HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from March 2007

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from March 2007:

Winds of change for housewares in Chicago.(news)

Mar 05, 2007; ... CHICAGO -- The housewares industry comes into its most important event of the year next week with two of its core businesses--small electrics and floor care--having radically different vendor structures than a year ago. The International Home & Housewares Show is no longer just ...

Specialty books go Au natural for the spring.(news)

Mar 05, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- If their catalogs are an indication, specialty home retailers are going neutral and natural this spring. Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn's books are highlighting eco-friendly assortments for the upcoming season, as well as neutral colorations and natural fibers that ...

A look ahead.(home page)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Home furnishings retailers will release February same-store sales results on March 8. HFN will publish its ...

A look back.(home page)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Forty-nine years ago this week, leading producers of gas ranges were in open rebellion against the industrywide trade group, the American Gas Association. The issue: match-held versus automatic oven lighting. The AGA, which issued a coveted seal of approval, was ...

Mediums.(home page)

Mar 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Here's a peek at the green room created by ...

The HFN stock index.

Mar 05, 2007 ... Manufacturers led the HFN Index decline for the Feb. 22 to March 1 period, falling 4.21 percent. Salton's 17.54 percent decline to close at $2.35 dragged the group down. Retailers sunk 4.08 percent. Bombay Co. was the group's big loser, declining 13.89 ...

Federated to become Macy's, home improves in Q4.(news)

Mar 05, 2007; ... CINCINNATI -- Federated Department Stores' move last week to change the company's name to Macy's Group is designed to trumpet its biggest marquee brand, executives said. The news coincided with the retailer's fourth-quarter report, which marked signs of improvement in the home ...

Lifetime Brands opens new headquarters.(news)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WESTBURY, N.Y. -- We're going to need a bigger building. That was pretty much the corporate mandate for Lifetime Brands, the rapidly expanded housewares powerhouse that has more than doubled in size over the past few years and needed more space ...

Martha Stewart home line at Macy's for summer launch.(news)

Mar 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION 0MITTED] Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia delivered what it called "the inaugural" 1,500-SKU home line of the Martha Stewart Collection to Macy's, according to a statement from MSLO on the company's fourth-quarter results. "The reception from Macy's ...

BJ's Wholesale Club.(RETAIL)

Mar 05, 2007 ... IBJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB has named Herb Zarkin president and chief executive officer. Zarkin has served as interim CEO since November, when Mike Wedge left the company. He will continue as chairman of BJ's board of directors. Zarkin has been a director of ...

Shopko.(RETAIL)

Mar 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHOPKO has named Jack Mullen senior vice president of marketing. Mullen most recently was senior vice president of advertising and sales promotion at the former May Department Stores' Foley's division. At ShopKo, Mullen ...

The Home Depot.(RETAIL)

Mar 05, 2007 ... THE HOME DEPOT warned of sales and earnings decreases in the single digits this year because it doesn't ...

Hollandia International.(RETAIL)

Mar 05, 2007 ... HOLLANDIA INTERNATIONAL, the Israel-based high-end bedding manufacturer, has opened its first U.S. retail location at the King of Prussia Mall ...

The New York Home Textiles Show.(THE MARKETS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... THE NEW YORK HOME TEXTILES SHOW has ended its run as a freestanding event and starting in August will be integrated into the New York International Gift Show, according to the show's sponsor, George Little Management. The Textiles Show has declined in size since it went to a different ...

Serta.(THE MARKETS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... SERTA has joined forces with Askona Holding Co., a prominent Russia-based mattress producer, in an alliance that will put the mattress maker into that market. Under the terms of the deal, Askona (which will take the name Serta Trading Co.) will manufacture Serta-branded mattresses and ...

The Trump Home.(THE MARKETS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE TRUMP HOME brand will first be made available to Macy's in New York this summer, after Lexington Home Brands unveils the first two full-category furniture collections at the High Point Market next month. The two Trump Home groups, inspired by the ...

Caldeira China.(THE MARKETS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... CALDEIRA CHINA, a subsidiary of the U.K. -- based textiles company Caldeira Ltd., has opened a new 250,000-squarefoot complex in Yuyue, China. The company, which also opened a New York showroom at last month's ...

