Home Textiles Today back issues from February 2001:
Winter Market heats up.
Feb 05, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- At Winter New York mini-market, taking place this week, the mood is geared toward casual country living motifs, but also with plenty of novelty and dressy holiday themes to cater to a variety of retail needs. That is how many manufacturers of table linens, kitchen ...
Linens 'n Things gets boost from new stores.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 05, 2001; ... CLIFTON, NJ -- Getting a big lift from 17 new stores, and a further assist from moderate growth in same-store sales during the all-important Christmas quarter, superstore retailer Linens 'n Things drove fourth-quarter profits up by 20.3 percent, to $34.5 million from $28.7 million the ...
Springs' 4Q profits cut by more than 57%.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 05, 2001; ... FORT MILL, SC -- With sales and margins both under crushing pressure, and stung by mounting bad debts at its retail customers, fourth-quarter profits at Springs Industries Inc. were slashed by more than half, tumbling by 57.7 percent, to $9.5 million from $22.4 million last year. ...
Chinni's on deck at JCP home.(Charles Chinni of J.C. Penney Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... PLANO, TEXAS -- As part of a major upper management restructuring of JCPenney stores and catalog,veteran department store retailer Charles Chinni has been named senior vp, gmm for home and fine jewelry, and John Budd has been named senior vp and chief marketing officer, effective Feb. 1. ...
WestPoint Stevens 4Q sales down 14%.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... ATLANTA -- Lashed by a faltering consumer economy and severe cutbacks in retail buying, WestPoint Stevens, the nation's largest home textiles supplier, said its fourth-quarter sales plunged by 14 percent, far worse than originally expected, driving a deep decline of more than 80 percent in ...
Higher energy costs squeeze vendors in CA.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... LOS ANGELES -- While few home textiles vendors in California have been directly affected by the blackouts plaguing the northern part of the state, some have already been hit by higher energy costs and face the dilemma of trying to pass them along in a softening retail environment -- or ...
ShopKo to shutter 23 stores.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... GREEN BAY, WI -- After a "comprehensive review" of its store operations, ShopKo Stores announced that it will close 23 underperforming stores and a distribution center. In addition, the company will eliminate approximately 2,500 positions at both its ShopKo and Pamida divisions ....
Messura gets promoted at Cotton Inc.(Mark Messura)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... NEW YORK -- Mark Messura has been promoted to vp, strategic planning at Cotton Inc. He previously was senior director, strategic planning and ...
Correction.
Feb 05, 2001 ... In the January 29 issue, a story on the Sferra baby catalog stated that all of the items in the catalog are ...
Anderson new nat'l sales mgr.(Joanne Andersen of Smith and Johnson)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... NEW YORK -- Joanne Andersen has joined Smith & Johnson as national sales manager, a new position. Reporting to Park Smith Jr., president and ceo, she is responsible for all Smith & Johnson sales and will focus on expanding the company's presence in catalogs and department and ...
Elder-Beerman grows concept.(opens eighth store in Dayton, Ohio)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 05, 2001 ... DAYTON, OH --The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. has announced that it will open its eighth concept store this fall in Sandy Township, PA. The smaller-sized concept store, averaging 55,000 square feet, incorporates elements to use its floor space more efficiently. The average ...
Macy's Home gets recognized.(Retailer award winners)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... NEW YORK -- Macy's Home, The Great Indoors and Home Depot were among the winners of the 16th annual Retailer of the Year Awards announced by the New York Home Textiles Show and the Home Fashion Products Association last week. Retailers are recognized for their achievement and ...
Johnson calls it quits at Faribault.(Pete Johnson quits Faribault Woolen Mills)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... FARIBAULT, MN -- After a 42-year career at Faribault Woolen Mills, rising from salesman to president and ceo, Pete Johnson has resigned from the century-old blanket supplier -- but is hardly retiring, he wants it known. "Heck no, I'm not ready Johnson for the pasture," he said ....
