HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network back issues from June 2009:
KitchenAid at 90.(in home)
Jun 01, 2009 ... EVEN AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 90, THE KITCHENAID stand mixer remains the standard for this product category in the U.S. market. The company marked the occasion during the International Home & Housewares Show with a new version of the product that started it all, a stand mixer ...
Merchandise mart sees gold in California.(in home)
Jun 01, 2009; ... MERCHANDISE MART PROPERTIES INC.'S ACQUISITION OF THE CALIFORNIA Gift Show last month strengthens its foothold in what it considers a valuable marketplace filled with unique resources. MMPI, which acquired the California Gift Show from dmg world media, will run the show as one ...
ABC unveils eco-intelligence for home.(in home)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ABC CARPET & HOME LAUNCHED ECO-INTELLIGENCE, a group of eco products, during the Memorial Day weekend. The collection includes water purifiers, air purifiers, stainless steel water bottles, lighting, air purifiers, the ABC Home & Planet line of ...
Wonders of Wedgwood.(in home)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Tricia Foley's "At Home With Wedgwood: The Art of the Table" looks at the 250-year history of the brand and some of the people--Martha Stewart, Thomas O'Brien and Vera Wang to name a few--who set their tables with Wedgwood. Foley, ...
Twas the season.(opinions)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Well, I hate to tell you, but you really blew it this time. There's just no other way to put it: you had your chance and you blew it. As it looks like we are slowly--very slowly--bottoming out of this financial meltdown and slowly--very, very slowly--starting to come back, the ...
Small is good.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Hello Warren, I am a big fan of your column, but I want to add a point to your April 20th comments. Why does it have to be a big retailer or "big box" for the next great thing? Maybe these formats aren't working because the smaller speciality stores are doing a good ...
Worth the fuss?(letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Hi Warren, Your editorial "O for 3" [April 20 issue] caught my eye, and I would like to give you another perspective from a vendor's point of view. I believe that the reason all three retail formats were not a great success is because the newest and freshest vendors ...
Home milanese.(trends)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Mirko Ginepro The Italian designer Mirko Ginepro who created the iTable last year, inspired by the iPod, is back with more pop-culture-tribute furniture, including this DVD bookshelf, which is paired with a wall lamp which he says is his "still incomplete (vision) of the dining ...
Green eggs and chicken.(opinions)
Jun 01, 2009; ... A debate is ongoing in the home furnishings industry as in many others about sustainable products. Everyone generally agrees on the advisability, but few are willing to take the first step. Raw materials suppliers claim they will offer more when their customers demand them, manufacturers ...
Hakes appointed chief marketing officer of AMC.(opinions)
Jun 01, 2009 ... WILLIAM HAKES WAS NAMED THE CHIEF MARKETING officer of AMC, the parent company of AmericasMart Atlanta. It is a new position, where Hakes will be responsible for the full integration of electronic and conventional marketing programming across all of AMC's business lines, primarily within ...
Green: beyond the niche: eco-friendly cookware and small electrics are becoming increasingly important in housewares.(housewares)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TREE HUGGING HAS BECOME GOOD BUSINESS FOR VENDORS OF KITCHEN PRODUCTS. Consumers have shown that they are concerned about the environment and manufacturers have responded--from emphasizing the "green" nature of the materials they use in ...
Getting cozy: the home-comfort category defines its niche during a difficult retail environment.(housewares)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOME COMFORT IS ANOTHER CATEGORY THAT COULD PROVE TO BE RECESSION PROOF. As consumers stay home more, many of them are spending on products that enhance the home's environment. In addition, no down economy can derail consumers' search for ...
Oggi.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
Jun 01, 2009 ... OGGI'S 4-PIECE Ribbed Square Glass Canister Set features stainless screw-top lids. The set is available in green (shown), clear and amber. "Our new canisters cover an exciting gamut of materials perfectly suited for today's home decor, ...
Typhoon plus.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TYPHOON PLUS HAS EXPANDED its popular KLIP IT line of BPA-free plastic storage. The company is launching many new shapes and sizes including a new line designed specifically for the home baker. The baking line features sizes ...
Freshvac.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
Jun 01, 2009 ... FRESHVAC SAID IT'S GETTING BACK TO BASICS with its PRE line, which was introduced at the Housewares Show in March. PRE is to PREserve food and PREmium food storage, according to the company. The line ...
Snapware.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BASED ON ITS FLIP-TOP LID CONCEPT, Snapware has launched a Pantry Series of airtight containers. The modular stacking system has also been designed with space savings in mind. The 10-SKU line is designed around ...
Ronco moves forward.(housewares)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OFFICIALS AT RONCO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ALL THEIR BASES covered. By constantly adding to their product assortment and backing the line with strong advertising support, they said that the 50-year-old New York-based company has developed a ...
