HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from July 2004:
VIVE LA HOME.(Galeries Lafayette S.A.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... Galeries Lafayette's brand-new stand-alone home store in Paris ...
KMART CASHES OUT AS SEARS BUYS IN.(Kmart Corp.,)(Sears, Roebuck and Co.,)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Barbara Thau TROY, Mich.-Kmart continues to sell its most valuable assets to deliver cash to its stockholders, including chairman Edward Lampert, the company's primary shareholder. In its second planned store sale in a month, Kmart said last week it will sell ...
WATERFORD CRYSTALLIZES TEAM: FOLEY IN, MCGILLIVARY RETIRES.(Chris McGillivary retires while John Foley and Peter Cameron get appointed)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Allison Zisko WALL, N.J.-The early retirement of Waterford Wedgwood Chief Executive Officer Chris McGillivary is a big step in the company's ongoing efforts to restructure management. With the arrival of John Foley, CEO of Waterford Crystal worldwide, and the ...
GOLDMAN ASSOCIATES TESTS RETAIL-BASED SHOWROOM IN MALL.(The Mall at Short Hills)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Gerry Beatty MILLBURN, N.J.-The store is in one of the most prestigious shopping centers in America, where rent seemingly is calculated by the square inch, yet it sells nothing. Goldman Associates, the regional distributor of Sub-Zero and other premium major appliances, ...
SMITHSONIAN NAMES FINALISTS FOR NATIONAL AWARDS.(Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... NEW YORK-Marc Jacobs, Narciso Rodriguez and Yeohlee Teng are finalists in the fashion design category of the National Design Awards, the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum said last week. This is the second year the awards, which are sponsored by Coach, have ...
EMESS' HOME DECOR PORTFOLIO GROWS WITH MERGER, ACQUISITION.(Nicole Corp.,)(Emess Lighting Inc.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Nancy Meyer ELLWOOD CITY, Pa.-Emess Design Group has merged with accent furniture supplier Stein World, based in Memphis, Tenn., and purchased lampshade maker Nicole Corp. of Cleveland for an undisclosed sum. Based here, Emess Design Group, a privately held ...
NEWS BRIEFS: RHODES APPOINTS FISHMAN CEO... COBUZZI LEAVES LENOX FOR FORTUNOFF... SPRINGS NAMES BEDDING PRESIDENT.
Jul 05, 2004 ... Rhodes Appoints Fishman CEO Rhodes, the furniture retailer based in Atlanta, announced that Steven Fishman has been named president and chief executive officer of the 90-store company. He succeeds William Kimbrell, who is leaving the privately held company after five years in ...
BED BATH & BEYOND IS RIGHT WHERE IT WANTS TO BE ... STILL.(Bed, Bath and Beyond Inc.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Warren Shoulberg MORRISTOWN, N.J.-After putting up yet another quarter of stellar numbers, Bed Bath & Beyond says the sweet spot it occupies in retailing is as immune from the economy as possible. Speaking after the company's brief and largely perfunctory ...
PANASAONIC PARENT SHUFFLES EXECUTIVES.(Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., shuffles Yoshihiko Yamada and Masaru Kono)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... SECAUCUS, N.J.-Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., the consumer electronics giant known for its Panasonic brand, has named Yoshihiko Yamada chairman and chief executive officer of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America, and Masaru Kono as the new president and chief operating officer of ...
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
Jul 05, 2004 ... july 6-15 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta (800) ATL-MART americasmart.com 9-11 The Art Glass Show Oregon Convention Center Portland, Ore. ...
BEST LITTLE SHOWHOUSE.(home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Michael D. Devine The Hampton Designer Showhouse sponsored by House & Garden magazine recently opened to kudos from the 1,000 guests who attended the opening-night gala. The craftsmanship and creativity of the designers make for a knockout showhouse. Especially ...
MAISON MISSION; FRENCH RETAILER GALERIES LAFAYETTE TARGETS DESIGN-SAVVY URBAN DWELLERS WITH ITS NEW HOME STORE.(GALERIES LAFAYETTE S.A.)
Jul 05, 2004 ... PARIS-Can home decoration be sold to the pace of seasonal fashion trends? That's what French retailer Galeries Lafayette is betting on with its recently minted Lafayette Maison home store. Opened in March, the 100,000-square-foot unit on the bustling Boulevard Haussmann rejigs ...