Horchow.(THE MARKETS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... HORCHOW has added an online art gallery to its e-commerce site, featuring original finished fine art from Pacific Art Group. The gallery, ...

Trade show calendar.(Calendar)

Mar 05, 2007 ... march 6-10 Malaysian International Furniture Fair Putra World Trade Center Kuala Lumpur Convention Center MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Center Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia miff.com.my 7-11 11th Thailand International Furniture Fair IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Center ...

New York Gift Cash & Carry[R]Show ... Gifts to Go[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Retailers looking to quickly restock their shelves can find the latest giftware, tabletop, housewares and decorative accessories--all available for immediate delivery--at the ...

Boston Gift Show[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... New and notable manufacturers are getting ready for the Boston Gift Show, New England's destination for unique gifts and decorative accessories. Located in the heart of the recently renovated Seaport District, the Show is ...

The Gourmet Housewares Show[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... At the Gourmet Housewares Show, specialty retailers have the opportunity to meet with key manufacturers in the industry, learning first-hand about the latest innovations in cookware, kitchen gadgets, cutlery, specialty appliances (electric and ...

Global Home Textiles[TM].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Are you currently sourcing home textiles overseas? Do you want to establish new, global relationships for your business? Global Home Textiles, GLM's new tradeshow featuring offshore home textiles manufacturers from Asia and around the world, will connect you with the tight people. As an ...

International Contemporary Furniture Fair[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)

Mar 05, 2007 ... The 19th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) will transform New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center into a global haven for design devotees. As North America's singular showcase for contemporary design, the Fair draws the most intrepid seekers ...

Rhapsodies in blue.(trends)

Mar 05, 2007; ... From inky navy to indigo, shades of blue were everywhere during the recent winter textiles market. It's little surprise blue popped up most frequently on bedding, since the psychologically calming color, seen in solids, patterns and stripes, encourages a restful night of sleep ...

TV chefs do cook up sales: study finds that TV cooking shows are more influential than print ads.(top story)

Mar 05, 2007; ... PEOPLE WHO ARE REPORTEDLY ON THE CUTTING EDGE of consumer trends are almost twice as likely to purchase a particular brand of food preparation item--such as cookware, kitchen tools or small electrics--when they see the item advertised on a television cooking show, than when they merely see ...

Manufacturers are finding a winning recipe with big names behind their product lineups.(top story)

Mar 05, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Does celebrity still sell in the kitchen? The answer is yes, the allure of a celebrity chef endorsement still holds some magic for consumers, as more people are watching food shows--some obsessively--and more chefs join the ranks of TV personalities. But all of this ...

Wake up and smell the coffee.(opinions: home alone 2)

Mar 05, 2007; ... Howard Schultz did a little mea corporate culpa last week, something every CEO in every business in the country should be wishing they had done first. Schultz is the man behind Starbucks Coffee, and whether you're a fan or a foe of the company, you have to say it is a successful ...

Winter in new York?(news: letters)(Letter to the editor)

Mar 05, 2007; ... To the Editor: As usual, February in New York is more about the weather than product in showrooms. Who could have predicted that this past Wednesday (Feb. 14) would be one of the worst weather days in New York all year? Aside from the fact that many airlines were still canceling ...

As American as mom.(news: letters)(Letter to the editor)

Mar 05, 2007; ... To the Editor: Please note that there are people who do care where their home goods and clothes are made. My 88-year-old mother is always on her soap box about the loss of American-made goods. The poor salespeople who cross her path are besieged by this angry ...

Establishing presents.(news: letters)

Mar 05, 2007; ... To the Editor: I read the article "Walking the Magazine Aisle" [HFN, Jan. 22, 2007] by Jessica Harlan with bated breath, hoping to find out what our gift and tabletop industry might expect in future issues. I have told all of our tabletop vendors that we as a community do a ...

Retail/vendor landscape--2010 & beyond.(opinions)

Mar 05, 2007; ... The retailer/vendor landscape of 2010 and beyond is all about market share and who can be best positioned to sell to the consumer. Successful retailers will: * Give the consumer the product she wants that will accommodate her and her family's lifestyle. * Meet her ...

Sheet wave: as thread counts rise, high-end bedding is hooter than ever.(the markets: textiles)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- With its high thread-count sheets and meticulous attention to detail, high-end bedding--sold primarily at teptier department and specialty stores--is seeingmore action than ever before. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year ...

