sally Sirkin Lewis, the founder of J. Robert Scott, has brought hundreds of furniture, lighting, accessory and textile products ...
SHAW FOLLOWS MOHAWK, BOWS OUT OF SURFACES.(Shaw Industries exits flooring show)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... DALTON, Ga.-Shaw Industries has also pulled out of Surfaces '04 in January. Shaw executives echoed Mohawk Industries' earlier decision to exit the flooring show held in Las Vegas. They said the large crowds at Surfaces were attractive, but that they were concerned about ...
CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
Jul 07, 2003 ... In a report on retail inventories in the June 16 issue of HFN, the decimal point was misplaced in the inventory-to-sales percentage ratio for Havertys, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, Bed Bath & Beyond and Target. It did not affect the basis point change or ranking of ...
ESTATE OF THE ARTISTS.(Hampton Designer Showhouse, Southampton, New York)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... The house, the rooms, the grounds -- it's all too beautiful at the Hampton Designer Showhouse. The house, sponsored by House & Garden magazine to benefit Southampton Hospital, features the work of more than 20 designers and artists. For those who really fall in love ...
SUMMER SHOPPING SHOWDOWNS.
Jul 07, 2003; ... Summer is finally here: Bring on trips to the beach, picnics, Fourth of July fireworks and Summer Shopping Showdowns. Blame it on the weather, or maybe it's the summer replacement employees, but every summer brings at least one memorable retail confrontation in which the ...
THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME.(home furnishings department of department stores)(Column)
Jul 07, 2003; ... "First you say you do and then you don't. Then you say you will and then you won't." You've got to love that Louis Prima. While it's quite certain that in the song lyrics above he was referring to an entirely different set of circumstances, the words kind of match up with what's going on ...
TOP 50: RACING WINNERS.(home furnishings manufacturers)(Industry Overview)
Jul 07, 2003; ... New York--After getting hammered by an economic downturn in 2001, HFN's Top 50 manufacturers bounced back last year and reversed their negative sales trends. Sales in 2002 for the Top 50 showed that despite leaner inventory levels and sluggish same-store sales at retail, a ...
THE TOP 50 VENDORS OF HOME FURNISHINGS FOR 2002 (PART ONE).
Jul 07, 2003 ... Rank & Company 2001; 2002 % of change Products 1 Whirlpool Corp. $7,306.00; $6,600.00 10.7% Major and small appliances When Sears' market share as the dominant retailer in major appliances eroded ...
THE TOP 50 VENDORS OF HOME FURNISHINGS FOR 2002 (PART TWO).
Jul 07, 2003 ... 31 Berkline/Benchcraft $450.00; $490.00 Furniture The merging of two upholstery specialists into one company defined the year for Berkline/Benchcraft, earning the new entity a spot in the 2002 ranking. Synergies and access to new distribution for each ...
TRADE SHOW CALENDER.(home furnishings industry)(Calendar)
Jul 07, 2003 ... JULY 8-17 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta (800) ATL-MART americasmart.com 11-14 The Gift Fair in Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta (914) ...
THE BARWARE REPORT.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003 ... Barware is a billion-dollar business. The category has moved beyond basic glasses and corkscrews to ...
A SUCCESS, BAR NONE.(barware)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... Retail sales of barware -- a category encompassing a broad range of items typically found in bars and restaurants but purchased increasingly for home use -- reached more than $1.2 billion in 2002. What exactly is barware? While definitions vary among industry observers, most ...
MAKING MONEY MAKING MERRY.(tableware manufacturers providing barware)
Jul 07, 2003; ... Consumers rediscovering home entertaining are raising the category of barware to new heights, and tabletop and housewares makers are toasting that spirit with a host of new products at price points that appeal to everyone. The party's not only going on at the high end, either ....
WHAT'S ON TAP?(barware)
Jul 07, 2003; ... There is no doubt that barware is one of the most popular categories in home furnishings today, and with its popularity comes the opportunity for manufacturers to create new looks, whether it be with shapes or materials or colors. "Barware is popular because people are investing ...