La France Home eyes mass market channels.(management strategy and planning)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... LA FRANCE, SC -- Mount Vernon Mills' fabric-producing La France division is making the leap from manufacturer's supplier to a finished goods manufacturer for the mass market. The transition has spawned a new brand name, La France Home, and the La France logo has been updated ...
Saks sells off nine stores.(to May Department Store Company)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... BIRMINGHAM, AL -- Saks Inc. has agreed to sell nine department stores and related assets to The May Department Stores Company for approximately $310 million, closing the deal in March. The properties include five Proffitt's stores in Nashville, TN; a McRae's store in Baton ...
IFDA honors excellence with award ceremony.(International Furnishings and Design Association)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... NEW YORK -- And the winner is ... The New York Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) honored several members of the home furnishings industry as well as associates in the fields of advertising, marketing and media during the biannual Circle of ...
Dallas Fabric Show nets orders for satisfied vendors, retailers.(conference information)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... DALLAS -- As the Dallas Fabric Association's semi-annual fabric show continues to evolve from a furniture manufacturer-driven event to one boasting a wide range of distribution channels in its customer base, exhibitors were generally pleased with the traffic and the actual order writing ...
ATTENBERG JOINS CRANSTON PRINT WORKS.(Steve Attenberg)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... CRANSTON, RI -- Steve Attenberg has joined Cranston Consumer Products (CCP), a division of Cranston Print Works, as sales manager, new products. He is responsible for directing the sales efforts relating to CCP ...
AFMA sponsors update seminar.(American Furniture Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... GREENSBORO, NC -- The American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) is sponsoring an update seminar on the latest flammability regulations and programs for decorative and upholstery fabrics at the Sheraton Four Seasons here on March 5 to 6. The regulations and proposed new ...
Looks can be deceiving.(Column)
Feb 05, 2001; ... I think that we gals and guys who learned everything we need to know way back in kindergarten have an educational jump. However, in retrospect, it seems to the Ol' Swami here that all the things we did pick up were laced with a large spoon of make-believe. I guess it's because we humans ...
Hedaya gets into bed with Cheri Blum.(Hedaya Home Fashions)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- Cheri Blum's designs will soon adorn bedding from Hedaya Home Fashions. Hedaya announced several floral designs from the Georgetown, MD-based artist will be previewed during February's mini-market with samples coming out soon thereafter in plenty of time for spring ...
Area rug focus shifts to marketing.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... ATLANTA -- As competition swells in the area rug industry, more manufacturers are adopting new and improved marketing strategies on a quest to refresh their branding, expand their offerings and embrace a broader consumer base. Sphinx, a manufacturer of Egyptian rugs based in ...
Karastan backs Sunwash with TV.(the Sunwash rug collection)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... ATLANTA -- For the first time in about 20 years, Karastan, the upscale area rug division of Mohawk Home is launching a national television ad campaign to promote an individual product collection. For the entire month of March, Karastan will put its market focus on its new ...
Online, linen sales slip in December.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Online holiday shopping in December dipped almost 5 percent from November, according to the latest Online Retail Index from the National Retail Federation and Forrester Research, in conjunction with Greenfield Online. Online sales in November totaled $6.4 ...
Tessile adds Christmas to quilt list.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- Tessile Inc. will debut four new hand-quilted designs for the February mini-market in addition to various table linen patterns, tree skirts and accessories. Towner Lapp, national sales manager for the Brooklyn, NY-based manufacturer, said the foray into Christmas ...
From the mouths of babes.(International Furnishings and Design Association research)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... The International Furnishings and Design Association released the second half of its Vision for the Future survey last week, a document that outlines in broad strokes what trends home furnishings designers and retailers will need to address in the future. The study's conclusions ...