Ellison, First Asia celebrate finely woven marriage.(the markets: textiles)

Mar 05, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- The marriage of Ellison and First Asia--the U.S.-based sales and marketing company merging with the sourcing company with extensive Chinese roots--was celebrated at the home textiles market here last month and a good time was had by all--especially Ellison First Asia. ...

Diverse looks, broad appeal in Candice Olson's new bedding line.(the markets: textiles)

Mar 05, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- In her new line of bedding with JLA Home, Candice Olson, host of HGTV's "Divine Design" and a contributing editor for Home magazine, updates traditional design motifs by adding beading, feathers, faux fur, hints of shiny Lurex and other unexpected details. The ...

Flooring America, Canada take an upscale approach.(the markets: floor covering)

Mar 05, 2007 ... DALLAS -- Flooring America and Flooring Canada are set to launch a new high-end brand at their joint convention next week at the Gaylord Texan Resort here. Design Distinctions will be exclusive for the retailers and addresses a higher-end, fashion-conscious target consumer. The ...

A new place for Milliken: the company has given a familiar brand a techonolgy upgrade, blending texture with color and pattern.(the markets: floor covering)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LA GRANGE, Ga. -- A new technology has helped Milliken Carpet move into new territory with Milliken Place, a new residential Stainmaster carpet collection. The technology is called Convergence and was developed to marry texture with color and ...

Karastan floors the crowd at Chaiken runway show.(the markets: floor covering)

Mar 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Karastan provided a fashionable runway for models at Chaiken's fashion show last month. Eleven rugs from the company's English Manor Collection were laid end-to-end to pave the full length of Chaiken's 79-foot runway. The event ...

Hanson Furniture & Carpet honored by Mohawk.(the markets: floor covering)

Mar 05, 2007 ... MILBANK, S.D. -- Hanson Furniture & Carpet has been named Mohawk ColorCenter Dealer of the Year for 2006. The retailer was selected from among nearly 2,000 Mohawk ColorCenter stores nationwide as the dealership that most completely executed the concepts and ideas behind the Mohawk ...

The convertible theory: the futon industry took a hit from 'click-clacks,' because of their distinct look and lower price points.(the markets: furniture & lightning)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ATLANTA -- It was a tough year for the futon industry in 2006. There was a general lull in the furniture industry and in the overall economy; a glut of cheap product imports; and changes in the manufacturing and retail landscape. All this combined to ...

Containers add to problems of retailers in the casual industry.(the markets: furniture & lightning)

Mar 05, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- The development of containers to ship cargo by sea and land is often described as a turning point in materials transportation. One global shipping firm, for example, in a brief corporate history, writes that the large steel box, developed during World War II, "would soon ...

Stylecraft Home moving to larger HQ.(the markets: furniture & lightning)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HERNANDO, Miss. -- Stylecraft Home Collection, under the leadership of Charlie McCaffrey, who was named president last October, is moving to new, larger headquarters here this spring. A new distribution software program and other internal changes are all ...

ART relaunches fund-raiser, opens conference registration.(the markets: furniture & lightning)(Conference news)

Mar 05, 2007 ... HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The Accessories Resource Team has brought back its semiannual bowling fund-raiser, The Art of Bowling, during the upcoming High Point Market here. The event, sponsored by the decorative accessory industry association, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, and is ...

Future dim for incandescents?(the markets: furniture & lightning)

Mar 05, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Call 2007 the year of the light bulb ban. In the past month alone, several U.S. states, municipalities and the Australian government have moved to ban incandescent light bulbs for their high heat production and energy in-efficiency. Europe isn't far ...

Royal Doulton set for its debut at housewares.(the markets: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007; ... CHICAGO -- For the first time, Royal Doulton is exhibiting at the International Home & Housewares Show here next week, where it is banking on new collections from chef Gordon Ramsay and designer Terence Conran to guide it in unfamiliar territory. At the same time, the Gordon ...

Feats of clay: three British ceramics brands will pool resources to mark a bigger presence in the American market.(the markets: tabletop)(Company overview)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HERTFORDSHIRE, England -- Lifestyle Group's recent acquisition of Poole Pottery and Royal Stafford underscores its vote of confidence in British ceramics, while widening its appeal to American buyers. Established in 1990, Lifestyle originally ...