DRINKING COMPANIONS.(barware and wine accessories)
Jul 07, 2003; ... Pass the bottle and give me a glass. And don't forget the wine charm. And the cocktail spear and cocktail napkin. Oh, and the appetizer plates. Because today's bar is not your father's bar. The popular category has created the opportunity for the introduction of a wide range of ...
A VINTAGE TIME FOR POPPING THE CORK.(wine accessories sales)
Jul 07, 2003; ... Americans are drinking more wine, and that's making the market for wine accessories one of the fastest-growing sectors of the barware business. It helps that consumers here are jumping into wine drinking in the same way that Americans typically approach any hobby: by collecting ...
BARTENDER, I'LL HAVE A....(10 most popular cocktails, includes recipes)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Jul 07, 2003 ... The 10 most popular cocktails, according to Cocktailtimes.com, are as follows: 1. Martini Ingredients: 2 oz. gin 1 tsp. dry vermouth Garnish: cocktail olive Glassware: martini glass 2. Margarita ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(miscellaneous brief articles)
Jul 07, 2003 ... COVINGTON APPOINTS PARDO TO NEW VP POST Covington Industries Inc. named Maria Pardo vice president, a newly created position. In her new role, Pardo will oversee sales, product development and merchandising of fabrics for the specialized hospitality and health care industries ....
A SHORE BET? MORE APPAREL FIRMS SEE BEACH TOWELS AS A PLACE TO EXPAND THEIR BRANDS.
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Apparel-driven designer brands are hoping their offerings will make waves this summer in the big sea of beach towels. Offerings from Izod and FUBU are among the designer-labeled beach towels that debuted this year. They join others like Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph ...
BEACH TOWEL BINGO: WEATHER DOES A NUMBER ON SALES.(rainy weather decreases sales)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Too much rain has been a problem, according to suppliers of beach towels. "It's been raining in half of the United States, and people are just not in the mood to buy beach towels," said Reimund Manneck, vice president of Teka U.S.A., adding that the last time he had ...
LYCRA BRAND CHECKS IN WITH 'HOTEL' CONCEPT.(Hotel Lycra, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Jul 07, 2003; ... SAO PAULO, Brazil-DuPont Textiles & Interiors took an out-of-the-box approach to marketing one of its most valuable brands when it opened Hotel Lycra here, a showcase for Lycra textiles, fashions and brand awareness. Facing an impending renewal of the Lycra trademark in Brazil, ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(miscellaneous brief articles)
Jul 07, 2003 ... FABRICA UNVEILS SAVOY BROADLOOM Fabrica International has introduced a broadloom carpet called Savoy. The carpet is manufactured with a five-ply yarn with a loop-pile construction. It has a sisallike appearance that works with contemporary as well as traditional design. The ...
HAND-KNOTTED HANGS TOUGH; HIGH-END RETAILERS ARE STICKING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION DESPITE THE SLOW ECONOMY.(rugs)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Times may be tough, but suppliers of high-end, hand-knotted rugs are sticking to their guns. Over the past two economically dismal years, numerous hand-knotted rug importers have jumped on the hand-tufted bandwagon, but those at the very high end have aimed to satisfy ...
FROM MACEDONIA, A SHAGGY-RUG STORY.(Yambolias)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Rugs with a shaggy, retro look are being made in an unusual place -- the tiny, landlocked country of Macedonia. Retro is a relative term when one considers that these rugs have been made in this Balkan country of less than 2 million people for 500 years, or even more ....
SPRING SHOWERS GIVE WAY TO NEW RUGS WITH FLOWERS.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-At least all the rain was good for the flowers. But for those without gardens, there are rugs strewn with roses that are anything but garden-variety. Fashion apparel designer Paul Smith created a rose rug for The Rug Company, a retail store in New York. The ...
NEW MAGAZINE HITS THE FLOOR.(Fabulous Floors)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003 ... Fabulous Floors is a new consumer publication that focuses solely on -- you guessed it -- flooring. The semiannual magazine has been on the shelves for 90-day periods at selected Barnes & Noble, Borders, Home Depot ...