Fitz & Floyd: business as usual with new owner.(housewares)
Jun 01, 2009; ... EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERSHIP OF FITZ & Floyd is about to change, the company's approach to the marketplace will not, according to Steven Baram, president and chief executive officer of the manufacturer of dinnerware, giftware and accessories. The company announced that it would be ...
Slow cookers in the fast lane: the slow-cooker category has experienced growth thanks to their convenience, versatility and functionality.(housewares)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HARD TIMES FOR THE ECONOMY SEEMS TO HAVE MADE IT A GOOD TIME TO BE IN THE SLOW-COOKER business. The slow cooker has joined the roster of housewares items that are benefiting from the recession. As insiders have said, consumers are spending less ...
Green sleep: organic bedding is an answer to a more eco-friendly environment.(textiles)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE USE OF ORGANIC MATERIALS IN BEDDING IS good for the environment, but how viable is bedding made with organic cotton or other eco-friendly materials as a marketable product? "When the consumer has the choice between ...
Products reinvented.(opinions)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Retailers and consumer-products manufacturers are constantly monitoring buyer behavior in their never-ending quest to be the first to market with the next big thing. Although this practice has been the way of the retailing world since the very beginning, as with everything else, it's ...
Rugs go au natural.(floor covering)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALWAYS A STRONG LOOK FOR THE HOME, THE NATURAL TREND HAS TAKEN ON more meaning as the eco-friendly movement has grown, especially as the rug category alT uses earth-friendly materials such as wool and jute. Some rug manufacturers have gone a step further, ...
Tai Ping waxes poetic with Haiku collection.(floor covering)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THE DECORATIVE ARTS TRADITION OF JAPAN is the inspiration behind Haiku, the latest collection from Tai Ping Carpets. Divided into the four seasons, the designs include embroidered kimonos and flowers for springtime, the centuries-old method of fabric dying called shibori for summer, ...
HFN 2009 Award of Excellence: and the winners are....(furniture & lighting)
Jun 01, 2009 ... ELEVEN MILLION SQUARE FEET IS A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER AND it's a pretty safe bet that nobody who goes to the High Point Market sees the entire show and gets to view every product introduction. In fact, if you see 5 percent of the market you're probably doing pretty darn well ....
The greening of the table: vendors consider eco-friendly tabletop part of a new lifestyle.(tabletop)
Jun 01, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ECO-FRIENDLY MOVEMENT HAS EVOLVED FROM A TREND into a lifestyle, and for that reason, many tabletop manufacturers remain committed to their existing green products and continue to develop more, despite the challenging ...
HFN 2009 Award of Excellence: and the winners are....(tabletop)
Jun 01, 2009; ... EVERY SIX MONTHS, THE TABLETOP INDUSTRY SETS A BRAND NEW table in New York. During the spring tabletop show in April, the permanent showroom buildings were filled with beautiful new products, and even the briefest walk-through was enough to inspire thoughts of a personal home ...
High point happenings.(HFend)
Jun 01, 2009 ... The High Point Market, the big furniture and furnishings show in North Carolina, may have had a few less bodies on hand than usual, but those that were there had more than enough awards dinners, parties, seminars, speeches and ribbon cuttings to keep them occupied all week. On this page, ...
Lalique, Haviland form operational partnership for U.S.(in home)(Lalique North America Inc.)(Haviland and Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LALIQUE AND HAVILAND HAVE created a partnership in the United States that will combine the operational aspects of their businesses in this country. The partnership brings together the sales and marketing functions of the two companies, along ...
Cuisinart, Keurig partner on single-serve coffeemakers.(in home)
Jun 15, 2009 ... CONAIR CORR, PARENT COMPANY OF CUISINART, and Keurig have formed a licensing and distribution agreement whereby Conair will develop, market and sell single-cup coffeemakers co-branded under the Cuisinart and Keurig names. The coffeemakers will be launched in spring 2010, and ...
Target offers Dror Benshetrit-designed home collection.(in home)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... TARGET IS MERCHANDISING AN EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED-edition collection of home textiles designed by Dror Benshetrit. Labeled Dror for Target, the collection includes comforters, quilts, sheets and tapestries in patterns that enable mixing and matching, according to a statement from ...
Top 50: the big, the bad & the ugly.(in home)
Jun 15, 2009 ... THE YEAR 2008 WASN'T THE END OF THE WORLD for most suppliers of home furnishings products ... but you could see it from there. Like virtually every other consumer product classification, home furnishings took some pretty huge hits in 2008, getting slammed more than most because ...
Gift for Life adds eight members.(in home)
Jun 15, 2009 ... GIFT FOR LIFE, THE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION FOR THE GIFT, STATIONERY and home decor industries, has added eight members to its board, for a total of 29. They include Peter Crover, vice president, sales, ROMA Home Decor, a manufacturer of photo frames, mirrors, art and more; Eric ...