GIVE THEM PERMISSION.(home furnishings industry)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: J'Amy Owens Consider for a moment that you are not selling sofas, linens or pots 'n' pans, but rather selling your customers "permission" to buy said objects. To accomplish this, you must shift to a perspective that can be described as an internal ...
RENAMED IN PARAMUS.(home furnishings industry, )(New Jersey)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Warren Shoulberg So, I'm cruising Route 17 in Paramus, as in Paramus, N.J., as in the epicenter of American retailing as we know it. It's a favorite hangout for me, as there's always something going on there, some new store, some old store out of business, some variation ...
THE BARWARE REPORT.(glassware industry)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... Barware sales rose 5 percent to $1.3 billion. Forty-two percent of barware dollars were spent on glass and crystal drinkware. the Popularity of wine drinking fuels growth in the ...
RAISING THE BAR; AS HOME ENTERTAINMENT GROWS IN POPULARITY, SALES FOLLOW THE SAME UPWARD PATH.(Barwell Inc., on the move)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Nathan Weber Sales of barware for home use in the United States rose to more than $1.3 billion in 2003, reflecting a 5 percent increase over the previous year. Among the four broad product lines comprising barware -- not counting those purchased by bars and ...
MINDING THE STORES; ALL TYPES OF RETAIL OPERATIONS ARE STOCKING THE AISLES WITH PRODUCTS.
Jul 05, 2004 ... Byline: HFN Staff Report Barware is everywhere now -- from warehouse clubs to mass merchants to department stores to high-end boutiques. And it's a good business for many. "Barware, as a category, is very strong," said Bette Kahn, Crate & Barrel spokeswoman. And ...
VINTAGE POINT; A SURGE IN WINE DRINKING IS FUELING BARWARE SALES.(The Wine Enthusiast program)
Jul 05, 2004 ... Byline: HFN Staff Report Whether it is fueled by anxiety or by the famous cocooning trend, Americans are turning to drink, and that's been good news for makers of barware and wine accessories. The category is led by a surge in wine drinking in the United States, ...
THE ART OF PRESERVATION; VACUUM-SEALING PUMPS ARE PREVENTING WINE ACCESSORY SALES FROM SOURING.(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Thyra Porter Preserving wine for future use is helping boost sales of wine accessories. And while those who finish a bottle at the first go round may not believe it, vacuum sealing unfinished wine is big business. The process removes oxygen from ...
TASTE TEST; FROM WINERIES TO GROCERY AISLES, VENDORS ARE VENTURING OUT TO NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS.
Jul 05, 2004 ... Byline: HFN Staff Report Vendors are learning that, in barware, housewares departments aren't the only option. Liquor stores, grocery aisles and wineries are being tapped as alternate channels of distribution as wine and bar accessories hit new markets. ...
FULLY STOCKED; NEW BARWARE ACCESSORIES COMPLE-MENT HOME BAR DESIGN THEMES.(home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Carla Webb According to Vince Stansbury, kitchen designer at Expo Design Center in Burlington, Mass., the style or design of the home bar, which is usually requested as part of a kitchen renovation, is usually in keeping with the style of the room in which it's going. ...
NET ASSETS.(Amazon.com Inc.,takes care of customer choices)
Jul 05, 2004 ... Grappa and cognac glasses, why the shape of a wine glass' bowl is better for a particular wine than another, how wine preservers work and why does anyone need one -- these are a few of Amazon.com's product and informational offerings, which are among the driving forces behind good barware ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Specialized Technology Resources Inc.,)(VF Corp.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... MICHAEL GANNAWAY, former chief executive officer of the liquidated Pillowtex, has been named to a newly created post as vice president of customer management for VF Corp., an apparel company with principal brands such as Lee, Wrangler, Nautica, Riders, Vanity Fair and Bestform, among ...
LOFTEX USA HIRES DESIGN, MARKETING DIRECTOR.(Gretchen Dale gets appointed)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... NEW YORK-Gretchen Dale, former senior vice president of design and new product development of defunct Pillowtex, has joined newly formed Loftex USA as director of design and marketing. Dale teams up with Jim Ryan, previously with Welspun as marketing director, and now vice ...
THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH; HIGH-END RETAILERS SAY IT PAYS TO OFFER TRADITIONAL-LOOKING PRODUCTS.(textiles industry)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Neutral colorations and classic patterns with updated looks are big hits for some high-end retailers. Yves Delorme, which sells luxury linens in its 38 stores scattered across the country and in two department stores -- Macy's Herald ...