NEWS BRIEF.(miscellaneous brief articles)
Jul 07, 2003 ... LEVITZ GETS FINANCING TO EXPAND Levitz Home Furnishings said it has obtained a new credit line that will fuel expansion of the 130-store chain, particularly in California. Levitz, which operates the Levitz and Seaman furniture chains, said it had obtained a $110 ...
NEW AVENUE FOR LANE; THE FURNITURE COMPANY IS GOING VERTICAL WITH A ROLLOUT OF FREESTANDING STORES.
Jul 07, 2003; ... TUPELO, Miss.-Lane Home Furnishings has become the latest furniture vendor to go vertical, joining fellow Furniture Brands International companies Thomasville, Drexel Heritage and Henredon in a strategy to establish a network of dedicated, branded stores. The new Lane Home ...
KATHY IRELAND'S LIGHTING PROVES TO BE A BRIGHT SPOT FOR STORES.
Jul 07, 2003; ... CHATSWORTH, Calif.-In this tough economic climate, retailers and suppliers alike are looking for any success story they can find. Although it's not even a year old, the Kathy Ireland Lighting collection appears to be just that. Buyers report it's a big hit among consumers. ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(miscellaneous brief articles)
Jul 07, 2003 ... ROSENWALD TO EXPAND LICENSING PROGRAM Boston-based artist Jill Rosenwald is taking her signature bold palette and snappy designs to all segments of the home arena under a new agreement with J. Z. Cushman & Co., to serve as her official agent. It is the next step in launching a ...
CATALINA UNVEILS NEW SHOWROOM, BRANDS.(Catalina Lighting)
Jul 07, 2003; ... DALLAS-Catalina Lighting opened its first-ever showroom in the Dallas Market Center, unveiled its new upscale Illuminada and Ring lighting lines and outlined its brand and channel strategy. First, to demonstrate its design capabilities, the company introduced seven new hardwire ...
A DIFFERENT PICTURE; ACRYLIC FRAMES ARE SHREDDING THEIR CHEAP IMAGE AS VENDORS ADD COLOR AND DURABILITY.
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Acrylic photo frames, once considered worthy only of the refrigerator door, have stepped into the limelight as the fashionable frame of the moment. More malleable, durable and attractive than ever, acrylic frames are no longer the cheapest of the cheap. Case in point: ...
ATLANTA GIFT SHOWS OFFER VISITORS INSIGHTS, AMENITIES.
Jul 07, 2003 ... ATLANTA-With both the International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, sponsored by AmericasMart, and the Gift Fair in Atlanta, sponsored by Urban Expositions and George Little Management, taking place here this week, there is also a plethora of educational opportunities and amenities ...
RESTAURANT DESIGNER CREATES FLATWARE PATTERN FOR CHRISTOFLE.(Adam D. Tihany)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003 ... WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-Christofle's recent introduction of Urban, created by restaurant designer Adam D. Tihany, marked the first time it has introduced flatware in both Christofle silver and stainless steel simultaneously. It is also the first example of a flatware pattern created by a ...
MONTAAGE'S MODERN STATEMENT.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003 ... DALLAS-Fresh from the recent International Gift & Home Accessories Market in Dallas is a new line of contemporary giftware from Montaage, a home accents manufacturer whose products range from vases, lamps and small furniture items to florals. Montaage's new designs come from its ...
TRACY LEAVES ROYAL DOULTON TO HEAD DIRECT MARKETING FIRM.(Mike Tracy, Media Solution Services)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003 ... SOMERSET, N.J.-Mike Tracy has resigned as president of Royal Doulton USA to become chief executive officer of Media Solution Services, a leading direct marketer of consumer products with a focus on home goods, personal accessories and electronics. Media Solution Services also ...
SIRONNEAU LEAVES LALIQUE POSITION.(Chantal Sironneau)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003 ... Lalique North America has announced the resignation of Chantal Sironneau, director of sales and marketing for partner brands, effective July 4. Chris Cullen, vice president of sales and marketing for Lalique, will be assuming her responsibilities. Virginie de ...
WARING IT WELL; THE LONGTIME BRAND IS GETTING UPDATED WITH A NEW LOGO, PRODUCTS AND PACKAGING.