Bormioli Rocco sees a glass half full.(the markets: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007; ... FRANKFURT, Germany -- In its large corner booth at the Ambiente fair here last month, Bormioli Rocco showed a breadth and a depth of products that reveals its plans to bolster its brand name and its product range both in Europe and in the United States. It will continue the ...

Villeroy & Boch begets vivo.(the markets: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Looking to attract a younger customer, Villeroy & Boch launched Vivo at Ambiente, a new brand of fun shapes and accent colors that targets the housewares floor. Vivo, which means "I live" in Latin, includes dinnerware, flatware and glassware, ...

The feeling's neutral.(the markets: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Whether it reminds you of sand from your vacation or your favorite coffee drink, neutral colors have been spotted among many tabletop introductions as the perfect complement to a plethora of colors and ...

Expanded Pedrini brand to debut in Chicago.(the markets: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007; ... CHICAGO -- The Italian flair of Pedrini will make a big splash at the International Home & Housewares Show, as Lifetime Brands will showcase this brand, as well as its new categories, after having taken over its U.S. operations a year ago. "It's more than a collection; it's the ...

Pyrex enters name game with TV chef.(the markets: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007; ... ROSEMONT, III. -- For the first time in its long history, Pyrex has signed with a high-profile celebrity. In partnering with Giada De Laurentiis, a chef, cookbook author and Food Network host, the 100-year-old glassware company hopes to breathe new life into its brand. ...

1 Fenton.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Fenton Art Glass recently introduced these whimsical Santa Bells featuring hand-painted faces and sparkling glitter ...

2 Precidio.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Precidio's new Ocean Waves collection of sculpted shell pieces in soft watercolor ...

3 Pendleton.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Pendleton, the wool company, has come out with its own line of tabletop for which it is targeting high-end gift and department stores. The Ranch collection, with ...

4 Mud Pie.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Mud Pie's Nesting Collection celebrates new life, love and family with new ceramic dinnerware in warm cream, brown and robin's egg blue. The wide-ranging ...

5 Anchor Hocking.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Anchor Hocking has extended its Madison glass serveware collection with this serving platter and two-tier metal rack, ...

Disney movie interpreted in two different takes.(the markets: tabletop)

Mar 05, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] NEW YORK -- For two completely different creative takes on a movie, look no further than the recent tabletop licensing agreements surrounding "Ratatouille," the Disney/Pixar animated movie about Remy, the Parisian rat who wants to be a chef. ...

The vacs of life: Hoover's new owner Techtronic brings money that could mean new life for the vacuum maker.(the markets: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007; ... HONG KONG -- New owner Techtronic Industries means new money and possibly new life for Hoover, which some floor care industry players and observers said had been neglected first by former parent Maytag and then by owner Whirlpool. TTI plans to apply its "high-speed," "less ...

McCusker muses on his career, De'Longhi as transition begins.(the markets: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007; ... SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- After more than a quarter of a century, James McCusker has decided to step down as president of De'Longhi America. De'Longhi recently announced that McCusker will leave the subsidiary he began in 1980 at the end of this year. Paolo Cravedi, executive vice ...

Built NY doing more than holding its own.(the markets: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Built NY is expanding into new lines, products and materials, as the housewares company moves beyond its ubiquitous neoprene bottle totes to fulfill its mantra of being a full-fledged "lifestyle accessories brand." The company will ...

1 Sanyo.(the markets: hf new: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007 ... The Sanyo Zero-Gravity massage chair puts the user into a neutral body posture that humans ...

2 Epilady.(the markets: hf new: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007 ... Epilady's new Epic line of epilators and shavers features a sleek new design, ...

3 Salton.(the markets: hf new: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007 ... The Juiceman 2-Speed Large Chute Juice Extractor will be introduced by Salton at the ...

4 Waring.(the markets: hf new: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007 ... The Waring Pro Professional Deep Fryer has a 1-gallon capacity and extra-large frying basket that make it ...

5 Sunbeam.(the markets: hf new: housewares)

Mar 05, 2007 ... The 12-cup Heritage Coffeemaker from Sunbeam features a contemporary design, a Simple-Set Clock, a ...