BRIGHT FUTURE; OLDER CONSUMERS GROW MORE DARING WITH COLOR AS RUG DESIGNERS LIVEN UP THEIR PALETTES.(rug and carpet industry)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Often brought to market to entice the brighter tastes of the teen and tween demographics, color is crossing over, according to rug designers and manufacturers. Bright, often tropical shades and design motifs are getting grown-up treatment and ...
MOHAWK TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES IN GEORGIA.(Mohawk Industries Inc.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Jennifer Quail SUGAR VALLEY, Ga.-Mohawk Industries has announced plans to build two new facilities in Georgia, expanding its Calhoun plant and paving the way for future job opportunities in the area. Merle Johnson, vice president of marketing for Mohawk Home, ...
FLOOR MATS STEP UP AS A GROWTH CATEGORY.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Faye Musselman NEW YORK-Floor mats are becoming bolder. They've even changed their name -- once known as lowly doormats and purchased occasionally as utilitarian walk-offs, floor mats are now a year-round item used inside and out; and, increasingly, they are making a ...
CMI PROMOTION COMES TO THE `4'.(Colonial Mills Inc.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... PAWTUCKET, R.I.-Colonial Mills Inc. is offering customers significant savings through its "4 Sale" promotion. Available until Dec. 31, the promotion offers "4 for $499" pricing on four Simply Home rectangles and four classic ovals. The deal puts pricing at 20 to 30 percent below ...
AMERICASMART ATLANTA HOSTS 2004 ROY AWARDS.(AmericasMart.com Inc.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... ATLANTA-AmericasMart Atlanta will host the 11th Annual Rug Retailer of the Year Awards on July 12, during the Atlanta International Area Rug Market. All ROY nominees are selected exclusively by AmericasMart area rug exhibitors and then voted on by ...
OBEETEE BLENDS OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS ONLINE.(Obetee Inc.,)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... NEW YORK-Obeetee is set to bring another resource to life for its current and prospective customers in Obeetee.com. The new site offers more than 300 designs, in a variety of sizes. The company said the site was designed to be a library, gallery and store all in one. ...
HIGH AND OUTSIDE; MASS MERCHANTS ARE MOVING INTO UPPER PRICE POINTS ON OUTDOOR FURNITURE.(furniture industry)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Jo Fleischer HIGH POINT, N.C.-Big-box stores, usually associated with discounting, are steadily moving to higher price points on outdoor furniture as shoppers favor more stylish aluminum and all-weather wicker collections. Sources say price points have been ...
PRICES, PROMOTIONS DOMINATE SUMMER DALLAS LIGHTING MARKET.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Nancy Meyer DALLAS-It seems that inflation has finally hit the lighting business. "The Price is Right" was the name of the game at the Dallas International Lighting and Accessories Market that wrapped up here last week, as the buzz in the hallways surrounded widespread ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(appointments and facility closures)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... VAUGHAN-BASSETT FURNITURE President and Chief Executive Officer John Bassett, who spearheaded the drive that led to preliminary anti-dumping duties on some furniture from China, announced the company will close its Sumter, S.C., plant, which employs 350 workers. In a statement, Bassett ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(appointments and retirements)
Jul 05, 2004 ... EMILY HENDLEY has rejoined GuildMaster as the company's brand manager, a new post in which she works with Buzz Leer, vice president of specialty sales and marketing. From January 2002 to January 2004, Hendley was responsible for the advertising, marketing and merchandising for Decorize ...
BDO: MANUFACTURERS SEE HIGHS, LOWS IN APRIL ORDERS.(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... NEW YORK-It was feast or famine for domestic furniture manufacturers in April, with some reporting double-digit increases in orders and others saddled with double-digit declines, according to a monthly report from BDO Seidman. Overall, new orders rose 2 percent for the month ...
CHARGING AHEAD; PFALTZGRAFF'S NEW PRIVATE-LABEL CREDIT CARD IS GENERATING BIG SALES IN THE DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER CHANNEL.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Allison Zisko YORK, Pa.-Pfaltzgraff is one ceramics company that is finding plastic profitable. In this instance, however, it is not an alternative dinnerware material, but a private-label credit card that is helping to drive sales for the company's ...
LIBBEY REFINANCES BANK DEBT.(Ohio-Libbey Inc)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... TOLEDO, Ohio-Libbey Inc. announced that it successfully refinanced its bank debt under a new $250 million unsecured revolving credit agreement late last week. This new facility is for a term of five years. "We ...