Jul 07, 2003; ... STAMFORD, Conn.-The Waring name may have been around for some time, but the brand itself has received a facelift of sorts, with new consumer-friendly packaging, a new logo and new products to tackle the retail world. According to Mary Rodgers, director of marketing ...
TUPPERWARE'S PARTY APPROACH IS DRAWING SOME COMPETITION.
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Tupperware's decision last month to pull its products off Target's shelves has focused new light on the success the direct sales channel has had with food storage products. While Tupperware doesn't break out the amount of sales generated by Target, only 10 percent of ...
THE BIG CHILL: MOTHER NATURE DOUSES HOME COMFORT SALES.(cool, rainy summer weather decreases fan and air conditioner sales)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Amid this plethora of rain and dearth of heat, the prize for putting the best face on this poor season for selling comfort appliances goes to Brad Wire. "The fat lady has not sung yet," insisted Whirlpool's senior marketing manager in air treatment. "There is still ...
DACOR FILLS NEW MARKETING POST, APPOINTS LAMKINS ASSISTANT VP.(Distinctive Appliance Corp., Larry Lamkins)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003 ... DIAMOND BAR, Calif.-Distinctive Appliance Corp. has appointed Larry Lamkins assistant vice president of marketing, a new post. He reports to Tony Zavala, senior vice president of organizational development at the manufacturer of Dacor premium cooking and other appliances. ...
VAC SHIPMENTS DOWN IN MAY.(vacuum cleaners)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... CLEVELAND-Manufacturers' shipments of full-sized vacuum cleaners shrunk in May, the fourth consecutive month of declines. The comparison was with the biggest May on record. The latest month was second-best for a May and only the third time the industry surpassed 1.3 million ...
FRIGIDAIRE LEADS IN AD TALLY FOR DISHWASHERS IN APRIL.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.-Frigidaire received more ads for dishwashers in newspapers and fliers from retailers during April than any other brand. An ongoing survey by Beyen Corp. revealed that 801 Frigidaire ads, placed in the papers by retailers, captured 29 percent of the ad market ...
ALTERNATIVES FOR HAIR CARE, MAINTENANCE HIT THE SHELVES.
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Just as home cooks continually try to mimic their favorite restaurant fare in their own kitchens, home stylists continually try to copy that just-back-from-the-salon look on a daily basis. Retail shelves are abundant with electric assistants for curling, straightening, waving and ...
IT'S NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH; SHOPPERS DESERVE THE SCOOP.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Seasonal products being, well, seasonal, making the most of their time in the retail spotlight is both crucial and somehow often overlooked. The idea that these products will sell themselves due to their timeliness is a shortsighted one that could in fact detract from a ...
STERLING'S OFFICINA: ECONOMY IS CAUGHT IN A 'PERFECT STORM'.(Sterling Factors president Stanley Officina)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Stanley Officina, president of Sterling Factors, told HFN last week that sales volume is "slightly up" for the year at the factoring firm despite challenging conditions at retail, which he expects to continue. "Business has been good," Officina said. "[Sales volume] is ...
EXEC PAY BETTER IN RETAIL THAN SUPPLY SIDE: STUDY.(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Based on annual compensation, it's better to be a retail executive than one on the supply side. In an analysis of executive pay trends over the past five years for retailers and vendors in the home goods industry, HFN discovered that the growth of retail annual ...
REPORTS SUGGEST SOURCING FROM CHINA HURTS U.S. BUSINESS.
Jul 07, 2003; ... WASHINGTON-Retailers and suppliers sourcing goods from China and the Pan-Pacific region are enjoying significantly higher margins on everything from small appliances to case goods. But several reports released over the past month from two manufacturing coalitions and a business ...
THE HFN LIST; THE 15 HIGHEST-PAID HOME RETAIL EXECS IN 2002.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Jul 07, 2003 ... Rank, Prior Rank, Executive Title Company Salary Bonus Other Annual Compensation Total Annual Compensation 1 (1) Robert Nardelli, chairman, CEO, president, Home Depot $1,865,384 ...
A FULL HOUSE.(Hampton Designer Showhouse sponsored by House and Garden magazine)(Brief Article)
Jul 07, 2003; ... An opening-night gala kicked off the proceedings for the Hampton Designer Showhouse, sponsored by House & Garden magazine. With the doors thrown open and a tent ...