Braley joins Browne as COO.(in home)
Jun 15, 2009 ... HOUSEWARES COMPANY BROWNE & Co. has appointed Peter Braley as chief operating officer of the company's retail division. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new position will unify the development of its retail business including Cuisipro, Duncan Kitchen Grips, Berard and its ...
Tivoli ... Italian style.(in home)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Tivoli Audio, the Boston-based company that made the lowly table radio an object of high design, not to mention high tech, has taken its line to the next evolutionary step. Teaming up with famed Italian furniture company Cappellini, it has introduced a line of audio ...
Hall new aspenhome EVP.(in home)(executive vice president, Jena Hall)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... JENA HALL, WHO HELPED PUT ASPENHOME ON THE FURNITURE MAP, HAS been promoted to the newly created post of executive vice president of merchandising and design for bedroom, dining and occasional furniture. She had previously been vice president for those areas. In her ...
Herb Raab dies.(in home)
Jun 15, 2009 ... HERB RAAB, THE LONG-TIME VETERAN OF HOME FURNISHINGS retailing, passed away last month. Raab, who was 83, died following a stroke. A long-time executive with Macy's New York, Raab eventually headed up the home area for the department store. From there he left to ...
WestPoint to offer Izod collection.(in home)
Jun 15, 2009 ... WESTPOINT HOME HAS BEEN LICENSED BY PHILLIPS-VAN HEUSEN to produce a collection of textiles under the Izod brand. The collection will encompass sheets, bedding, bath towels and accessories, blankets and throws, down comforters, pillows and mattress pads. Deliveries of the new ...
Correction.(in home)(Correction notice)
Jun 15, 2009 ... In the June 1 issue of HFN, a picture of the California Market Center was incorrectly used to show where the newly ...
Modern living.(trends)(International Contemporary Furniture Fair)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, held in New York last month, is the only trade show in the home business defined by design rather than product category. And so, what began as a furniture show has evolved into a nearly total home furnishings ...
The accidental retailer.(HOME ALONE 2)
Jun 15, 2009; ... In all of the clamor about Walmart versus Target and Macy's reorganizations and the top end of retailing in some serious meltdowns, there seems to be very little discussion about the forgotten twins of retailing: Sears and Kmart. That's at least partially true because these two ...
Leaving on a jet plane.(trade show preview)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Vendors and retailers are making their trade show plans for the second half of 2009. This year, they're faced with even more choices than usual as some shows have rescheduled. Happy trails to all. HOUSEWARES The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, ...
Time for a bottle: consumer thirst for reusable water bottles has created an explosion in the category.(housewares)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT USED TO BE RELEGATED TO SPORTS STORES AND FITNESS FANATICS, REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES are now found everywhere and used by everyone. Consumers' concerns to hydrate themselves as well as cut back on throwaway plastic have fueled the ...
Consumer feedback a must in product development.(opinions)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Most executives in the housewares industry would agree that one of the most important critical success factors is new products: the development and introduction of a steady stream of new and/or improved products and line extensions. Housewares manufacturers certainly introduce a ...
Gadgets target kids.(housewares)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KIDS ARE BECOMING AS SOPHISTICATED ABOUT FOOD AS THEIR parents, and for those young ones who want to translate those skills to the kitchen, now they have plenty of products from which to choose. Cooking tools for children are not new, but the ...
Kalorik.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... THE 15-BAR ESPRESSO MAKER PICTURED HERE IS PART OF THE COMPANY'S AQUA COLLECTION, which Kalorik formally launched in April. The line also includes a four-blade blender, a 10-cup coffeemaker and a two-slice toaster. The espresso maker is manufactured with an Italian pump and an aluminum ...
Toastess.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)(Toastess International)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE MONTREAL-BASED VENDOR IS OUT TO PROVE THAT IT ISN'T just a manufacturer of toasters. For years, Toastess has been presenting itself as an all-around producer of a variety of small appliances for the kitchen, especially in the field of coffeemakers ....
Jura-Capresso.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN PRODUCING ITS BURR GRINDERS, coffeemakers and automatic coffee centers, the company has always stressed how these products enhance "the bean-to-cup experience." One example of this is the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder collection. The most ...
Cuisinart.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... FLAVORBREW IS A PATENTED BRAND NOW SPORTING TWO COFFEEMAKERS--A 10-CUP MODEL and 12-cup version (pictured here). Combined with another new coffeemaker, the Brew Central 14-cup model, Cuisinart is providing consumers the chance to save money and brew and enjoy good coffee at home. All three ...