ONEIDA RESTRUCTURES LENDING AGREEMENT.(Oneida Ltd.)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Michael Rudnick ONEIDA, N.Y.-Struggling tabletop company Oneida Inc. has reached an agreement in principle with its lenders on a restructuring plan for its roughly $238 million in existing debt and for new revolving credit of $30 million. The restructured ...
ATLANTA BLOOMS WITH TABLETOP, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES.(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Carla Webb ATLANTA-The permanent showrooms at AmericasMart here open their doors Tuesday, July 6, for the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Mart, and the temporaries kick off Friday, July 9. Meanwhile, across town, the Gift Fair in Atlanta, co-sponsored by ...
PERSONAL CARE LIGHTING A PATH IN CANDLE SALES.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-Candles come to consumers in two distinct ways -- as a home decor item and as part of a personal care regime. As a home decor product, the look of the candle is often viewed as most important. As a personal care product, the scent of the ...
WELCH'S MERCURY DESIGN RISING AFTER D & D AWARD.(William Welch)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... British designer William Welch of Robert Welch Designs was recently given a D & D Award for Mercury, one of his new flatware patterns. The D & D Awards, in which each category presents the top end of the design and decoration industry, ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(ZODAX)
Jul 05, 2004 ... PETER COBUZZI, formerly Lenox Brands' vice president of brand development, left his position at Lenox and joined Fortunoff last week as senior vice president of marketing and sales promotion ARTIST MARY HUGHES has signed a licensing agreement with Lifestyle Home for a collection ...
ENESCO LAUNCHING NEW ORDER TECHNOLOGY AT SUMMER GIFT SHOWS.(Enesco Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... ITASCA, Ill.-Enesco Group Inc. is launching automated sales order entry technology at all eight U.S. showrooms for the summer gift trade shows. The new system allows for the wireless transmission of showroom orders and represents the second phase of strategic investments targeted at ...
MOVE OVER, WINE CHARMS.(Barware)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... NEW YORK-Barware is as big as ever (see the Barware Report beginning on page 15), and it is a sprawling category that has spurred an even more sprawling array of accessories to complement it. Although the wine charm craze is past its heyday, a number of new items have risen up to take its ...
FIELD'S FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH BACCARAT.(Marshall Field's)(Baccarat Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... CHICAGO-Marshall Field's has formed a partnership with Baccarat to create a store-within-a-store concept, exclusive to its State Street store in Chicago and opening Aug. 11. The 500-square-foot shop will be located on the first floor, adjacent to designer jewelry and handbags, ...
TARGET'S COOL MOVE; THE RETAILER PARTNERS WITH HAIER ON A ROOM-AIR PROMOTION IN NEW YORK.(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEW YORK-It sounded like everyone's stereotype of the ultimate Big Apple experience: "Hey, you: Want to buy a nice air conditioner off the back of my truck? Only 75 bucks." In this case, it was strictly on the up and up. Target arrived with ...
THE SALES THERMOMETER HOLDS STEADY FOR COMFORT APPLIANCES.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEW YORK-Before he retired as GE's authority on room air conditioning, the late Jerry Michelsen espoused three eternal truths: "Always order to a normal season; consumers need three consecutive nights of discomfort before they'll buy; [and] only God can sell ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(General Mills Inc.)(Metrokane Inc.)(Trudeau Corp.)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... GENERAL MILLS TRADEMARK LICENSING partnered with Rubbermaid to create two lines of Betty-Crocker-branded food storage containers for club and mass stores. Both sets are freezer-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe ... THE NEW BUNN INFUSION SERIES of iced tea brewers debuts with a ...
HONG KONG SHOW BACK FOR SUMMER.(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Jennifer White HONG KONG-Housewares manufacturers and retailers are getting ready for round two in Hong Kong. The Summer Sourcing Show for gifts, housewares and toys, which will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 6 to 9, ...
PALOMAR, GILLETTE SHED LIGHT ON HAIR-REMOVAL PROCESS.(Palomar Medical Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... BURLINGTON, Mass.-Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. and the Gillette Co. said they have entered the next phase of development for a light-based hair-removal device to be used by women at home. Palomar, a developer of light-based systems for hair removal and other cosmetic ...
REACHING FOR NEW HEIGHTS; APEX DIGITAL IS PREPARING TO ENTER THE LCD TELEVISION CATEGORY.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Apex Digital, known for its opening-price-point analog televisions and other low-cost consumer electronics, is taking its first steps into the LCD television arena later this summer with an aggressively priced line. The LCD television ...