Tying the knot with customers.(home furnishings and home textiles)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... Over the years, we've been writing about some of the no-brainer things retailers can do to communicate with potential customers through efforts other than coupons, and every other promotional gimmick known to mankind. But through some other efforts, it's finally beginning to ...
TJX division promotes execs.(TJX Companies Inc.)(Marmaxx Group)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... FRAMINGHAM, MA -- The TJX Cos., an off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions, has announced several senior management changes within The Marmaxx Group, the internal combination of T. J. Maxx and Marshalls. Richard Lesser, who has held the position of president of The ...
Phifer opens new product window.(Phifer Wire Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... TUSCALOOSA, AL -- Phifer Wire Products will be adding three new products and several new colors to adorn windows. SheerWeave style 2390 and 2360 is a roll shade constructed of fine PVC-coated fiberglass yarn that allows only soft, diffused light to enter but is designed to still ...
Target drops store names.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... MINNEAPOLIS -- The chapter is closing on two old names in the retailing industry. It was announced by the department store division of Target, known as Dayton's, Marshall Field's, Hudson's, that the Dayton's and Hudson's names will be dropped and converted to the Marshall ...
Showroom for online exchange.(Retailexchange.com)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... NEW YORK -- RetailExchange.com, a leading online B2B exchange for excess consumer goods, announced the opening of its new showroom at 1410 Broadway here. Called the RetailExchange.com Search Center, the showroom will display samples of online product listings that are available for ...
HomeBase promotes Ragin.(Henry Ragin)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... IRVINE, CA -- HomeBase has announced the promotion of Henry Ragin to the position of senior vp, gmm, from his position of vp, director of merchandising of House2Home. Reporting to Scott Richards, executive vp, merchandising, marketing and logistics, Ragin will oversee the entire ...
Saks names ceo of dept. stores.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... BIRMINGHAM, AL -- Saks Inc. has announced the appointment of George Jones as ceo of its department store group, effective March 1. He will be responsible for leading the company's traditional department store business, which totals $4 billion and includes 252 traditional ...
Kmart advances vp/gmm's.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... TROY, MI -- Steve Ryman has been promoted to senior vp and gmm, home, seasonal, garden and Martha Stewart Everyday at Kmart. Reporting to Cecil Kearse, executive vp, merchandising, he was one of several executives ...
New design director at Crown Crafts.(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... ATLANTA -- Crown Crafts, manufacturers of throws, bedding and other decorative home furnishings, has promoted Marcia Brandwein to director of design. Brandwein has worked for Crown Crafts for the past ...
Elrene family adds titles.(Elrene Home Fashions)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- Elrene Home Fashions, based here, has announced two new top executive promotions. President Mark Siegel has added ceo to his title. He succeeds Carl Orent, who retired in December after serving the company in several capacities, most recently ceo, for 40 years. ...
NRF names six new board members.(National Retail Federation)(Brief Article)
Feb 05, 2001 ... WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation recently added the newest members to its board of directors. The new directors are: * John Hancock, ceo, MFI Furniture Group, PLC of London. He was appointed ceo in March 1999, and has been with MFI since December 1998. He previously ...
Shoppers' confidence reaches four-year low.(Conference Board report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 05, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- This was no soft landing. This was a fall from a cliff. The monthly consumer confidence index, as compiled by The Conference Board, finished January at 114.4, its lowest reading since December 1996. In reporting the grim results from its January survey of ...
December new home sales jump 13%.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 05, 2001; ... WASHINGTON -- Real estate's two major sales indicators headed in opposite directions as the calendar year for housing ended. Sales of new homes picked up a phenomenal 13.4 percent in December, to 975,000 units on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, according to the U.S ....
Summary for the week ended February 1, 2001.(CNET Investing's manufacturing and retail industries' stock index charts)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 05, 2001 ... [TABULAR DATA NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] <Pre> HTT STOCK INDEX(*) Close:1728.93 Change:8.76% DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS Close: 10983.63 Change:2.73% S&P 500 Close:1373.45 Change:1.17% NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL Close:2782.66 ...