MARSHALL FIELD'S FIELD TEST: A MAKEOVER ON STATE STREET.(flagship store occupied by boutiques)
Jul 07, 2003; ... CHICAGO-In a bid to battle the sea of sameness that has plagued the department store sector, Marshall Field's is transforming its famous flagship store here into a gallery of exclusive boutiques designed to wow shoppers with the unexpected. Propelling the metamorphosis are ...
NEWS BRIEFS.
Jul 07, 2003 ... MAY PURCHASES MODERN TUXEDO Adding to its bridal empire, May Department Stores Co. purchased the inventory, leases and name of Modern Tuxedo, a 25-store tuxedo rental and sales chain based in Chicago. Modern Tuxedo has estimated annual sales of $12 million. ...
POST-SARS, INDUSTRY BACK ON ROAD TO ASIA.(severe acute respiratory syndrome, home furnishings)
Jul 14, 2003 ... NEW YORK-Even before the World Health Organization cleared the way for travel to Asia -- lifting its last SARS-related travel warning last week -- a hardy bunch from the home furnishings world was already back in action in the region. Facing product development deadlines and a ...
THE WORD ON THE STREET: RETAIL LIFTS HFN STOCK INDEX.
Jul 14, 2003; ... NEW YORK-The bulls are clearly back on Wall Street, although they seem to be grazing instead of stampeding. In HFN's midyear stock report, shares of publicly traded home goods retailers experienced strong gains while suppliers suffered modest declines. As a result, the HFN Stock ...
HAMPTONS COME ALIVE.(Long Island, New York)(Brief Article)
Jul 14, 2003 ... Summertime means sun, fun and shopping, and what better place than New York's posh getaway to do all of the above? ...
TODD OLDHAM COLLECTION GROWS UP; HOME ROOM LINE HITS THE SHELVES.(at Target)(Brief Article)
Jul 14, 2003; ... NEW YORK-Target has rolled out the second incarnation of the renamed Todd Oldham Home Room program to its stores. The line, which had been known as Dorm Room, includes soft and hard goods, including bed and bath, wall decor, lighting and storage products. The ...
FORMER FAIRCHILD EDITOR DAVID ST. MARIE DIES AT 53.(Brief Article)(Obituary)(Biography)
Jul 14, 2003 ... NEW YORK-David St. Marie, a copy editor for Home Furnishings Daily before becoming copy chief at Women's Wear Daily, died July 3 of complications resulting from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He was 53. St. Marie joined Fairchild Publications in 1980 and spent six years at HFD, now ...
CLARIFICATION.(Hunter Douglas sales decrease)(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
Jul 14, 2003 ... In the HFN Top 50 Vendors report, which appeared in the July 7 issue, comments regarding a decline of sales ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(miscellaneous brief articles)
Jul 14, 2003 ... MACY'S EAST NAMES HOME VP Mary Markman was appointed executive vice president and general merchandising manager for home at Macy's East. Markman assumes responsibilities that were formerly held by Eric Salus, who moved on to become president of Federated Department Stores' The ...
PILLOWTEX GETS ANOTHER CHANCE FROM LENDERS ON SURVIVAL PLAN.
Jul 14, 2003; ... KANNAPOLIS, N.C.-Pillowtex's lenders granted the struggling mill another extension last week to submit a plan for paying its debt. The mill faced a deadline of last Friday, which was set by its creditors, but now has until this Monday to present its survival plan. This was the ...
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TO EXPLORE HOME WITH LICENSED FURNISHINGS COLLECTION.(Brief Article)
Jul 14, 2003 ... WASHINGTON-The National Geographic Society will brave new multilicensing frontiers with an extensive home furnishings collection. Furniture Brands International subsidiary Lane Home Furnishings will anchor the team of eight licensees set to develop and market the 2,500-item ...
SAMPLIN' THE HAMPTONS.(shopping on Long Island, New York)(Brief Article)
Jul 14, 2003; ... One of the many reasons to visit the Hamptons, besides fun in the sun and great parties, is the shopping. The stores found on eastern Long Island draw crowds from Sag Harbor to ...