CLOCK RADIOS GET COMPANY AS MORE FEATURES ADDED TO PRODUCTS.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-The clock radio sections at consumer electronics retailers and mass merchandisers look a little different these days, as the category is being invaded by multifunctional units featuring CD players and telephones. A spokesman for ...
SHORT WAVES.(Best Buy Company Inc.)(North American Retail Dealers Association)(Victor Company of Japan Ltd.)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... BEST BUY CO. has named Sam Taylor senior vice president of online stores and marketing. Taylor, who reports to John Thompson, senior vice president and general manager of BestBuy.com, is responsible for developing and expanding avenues in which the big-box retailer reaches its customer ...
BEST BUY VS. CIRCUIT CITY.(product comparison)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... ON THE COVER Best Buy: Sony widescreen projection 57-inch HDTV monitor, $1,999.99 Circuit City: Akai widescreen HDTV monitor, $999.99 DVD PLAYERS Best Buy: Sylvania DVD/CD/VHS combination player, $89.99 Circuit City: Zenith ...
DESIGN WITHIN REACH RAISES $49.2M IN IPO.(finance)(initial public offering)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... SAN FRANCISCO-Design Within Reach, an online, catalog and brick-and-mortar retailer of contemporary furnishings, raised $49.2 million in its initial public offering last week. The offering price was set at $12 a share, opened at $14.80 and closed at $16.43 with 4.1 million ...
AS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NEARS, RETAILERS STUFF GOP POCKETS.
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-With the presidential election nearing, and the Republican and Democratic National Conventions just around the corner, retailers are once again leaning heavily toward the Republican party as reflected by both their individual and Political Action ...
HANOVER DIRECT TO CONSOLIDATE COMPANY STORE DISTRIBUTION.(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Michael Rudnick EDGEWATER, N.J.-Hanover Direct Inc. is gearing up for the consolidation of its Company Store distribution operations in La Crosse, Wis., into its Roanoke, Va., facility. The consolidation, which will take place over the next year, was spurred ...
PIER 1 SETS QUARTERLY DIVIDEND, $150M STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN.(securities)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... FORT WORTH, Texas-Pier 1 Imports Inc.'s board of directors late on Friday, June 25, declared a quarterly cash dividend of 10 cents on its outstanding shares of common stock and approved a new $150 million share repurchase program. The quarterly dividend is payable Aug. 18 to ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004 ... CONSUMERS EXPRESSED their growing optimism in June by registering a huge increase of confidence in the economy. The Conference Board reported that the Consumer Confidence Index leapt nearly nine points in June, one month after remaining flat. The index now stands at 101.9, up from 93.1 in ...
SHOWHOUSE SPECTACULAR.(home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
Jul 05, 2004; ... Byline: Michael D. Devine Opening-night festivities for the Hampton Designer Showhouse, sponsored by House & Garden magazine, were like nirvana. An all-star cast of guests from society and the design world was awed by the beauty of the showhouse. A common refrain was that "it ...
FLOORED IN ATLANTA.
Jul 12, 2004 ... Rugsapoppin': A dazzling array of vibrant colors and distinct patterns, including Momeni's New Wave ...
EDWARDS VP SELECTION PUTS TEXTILES IN SPOTLIGHT.(John Edwards influence on the textile industry if elected as the vice president of united states)
Jul 12, 2004 ... Byline: Joanna Ramey WASHINGTON-The selection of Sen. John Edwards, a son of a mill worker who was previously endorsed by the textiles union UNITE, to be the Democratic candidate for vice president is likely to call national attention to the problems of the textiles industry. ...
HOME AND RETAIL STOCKS FLATLINE FOR FIRST HALF OF '04.(home furnishings industry trends of stock valuations)
Jul 12, 2004; ... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-It was a great first half for Kmart stockholders, but the same can't be said for their brethren in mass retailing. HFN's exclusive report on stock trading for the first half of the year shows a generally flat line with a few notable ...
SEARS EXECUTIVES OUTLINE HOME FASHIONS MAKEOVER.
Jul 12, 2004 ... Byline: Barbara Thau HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.-If you rebuild it, they will come. That appears to be the motto for Sears' home fashions department. The area is undergoing its second major revamp in a year that will upgrade a whopping 70 percent of the bedding ...