TRENDS FROM SPAIN.(textiles)
Feb 05, 2001 ... The textile industry from Spain, and more specifically home textiles, has been renowned in recent years for its widely acclaimed international reception. This recognition is the result not only of the excellent performance of this sector, but also of a long-standing inherited tradition in ...
Abboud home charts new course.(Joseph Abboud)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- As a home label, Joseph Abboud has been around just more than two years. But following the brand's acquisition last summer by an Italian conglomerate, home is being given a new strategic mandate that will include positioning alongside other designer lines in better department ...
Arley adds PFI bedding.(Arley Corp. acquires Perfect Fit Industries' bedding business)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- After several years of unsuccessfully trying to expand the fashion bedding aspect of its business, Perfect Fit Industries has sold it to the rapidly growing Arley Corporation. The sale empowers Arley to enter a previously untapped product category and gives it entree ...
Dan River warns of 4Q loss.(fourth quarter finance)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 12, 2001 ... DANVILLE, VA -- With its sales under plan in a weak retail environment, putting margins under enormous pressure, Dan River Inc. hoisted a yellow caution flag last week, warning Wall St. and investors that it will post a fourth-quarter loss of eight to 11 cents per share instead of the ...
WestPoint feels squeeze in 4Q.(fourth quarter finance)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 12, 2001; ... Slowing sales, restructuring costs result in losses ATLANTA -- With sales falling off by 13.8 percent, putting margins and costs under crushing pressure, then hit by $23 million in widespread restructuring costs, WestPoint Stevens Inc. posted a fourth-quarter loss of $8.9 ...
Industry feels impact of retail shakedown.(closing and opening of retail stores)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- The fact that the number of store closings announced in the past three months totals more than 500 doors only begins to outline the issue of overcrowding in the retail industry. What more fully illuminates the scope of the dilemma is this: Those 500-plus stores will be replaced ...
Gribetz back at Bloomies.(Lester Gribetz returns to Bloomindale's)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001 ... NEW YORK -- Lester Gribetz, one of home furnishings' premier merchants is returning to his roots -- Bloomingdale's -- as vp, home furnishings fashion direction, a new position. Gribetz reports to Joe Laneve, senior vp, gmm of home. The divisional home fashions directors will ...
Guilford bunks down with Jockey license.(Jockey International Inc. and Guilford Home Fashions)(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- Wearing your underwear to bed may soon take on a whole new meaning with Guilford Home Fashions. The home textiles division of Guilford Mills Inc., based here, announced last week that it had entered into an agreement with Jockey International Inc. to produce a ...
Mohawk raises caution flag on heels of 4Q loss.(Mowhawk Industries Inc.'s fourth quarter finance)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Feb 12, 2001 ... CALHOUN, GA -- Fourth-quarter profits dipped by 3.1 percent at Mohawk Industries Inc., and the giant carpet and home fashions producer cautioned that earnings through the first half of 2001 could fall sharply from year-ago levels. With the U.S. economy slowing down and costs ...
Sunbeam claims `business as usual'.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... BOCA RATON, FL -- Losing millions, deeply in debt, swamped by shareholder lawsuits and the subject of a government probe, battered Sunbeam Corp. said business will go on as usual as it works its way through bankruptcy and an overhaul of its operations. The giant home appliance ...
iHome set to buy Strouds for $38M.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA -- If the bankruptcy court gives it the nod, Strouds will sell the assets of its business to iHome.com for approximately $38 million. This would include 50 stores, two distribution centers, the corporate headquarters and additional assets including all trade names, ...
Joel Mintz, 59, remembered.(Obituary)
Feb 12, 2001 ... WEEHAWKEN, NJ -- Services were held last week for Joel Mintz, vp, Domestications, who died at the age of 59. Mintz, a catalog retail veteran, had been with Domestications since 1998. He also worked at Fingerhut from about 1989 to 1996 in a number of executive positions. He then ...