Keurig.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT INTRODUCTION IN COFFEEMAKIERS is the Keurig Platinum Brewing System. It has positioned this unit as a premium model offering a wide range of five cup sizes--4 ounces, 6 ounces, 8 ounces, 10 ounces and 12 ounces. The Platinum comes ...
The great outdoors: the growth of outdoor rooms has proven to be a stimulus to the decorative-pillow industry.(textiles)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HAVING ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS AN IMPORTANT ACCESSORY IN interior decor, the decorative pillow is also increasing its presence in the outdoors. Pillow vendors interviewed by HFN said retailers of outdoor furnishings have become an important ...
Kravet.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)(Kravet Fabrics Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... THE FOURTH-GENERATION FABRIC MANUFACTURER is the latest among the licensees for designer/TV host Candice Olson, and has introduced a collection for upholstery, window treatments and decorative pillows. The initial launch is a four-book collection with palettes ranging from the bright ...
Frette.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE LUXURY-LINENS MANUFACTURER/RETAILER has introduced what it calls "a side of Frette you haven't met"--the Edmond collection, a grouping of mix-and-match, open-stock bedding. Priced to retail at $450 for a bed set, the new collection is being aimed at ...
Lacoste Home.(hfnew: PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE HOME COLLECTION FROM THE CELEBRATED APPAREL HOUSE will debut seven designs in its Casual Bedding and Club Bedding assortments this fall. One of the ensembles in the Club grouping is Levanter (pictured here), a neutral mixture of earthy greens and sandy ...
More for the door: door mats are steady in good times and bad.(floor covering)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WITH MORE ATTENTION TURNED TO OUTDOOR living, the door-mat category has benefited as consumers want stylish mats that fit with their decor indoors and out. No other category performs double duty at the door as mats both keep dirt outside while ...
Surya.(hfnew: floor covering)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... THE NEW SMITHSONIAN LINE is the result of Surya's recent collaboration with the prestigious Smithsonian Institution. Comprised of 12 handtufted rugs made in India of 100 percent New Zealand wool, each piece was inspired by artifacts found within the Smithsonian's vast archives. Cultures ...
Foreign Accents.(hfnew: floor covering)
Jun 15, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ONE OF FOUR RECENTLY ADDED collections, the new Martini collection from Foreign Accents is constructed in the company's signature Favriel yarn combined with a variety of other quality ...
Emma gardner design.(hfnew: floor covering)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... KNOWN FOR ITS BOLD color line, emma gardner design will now offer neutral shades in all of its rug designs in a new palette called Whisper, which was introduced at the recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. "It was a challenge for me as a designer to find neutral ...
Weathering the storm.(opinions)
Jun 15, 2009; ... This past Memorial Day weekend brought to mind the current state of the rug industry. The weather did not cooperate and spoiled plans for people around the country. Unfortunately none of us can control the weather, but we can choose to make the best of the situation. In the rug industry, ...
Under the lights: lighting manufacturers diversify with new categories.(furniture & lighting: totally dallas)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BRANCHING INTO NEW CATEGORIES and expanding energy efficiency offerings will be among the priorities at this month's Dallas International Lighting Market, as manufacturers continue to battle the economy and look to distinguish themselves. The ...
Emess enters new era: lighting company fetes 60th birthday with revamped Chinese showroom.(furniture & lighting)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AS IT CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY, Emess Design Group is ushering in its next growth phase with the launch of a fully remodeled showroom in Humen, China. The revamp of the 5,500-square-foot showroom marks Emess' bid to expand its business ...
Bernhardt: the next generation.(furniture & lighting)
Jun 15, 2009 ... THE TORCH HAS BEEN PASSED TO the next generation at one of the furniture industry's last remaining family owned and operated powerhouses. Bernhardt Furniture Co. recently announced it was creating a chairman's committee of the board while creating new president-level positions ...
Through a glass clearly: vendors see the benefits of clear glass storage.(tabletop)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAST NIGHT'S LEFTOVERS are looking a lot more desirable to tabletop manufacturers lately as the glass food storage business heats up. Glass makers who have been in the business for decades, as well as those who only recently entered the ...
Still burning brightly after 100 years: Colonial Candle celebrates an anniversary milestone with a limited-edition candle and special pricing.(tabletop)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE BUSINESS OF MAKING CANDLES HAS CHANGED A LOT over the past century, but some things have remained the same, including the importance of a brand name and a commitment to quality. Colonial Candle, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this ...
ART makes a splash.(HFend)(Accessories Resource Team)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Business mixed with pleasure at the recent annual conference held by the Accessories Resource Team, the association for the decorative accessories industry. Attendees were divided into three groups--green, blue and yellow--to ...
Connecting at Material ConneXion.(HFend item)(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009; ... More than 320 people helped materials library Material ConneXion celebrate its new 12,000-square-foot space at 60 Madison Avenue during last month's International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. Attendees included ...