Nachemin new Domestications vp, merch.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001 ... WEEHAWKEN, NJ -- Farley Nachemin has been named vp, merchandising, for Domestications at Hanover Direct, responsible for the soft lines. He replaces Joel Mintz, a veteran catalog merchant who recently passed away. ...
Clarification.(Correction Notice)
Feb 12, 2001 ... The Top 15 ranking of Dan River Inc. in the Manufacturing Giants section of the 2001 Home Textiles Today Business Annual incorrectly stated that the company had acquired the assets of Wes Tek Inc. last year. On May 19, 2000, Dan River announced its intent to acquire the assets, but on June ...
Stern's closing puts focus on Macy's, Bloomies.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... CINCINNATI -- Federated Dept. Stores has announced the closing of its Stern's division, concentrating its Northeastern presence on its Macy's and Bloomingdale's brands instead. Nineteen of the 24 Stern's locations in New York and New Jersey will be converted to Macy's or Bloomingdale's ...
Lowe's to hit Boston area with 25 units.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001 ... WILKESBORO, NC -- The home improvement retailer Lowe's plans to blanket the Boston area with 25 locations over the next five years, as well as beef up penetration in other Northeastern locations. In the midst of the most aggressive expansion in its 55-year history, the company ...
Burlington sells tufted rug facility.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... MONTICELLO, AR -- When Saeid "Stephen" Korhani becomes the new owner of Burlington House Floor Accents' recently shuttered tufted rug facility here this week, expect to see some major changes. The facility, almost one million square feet in size and where Burlington produced ...
Burlington to build Montreal DC.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001 ... GREENSBORO, NC -- Burlington House Floor Accents has broken ground on a new 265,000-square-foot distribution facility in Montreal. Paul Kershaw, vp and roomsize business manager, said, "The foundation has already been poured" for Phase I -- or the first half -- of construction, ...
Scala broadens line to please buyers.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- In the wake of buyers' requests for more varied products, Scala International Inc. will introduce a greatly expanded line at this year's spring market. Long known for its contemporary bedding and soft window coverings, the company, based here, will present a brand ...
Colonial Williamsburg catalog has new items.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001 ... WILLIAMSBURG, VA -- The spring 2001 edition of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's catalog heralds the arrival of several new products. New types of bedskirts, bedding ensembles and a new throw pillow are now available to consumers through the catalog as well as a new ...
Kitchen textile suppliers look to imports for cost advantages.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- Ask kitchen textile manufacturers why their businesses are becoming predominantly imported, and they will sum it up in a single-word: price. "It's either import or die," said Ron Taylor, national sales manager for The American Fabrics Company, based here. "If you're ...
Place mats, tablecloths battle for dominant share of market.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... NEW YORK -- In addition to the growing trend in importing also experienced by its sister industry kitchen textiles, the table linen business is increasingly driven by today's casual lifestyles that call for more place mats, fewer tablecloths. In a survey conducted by Home ...
Plugging away.(home textiles and retail industries)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
Feb 12, 2001; ... "More than one vendor talked about retail companies that aren't worth the trouble of entering business with -- a nearly heretical idea not so long ago." Given what's taken place over the past several weeks in the home textiles and retail industries, one would have expected last ...
Bigger is better.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... "We've overstored -- and more significantly, overstored where the third or fourth player in the marker should never have opened." For a decade or so, we've been hearing all the pundits talking about how overstored America was, and the situation became even worse as companies ...
Lowe's appoints two to board of directors.(Brief Article)
Feb 12, 2001; ... WILKESBORO, NC -- Lowe's Companies, the home improvement retailer based here, has appointed Dawn Hudson and Robert Ingram to its board of directors. "I'm pleased these high-caliber professionals have agreed to join our board," said Robert Tillman, chairman of the board and ceo ....